Surely you have seen someone go through this situation: after a period of heavy pressure and work, the person became ill and needed to get a few days of a medical certificate. Stress and other discomforts are major threats to well-being at work and may compromise the health of the employee and the organization.
Alongside wages, benefits and growth opportunities, the work environment can be a key factor in workers’ decision making. Physical factors of site architecture, as well as harmful traces of organizational culture, can greatly influence the day to day business.
Companies that do not value and invest in their employees are jeopardizing their own success. In contrast, organizations that invest in the well-being, physical and mental health and satisfaction of their employees have a catalyst for positive results.
Despite having a high impact on employee productivity, a building’s internal architecture is not simple to transform. But there are other aspects that Why professionals choose wellness retreat places instead of traditional holidays and impact well-being at work and can be improved. The main ones are:
Stress
A highly stressful work environment can lead to health problems and errors in performing tasks. These problems get worse if employees feel pressured by competition to skip vacations or work sick.
In this type of environment, it is common for people to go into a state of fatigue, which reduces the quality of work done. The reflection of this for the company ranges from wasted resources to a high turnover rate in their teams.
Noise
Even if you get used to it, noise in the workplace is a constant stimulus. And your body keeps reacting. Some of the most common symptoms that it causes are headaches and irritability.
Even more striking is the relationship between prolonged exposure to noisy environments and a higher risk of heart disease. Noise still impairs concentration, directly impacting employee productivity.
Air quality
It is common to walk into malls and office buildings and begin to feel dry eyes, scratching throat, stuffy nose. This problem is so common that it even got a name: sick building syndrome.
This condition happens when there is not adequate ventilation in the environment. Mite levels increase, and air quality decreases. The result is the compromised health of workers.
Ergonomics
Back pain is one of the most common complaints regarding ergonomics in the workplace. The most common cause for discomfort is uncomfortable office chairs.
But the problem may also be at the table level, the position of the computer keyboard, the lack of footrest and other places. Uncomfortable and with body colors, the employee will not be able to maintain their productivity.
Tips for Increasing Wellbeing at Work
Even with all the automation in the world, you have to recognize: No business survives without people. The employees are the cells of the organization; the units that make all projects go.
Therefore, just as in an organism, they need to be well – physically, psychologically and emotionally – so that they can perform at work excellently.
A people-oriented work environment favors this and can be seen as an investment for the company. The organization that invests in its employees is investing in its own success.
Promoting space improvements is a good start, but there are also other ways to make the work environment friendlier. Here’s how you can do this and invest in your team:
Create a culture of mutual respect
Respectful relationships should be one of the key values of all organizations. Leaders play a key role in this, not only by setting a code of postures but especially by setting an example. A respectful environment becomes more stimulating as well as helping to lower stress levels among employees.
Promote collaborative activities
Another way to reduce stress and create a healthier work environment is to stimulate the collaboration mindset – as opposed to competition.
Companies considered the best places to work, such as Google, have a purpose that is shared by all employees. To create this sense of belonging, it is important to undertake activities to strengthen ties between people and teams.
Promote space improvements
Take your employees’ complaints into consideration and see what can be improved in your workspace. However motivated and involved people are with the company, no one can dedicate themselves when they are in pain.
Of course, many changes will require an investment of financial resources, but it is not necessary to do everything at once. Make some planning and work on the issues slowly.
Taking advantage of the previous tip, survey employees and let them decide what their priorities are. Whether it’s the noise, the chairs and tables, or the ventilation, let them decide what needs to be improved first.