How Does HR Prioritise Employee Well-Being?

If you look at some of the winning strategies of successful companies, they often have some factors in common. One of them, and possibly one of the most essential factors, is their employee well-being.

Employers who actively prioritise their team’s well-being, including physical, emotional and mental aspects, are more likely to see long-term success. The reasoning behind it is quite simple. Employees who are taken care of are more motivated to be productive and less inclined to leave the company.

This motivation keeps the business running, and employees can see themselves having a fruitful career at the company.

HR’s Role In Employee Well-Being

The Human Resources (HR) department is primarily responsible for monitoring and maintaining the well-being of all employees within a company.

In order to have a thriving workforce, members need to feel appreciated, valued to be able to give nothing less than their best. When this isn’t prioritised, companies are more likely to see spikes in absenteeism and burnout which can lead to more health issues further down the line.

Companies that offer human resources software solutions in the UK include:

1. Rippling
2. Deel
3. BrightHR
4. Factorial

How HR Initiates The Well-Being Of Employees

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all strategy, and HR will need to develop specific approaches based on their employee’s needs. However, these are the most common areas that HR will focus on when supporting the well-being of their teams.

Offer Support For Mental Health

According to the Mental Health Foundation, one in six employees will suffer from a mental health problem. Breaking it down even further, it affects one in every five women, and one in every eight men.

Mental health issues can be debilitating, which can be difficult for non-sufferers to understand, especially if there are no obvious symptoms.

It is the responsibility of HR to train management teams on how to recognise the signs that may indicate mental health issues and offer professional support to employees. Moreover, they should encourage employees to take time off when needed to prioritise their health.

Programs For Physical Health

An employee’s physical health also plays a significant role in their output and productivity. It’s common for HR departments to offer subsidised gym memberships for staff or on-site equipment to utilise during breaks.

Additionally, nutritional health should also be considered. If the company is large enough to have a cafeteria, healthy options should be offered to help employees maintain their well-being.

Offer Opportunities For Growth

Learning opportunities and career progression doesn’t just promote growth, it equally contributes to employee well-being. It’s crucial for HR to regularly communicate with employees to determine their personal goals, and how the company can support them in achieving those.

Moreover, offering courses or additional learning programs can help employees to refine their skills or explore new roles within the business.

Create A Positive Work Environment

This almost goes without saying – working in a negative space is harmful to anyone and their health, whether it be emotional or mental. Conversely, a supportive work environment can go a long way in helping employees feel and produce their best.

Here, HR professionals need to encourage work-life balance by offering hybrid or flexible options to accommodate employee needs, and monitor workloads of each employee to reduce the chance of exhaustion and burnout.

Keep The Lines Of Communication Open

It’s all good and well to have these strategies in place, but HR needs to constantly have their ears on the ground to identify employee problems to be able to address them adequately.

HR professionals have the responsibility of promoting an open-door policy for transparent communication between employees and the company. If employees feel uncomfortable sharing their concerns in-person, they should also have the opportunity to do so through anonymous surveys.

How Can Technology Be Leveraged To Support Well-Being?

HR teams are becoming increasingly reliant on technology to support their employee well-being initiatives. Some of these include wellness apps, which offer relaxation techniques for de-stressing and stress monitoring.

In addition to this, there are also software systems that can track employee workloads and engagement to identify possible signs of burnout.

Maintaining employee well-being is an ongoing process that will require constant observation and adjustments. The key is to personalise these strategies, while leveraging available technologies, to create a robust wellness strategy to provide employees with the utmost support.