22 Feb A healthy happy workplace doesn’t cost a fortune
A healthy motivated and engaged workforce will be hard working, make a positive contribution to the business and have respect for its employer leading to excellent customer service and satisfaction.
Putting in place a health and wellbeing programme will show that you care and want to support your employees in an open and honest environment where engagement and motivation will thrive.
A large percentage of SME’s believe that they cannot afford to invest in employee wellbeing benefits. We understand that larger businesses will have access to more resources, however the truth is that an effective wellbeing strategy does not need a large budget!
Smaller businesses are generally more flexible than larger companies, they are not restricted by corporate ladders, so they can pay closer attention to their employee’s needs, introducing new benefits in line with what people want, meaning they see quicker results.
Working in this way helps build, whilst also maintaining an authentic company image – one that the employees have designed, rather than it being forced. Businesses that work this way, are the ones that are approaching employee wellbeing as more than just a tick-box exercise.
Include the whole team
Ask the team on what they think? Suggest that they submit ideas on how they think you should build a happier, healthy workplace. Once you have their thoughts, put the information to good use quickly – you don’t want your efforts to fall flat! Keep impetus by including your employees every step of the way. How about creating a wellbeing committee that overseas the implementation of the wellbeing strategy, activities & benefits?
After all, approaching colleagues is often far less intimidating than approaching a manager. Allowing your employees to lead parts of the strategy, does not mean managers can step back and neglect their responsibilities. A good manager will always keep track of what’s happening, check in and have those important conversations.
It’s not a tick-box exercise – Tailor your wellbeing benefits
Employee wellbeing is not a tick-box exercise. It requires continuous implementation, it should be reviewed and updated regularly in line with the needs of the employees. Companies should stay proactive, so that the benefits stay relevant to that of the business and employees.
Why not review your existing benefits and see which are truly valued by the employees? Look at other benefits you could bring in, such as working from home, early finish on a Friday, fresh fruit every day, workplace massage and enhanced pension contributions.
Gauge the return
As a Small business you may not have an unlimited budget, however you have a huge advantage over a large business- you can move faster with regards to your employees’ priorities. There is no point eliminating benefits that work, nor adding new ones needlessly as this will just increase costs with minimal positive impact.
Think about the cost of implementing a wellbeing programme in your business – compared to the estimated cost of replacing one employee?
Make sure that you provide regular surveys so that you can see how happy your team is the new employee benefits programme.
Improved collaboration and increased productivity are just a couple of benefits your business will see. Design a wellbeing benefits package that accommodates to your employees.
Our mission is to improve the health and wellbeing, engagement and motivation of employees to ensure organisations thrive.
Workplace massage is a great way to introduce wellbeing into the business. Seated acupressure massage is ideal for both male and female employees and for all ages. It targets areas of tension and muscle soreness in your back, neck and shoulders, arms and hands providing relief from muscle aches and pains often aggravated by repetitive strain and posture related issues. For more information please contact Kathy Scott on info@handsonatwork.co.uk