Employee health is an integral part of how well a company performs. Employee wellness directly affects the productivity and performance of startups and small businesses.
When staff are motivated and feeling focused then creativity can bloom. Mental well-being leads to higher morale and innovation. However, physical and psychological wellness also impacts absenteeism and staff retention.
There are ways that employers can help staff improve their overall well-being, and reap the benefits.
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How can employers help workers’ well-being?
Businesses of all sizes are recognizing the importance of employee wellness more and more. Providing resources and opening lines of communication help workers come forward and express their concerns about working conditions and how they impact health.
Many startups have innovative ideas. And it is easy to solely focus on product launches and branding. Yet, for startups to grow, entrepreneurs need to look at how they can help their teams’ mental and physical well-being. A healthy team is more productive and efficient.
Below are some ways that entrepreneurs can enable their teams to reach their potential.
Encourage healthy eating
The internet is full of advice for healthy eating and natural supplements. There are resources and supplements for people interested in detoxification and boosting their health. But, employers such as yourself can provide information to encourage better eating habits too.
Providing drinking water is a minimum. Switching the contents of your office vending machine for healthy snacks is one option. Another would be to offer health screenings and bring a nutritionist in for a session with your team.
Nutrition plays a big part in employee health. Certain herbs and supplements help to boost concentration and improve focus. While others aid overall health.
Flexible working hours
Deadlines and small teams may make it hard for flexible hours to be introduced. In the beginning, startups may find themselves working all manner of hours. Nonetheless, this is an area that is worth serious consideration.
Introducing flexible hours allows team members to manage their days better. Work-life balance will improve, and there are health gains to be had. The stress of juggling work and home life can impact your workers. Allowing work hours to be structured in a way to suit you and your employee will let them manage their time better.
Reward and recognition
Morale is a major part of employee wellness. Working hard and being overlooked leads to frustration and likely a drop in productivity. Rewarding team members for their achievements will reinforce positive attitudes and boost mood.
Don’t ignore mental health
For too long, mental wellness has had a stigma. Mental health is a critical part of employee well-being. Providing access to mental health and counseling services will aid your team’s overall health.
And opening lines of communication will enable staff to feel comfortable putting forward their thoughts and concerns. This can be achieved through anonymous channels or team forums.
What are the benefits for startups when workers’ health is optimal?
Not everywhere has the same level of well-being. Across the states, workers have different levels of access to healthcare resources. Some areas appear to have a better overall lifestyle than others too.
The state rankings for well-being reveal how different communities fare. And this can help to highlight areas for change. Entrepreneurs can introduce positive behaviors right from the launch of their startups. When implemented this way, startups and small businesses will benefit from the get-go.
Reputation and company image
Startups that are known to prioritize their employees’ wellness will garner a certain reputation. The best talent will be drawn to companies that are known to value their workers. Your team will see that they matter to you, and this helps to foster a positive buzz and develop the kind of company culture that other businesses fail at.
An employee-focused approach will help to bring in talent, partners, and customers. It may also attract investment, something that is vital to startups.
Reduced absenteeism
Of course, enabling your team to improve their health will lead to fewer illnesses. There are many causes of absenteeism. Not surprisingly, physical health is number one. But, low morale, depression, and a lack of motivation cause sick days too.
Introducing ways to encourage exercise and healthy eating can have positive effects. Providing resources on nutrition and how certain vitamins and minerals aid health may help too. Plus, communication and recognition may help to reduce the chances of burnout and disengagement.
Boost productivity
Companies today are often structured somewhat differently than in the past. Outsourcing is common, as is working from home. One thing that never changes is the search for new ways to boost productivity.
There are techniques to triple work productivity from home. And there are ways to boost efficiency in the workplace. But, focusing on employee wellness will also help to see a rise in productivity.
When a team is feeling physically and mentally well they will work better. Individuals are able to focus and perform to their best abilities when they feel healthy. Wellness is necessary for high energy, concentration, and the ability to cope. Some stress at work is normal, and healthy workers are better equipped to deal with it.
Reduced staff turnover
Startups need to keep key personnel. Often, startups come from the ideas of one entrepreneur and start to blossom through a very small team. But, these teams contain truly vital personnel. Showing how much you value your team will lead to a higher rate of staff retention.
Reduced healthcare costs
Finances are crucial to startups. Cash flow is usually the reason for most startups failing. So, cost-cutting is essential at times.
However, no one wants to cut costs where health is concerned. By implementing ways to aid your team’s well-being you will in turn lower healthcare costs. Healthy individuals require fewer medical treatments than unhealthy ones.
Entrepreneurs face health challenges from long hours sitting still and poor nutrition. Introducing positive change will help you and your team. Improvements to the work environment can reduce the risk of injury. And it can positively affect mental well-being.
Team bonding
Not everyone is sports-oriented, and not everyone enjoys the same activities. Yet, when you can find some common ground, you will benefit from team bonding. Finding ways for your team to bond will foster a spirit of togetherness. This helps with communication and sharing ideas.
To do so you may have to find an activity that everyone is happy with. This may lead to physical benefits or a mental boost. Encouraging a healthy city lifestyle will result in numerous gains for your workers.
Innovation and creativity
When team members are happy and appreciated they are likely to think clearly and focus. Creative ideas may be generated when morale is high and energy levels are up. Poor mental wellness will impact creativity and hamper innovation.
Helping your team toward better mental well-being could result in the innovation your startup needs to put it on the map.
Summary
Employee health impacts any business, but, perhaps startups the most. At a time when all team members need to be productive and creative, well-being is vital. By putting priority on staff well-being, absenteeism will drop, and morale will improve.
Your company image will benefit, as will your chances of attracting top talent. Implementing ways to improve employee wellness at the beginning will lay the foundations for long-term success.
