What is Work Wellbeing and Why Does it Matter?

Reading: 3 minutes 1 August 2024
Maturity Model-Wellbeing at Work 
Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Path to Work Wellness Maturity and Human Sustainability

Recent research by PIB Employee Benefits revealed that 66% of organisations lack a strategic and proactive approach to wellbeing at work. This raises a crucial question for leaders: where should they start to avoid treating wellbeing at work as a mere tick box exercise and steer clear of the ‘Spangle Trap’?

 

Leaders Need a Change in Mindset

A 2022 study by Deloitte surveyed 1,274 employees across several industries. It underscores the need for a change in mindset for C-Suite Leaders from Legacy Thinking to Forward Thinking. Firstly, they must recognise that optimum nutrition and holistic wellbeing are not just personal choices. Providing benefits packages and ad-hoc wellness perks is insufficient. Instead, these aspects represent strategic opportunities for business success. They influence how work is done and shape company culture. Moreover, building accountability for change beyond HR and securing buy-in across the organisation is crucial. Leaders must walk the talk.

The World Health Organisation considers employment, job security and working conditions as ‘social determinants of health’ impacting wellbeing. With UK absence increasing from 5.8 days per employee to 7.8 days per employee in 2023, and UK investment in wellbeing expected to exceed US$3,353.245 million by 2028, businesses need to address urgent work wellbeing issues. Demonstrating return on investment is essential.

 

Achieving Work Wellness Maturity and Human Sustainability

Achieving Work Wellness Maturity and Human Sustainability requires a cross-departmental and cross-functional strategy. This strategy, championed by the senior leadership team, embeds Health and Wellbeing at Work into your organisation’s cultural DNA and shapes how work is done. It involves an evidence-based approach to wellbeing decision-making with ongoing evaluation, measurement and monitoring. Thereby enabling your workforce to flourish, driving sustainable growth, and helping to position you as an innovator and leader.

 

Work Wellbeing Maturity Assessment

Forward-thinking managers and leaders serious about addressing wellbeing at work can use our data-driven approach. This approach evaluates your current health and wellbeing initiatives. Our comprehensive and confidential online survey provides employees with their wellbeing status. It highlights health priorities with personalised, easy-to-follow action plans and signposts for easier access to wellbeing at work services. This anonymised data helps organisations quantify the size of the problem, understand factors impacting health and wellbeing, and gauge the financial impact.

Our insights reflect the prevalence of ill-health, absence, engagement rates, company culture, work demands, employee behaviours, sleep, workplace risks, productivity and loyalty. We review these insights alongside your talent strategy, retention, employee engagement and performance metrics. This helps us understand your current priorities and determine your position in the Workplace Health and Wellbeing Journey. You can use this data for ESG reporting and quantify the return on your investment down to every pound spent.

 

What is Work Wellbeing and Why Does it Matter?

Our insights-led approach allows us to partner with you and design a bespoke programme fully aligned with your corporate goals. This programme is based on our comprehensive suite of Work Wellness Events and Communications Programmes, grounded in the science of nutrition and health behaviour change.

 

Meaningful Measurement

Your Work Wellness provides an evidence-based approach to wellbeing at work decision-making. This enables employers and employees to achieve healthier and more productive workplaces through iterative, data-driven measurement and analysis.

 

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

  • Leaders can stop treating wellbeing at work as a tick box exercise and avoid the ‘Spangle Trap’ by adopting a more data-driven approach. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
  • C-Suite Leaders need a mindset shift from Legacy Thinking to Forward Thinking, recognising this as a strategic opportunity.
  • Health and Wellbeing at Work is a cornerstone of organisational success, influencing how work is done and shaping company culture.
  • An evidence-based, iterative approach supporting positive health behaviour change through continuous monitoring will enable employers, employees and businesses to grow and flourish.

 

Discover your starting point and take your first steps towards Work Wellness Maturity by arranging an initial exploratory consultation with our team.

 

References

 

 

Vicky Vella Vicky is a certified Nutrition and Health Behaviour Change Coach dedicated to workplace wellbeing and passionate about supporting employees to make healthier choices. Responsible for Corporate Wellness, People and Growth, Vicky leads our strategy, marketing, sales and consulting services. With over 25 years developing partnerships, Vicky collaborates closely with clients to improve their employee health and wellbeing strategies through iterative, data-driven measurement and analysis.