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A Look at Employee
Wellbeing and
Workplace
Environment:
Generating Higher
Productivity through
Simple Initiatives
Out of all our waking hours in the
day, half are spent on the job.Work
is undisputedly an essential and
meaningful part of most adult lives.
What happens at work has the
potential to affect not only economic
outcomes, but life satisfaction and
wellbeing.
By Jordan Rothwell, Ahmed Syed, Anagh Trivedi
-
Wellbeing in the
workplace can
encapsulate physical
health, mental health,
and social health. These
three pillars can directly
affect worker productivity,
which is the core of profit
making. Low productivity
leads to low output which
subsequently leads to a
failed company. If a worker is
satisfied and has a high level
of wellbeing, then they will
produce value for the
company and contribute to
business growth. Businesses
that focus on high returns
with no regard for worker
well being contribute to the
misfortune of overworked,
overstressed, and unhappy
employees.
With the changing culture of
the workforce, implementing
programs and initiatives that
put an emphasis on
promoting well being will
lead to higher productivity
and help retain motivated
and valuable employees for a
company.
Exercise is proven to help
reduce stress because of the
endorphins it releases to the
brain. Lack of exercise can
lead to physical ailments as
well as mental ailments which
lower the quantity and quality
of work- hurting the profits of
the business.
Physical Health
Not necessarily lack of
commitment, but lack of
time leading to low levels of
exercise
In a survey we conducted with
business professionals from
different industries, 43.5% of
people reported only exercising
1-2 days a week. Of the same
people surveyed, 73.9% wished
that they exercised more.With
an average workday of 8 hours,
often more, employees can find
it hard to workout.A large
majority of the participants said
if they worked less, they would
take advantage of the time by
exercising more.
It should be important for a
business to create
opportunities and encourage its
employees to find time to
exercise because their profits
depend on it.
We asked respondents if
they were satisfied with the
amount they exercised in a
week. Here are the results
Poor physical health
reduces productivity and
costs the company.
Physicians are worried that
American workers are too
inactive while at work. Studies
done by Loughborough
University show that sitting for
more than 8 hours a day
leads to a 48% increased risk
of diabetes, high blood
pressure and obesity.
Extended periods of sitting and
stress have also been linked to
higher risk of MSD’s
(Musculoskeletal disorders) that
affect bones, joints, and
connective tissues.These
problems cause employees to
take off from work, costing the
companies millions of dollars a
year.Across the EU, 44 million
workers experience MSD’s. The
cost of lost productivity and
absenteeism due to sickness
amounted to 2% of total GDP.
In the US, employees using paid
sick leave increased from 59% in
1993 to 73% in 2012. Following
with the same pattern, costs
rose from $0.17 to $0.35.
respectively.
Absenteeism due to sickness
and MSD’s can be attributed
to both high stress work
environments and the lack of
self care taken by employees.
In the face of increasing costs,
it is then the job of business’
to step in and introduce
preventative initiatives.
Other health promotion
programs have been
implemented in Canada to
educate employees about
healthy practices. These
initiatives have led to
returns of $8.81 per dollar
spent.
What Is Being Done?
The World Health Organization
is also encouraging business’ to
rethink their workplace layout.
They advise employers to:
• Encourage employees to take the stairs
over the elevator
• Encourage employees to drink more
water to ensure more bathroom breaks
• Encourage employees to walk over to
colleagues to discuss business matters
instead of sending emails
• Hold standing or walking meetings
• Set up hall tennis to be used during breaks
Mental Health
With increasing demands at
work and larger external
pressures, mental health has
become a significant issue in
the 21st century.
Stress related illnesses have
been increasing in recent
years.When accumulated,
these absences result in high
costs for employers, due to a
loss in productivity. Stress is
linked to longer work
hours, poor
communication, and a
stark contrast between
work and personal
commitments. Employees
are being overworked and are
underperforming because of it.
More than 50% of those
surveyed work 8-10 hours a
day, while 82% of those
surveyed said that they are
working below productivity.
It doesn’t help that mental
health is stigmatized in the
workplace. Studies have found
that the stigma associated with
mental health has deterred
people from seeking treatment
fearing that it will hinder their
future career aspirations. 62%
of american employees have
not used their allotted vacation
time in the past year.The most
grave cases of mental health
stigma have resulted in
workplace suicides, which are
foreshadowed by a high amount
of overtime work and low
amount of self care.
In the American market, 1,000,000
US employees call off work each
day due to workplace stress.
Paid personal leave increased from
20% to 49% between 1993 and 2012.
Productivity losses related to
these absences are valued at
$1,685 per employee per year
($225.8B annually).
Some employers have taken
steps to combat the work-
related stress their employees
face. In 2010, companies with the
most effective health and
productivity programs:
• Achieved 11% more revenue
per employee
• Delivers 28% higher
shareholder returns
• Faced lower medical trends for
their employees
• Had fewer absences per
employee
All of these results lead directly
to business growth, which
reinforces the fact that it is in
the company’s best interest to
manage the mental health of
their employees.
Social Health
The Need for a More
Flexible Workday
65.2% of people we surveyed
said that they are not happy
given their current work
situation.With the need to
create high returns for investors,
employers often require workers
to work long hours or during
times that are not always when
they are most productive.The
Majority of participants reported
being productive in between
hours not captured by the
traditional 9-5 work day; with
the exception of a few, everyone
believed flexible hours would
help increase their productivity
and usefulness to the company.
“I work when I want, where I
want and I can manage my
time according to my own
needs, not that of my employer.
This means I can work when I
feel productive and my outputs
are better.”
- iX Survey Respondent
For working mothers, the
rigidity of work schedules
can lead to work-life
imbalance and additional
stress and unhappiness
The US is one of three nations that does not
require businesses to offer paid maternity leave.
Mothers are forced to take unpaid work leave if they
extend what their business allows. Decreased pay and
increased responsibility post childbirth result in
increased stress which affects productivity levels.
¼ have missed
two or more
significant events
in their child’s life
in the last year.
⅓ of working mothers would
take a pay cut to spend more
time with their children.
6 in 10 moms say that balancing
work and family is difficult.
What Is Being Done?
Tech companies are leading the
way in offering better work-
family balance incorporation.
Amazon has begun to offer
paternal leave and has made
family-forward policies part of its
norm. Other employers should
recognize the benefits of offering
flexible hours, not only for
working parents, but all
employees in their company-
optimizing on when employees
are most productive- in order to
recognize the highest profits.
Looking at the Future: Millenials
Millennials are increasingly
choosing medium and small sized
firms to work for over larger,
less personalized ones. Growing
up in the digital age in which
customization is a given, they are
not attracted to the one-size-fits
all methodology.They want to
feel valued, treated as an
individual, not lost in the
mix.
Business’ that want to
appeal to the youngest and
brightest minds must
incorporate flexible work
hours to ensure that they
provide a healthy social
environment necessary to
attract the future of their
company.
Ways Employers Can Begin to Focus on
Wellbeing in the Workplace
Incorporating Physical Health Initiatives to Increase
Productivity
Here are some ways that employers can promote an
active lifestyle in the workplace:
• Attach a health section to newsletter with recent trends or
health facts
• Put up informational signs in places where employees are
most likely to view them
• Provide gym or sports club memberships
• Extend lunch hour
• Allow employees to workout
• Start a company sports team
• Utilize treadmill desks and sit stand desks
• Studies done found that sitting decreased by 29%
Incorporating Mental Health Initiatives to Increase
Productivity
Incorporating Social Health Initiatives to Increase
Productivity
Employers should incorporate programs into
mandatory training that address mental health issues
• Anti-stigma intervention program to improve employee
knowledge and support to those of their colleagues with
mental disorders as well encourage those suffering to seek
help
• Evidence that targeted interventions have helped erode
stigma
• Bring in a yoga specialist once a week
Employers should allow for some flexibility in the
workplace
• Email Meetings - our survey shows a range
of numbers and hours of meetings per
week; clear majority found that at least
some meetings served no purpose
• Flexible Work Day
• Allow employees to work from home on certain days
• Allow employees to come in late or leave early
depending on preferences
• Provide childcare for working parents, allowing them to attend
doctor appointments, work out, or take a break when stressed
Sources
An Introduction to Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion. Rep. 1.1st ed. Ontario: Banting
Institute, 2004. Print.
Fermin, Jeff. "19 Frightening Workplace Mental Health Statistics." Officevibe. N.p., 06 May 2014.Web. 17
June 2016.
"Get Up, Stand Up, Get Moving." Occupational Health (2016): 11-13.Web. 10 June 2016.
Hanisch, Sabine E., Conal D.Twomey,Andrew C. H. Szeto, Ulrich W. Birner, Dennis Nowak, and Carla
Sabariego. "The Effectiveness of Interventions Targeting the Stigma of Mental Illness at the Workplace:
A Systematic Review." BMC Psychiatry 16.1 (2016): n. pag.Web. 14 June 2016.
Kashen, Julie. "Tech Companies Are Leading the Way on Paid Family Leave." The Century Foundation.
N.p., 10 Nov. 2015.Web. 17 June 2016.
Segal, Ph.D., Jeanne, Lawrence Robinson, and Melinda Smith, M.A. "The Mental Health Benefits of
Exercise." HelpGuide. N.p., May 2016.Web. 10 June 2016.
Smith, David, Katherine LaVelle, Mary Lyons, andYaarit Silverstone.

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Wellbeing POV

  • 1. A Look at Employee Wellbeing and Workplace Environment: Generating Higher Productivity through Simple Initiatives Out of all our waking hours in the day, half are spent on the job.Work is undisputedly an essential and meaningful part of most adult lives. What happens at work has the potential to affect not only economic outcomes, but life satisfaction and wellbeing. By Jordan Rothwell, Ahmed Syed, Anagh Trivedi
  • 2. - Wellbeing in the workplace can encapsulate physical health, mental health, and social health. These three pillars can directly affect worker productivity, which is the core of profit making. Low productivity leads to low output which subsequently leads to a failed company. If a worker is satisfied and has a high level of wellbeing, then they will produce value for the company and contribute to business growth. Businesses that focus on high returns with no regard for worker well being contribute to the misfortune of overworked, overstressed, and unhappy employees. With the changing culture of the workforce, implementing programs and initiatives that put an emphasis on promoting well being will lead to higher productivity and help retain motivated and valuable employees for a company.
  • 3. Exercise is proven to help reduce stress because of the endorphins it releases to the brain. Lack of exercise can lead to physical ailments as well as mental ailments which lower the quantity and quality of work- hurting the profits of the business. Physical Health Not necessarily lack of commitment, but lack of time leading to low levels of exercise In a survey we conducted with business professionals from different industries, 43.5% of people reported only exercising 1-2 days a week. Of the same people surveyed, 73.9% wished that they exercised more.With an average workday of 8 hours, often more, employees can find it hard to workout.A large majority of the participants said if they worked less, they would take advantage of the time by exercising more. It should be important for a business to create opportunities and encourage its employees to find time to exercise because their profits depend on it. We asked respondents if they were satisfied with the amount they exercised in a week. Here are the results
  • 4. Poor physical health reduces productivity and costs the company. Physicians are worried that American workers are too inactive while at work. Studies done by Loughborough University show that sitting for more than 8 hours a day leads to a 48% increased risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity. Extended periods of sitting and stress have also been linked to higher risk of MSD’s (Musculoskeletal disorders) that affect bones, joints, and connective tissues.These problems cause employees to take off from work, costing the companies millions of dollars a year.Across the EU, 44 million workers experience MSD’s. The cost of lost productivity and absenteeism due to sickness amounted to 2% of total GDP. In the US, employees using paid sick leave increased from 59% in 1993 to 73% in 2012. Following with the same pattern, costs rose from $0.17 to $0.35. respectively. Absenteeism due to sickness and MSD’s can be attributed to both high stress work environments and the lack of self care taken by employees. In the face of increasing costs, it is then the job of business’ to step in and introduce preventative initiatives.
  • 5. Other health promotion programs have been implemented in Canada to educate employees about healthy practices. These initiatives have led to returns of $8.81 per dollar spent. What Is Being Done? The World Health Organization is also encouraging business’ to rethink their workplace layout. They advise employers to: • Encourage employees to take the stairs over the elevator • Encourage employees to drink more water to ensure more bathroom breaks • Encourage employees to walk over to colleagues to discuss business matters instead of sending emails • Hold standing or walking meetings • Set up hall tennis to be used during breaks
  • 6. Mental Health With increasing demands at work and larger external pressures, mental health has become a significant issue in the 21st century. Stress related illnesses have been increasing in recent years.When accumulated, these absences result in high costs for employers, due to a loss in productivity. Stress is linked to longer work hours, poor communication, and a stark contrast between work and personal commitments. Employees are being overworked and are underperforming because of it. More than 50% of those surveyed work 8-10 hours a day, while 82% of those surveyed said that they are working below productivity. It doesn’t help that mental health is stigmatized in the workplace. Studies have found that the stigma associated with mental health has deterred people from seeking treatment fearing that it will hinder their future career aspirations. 62% of american employees have not used their allotted vacation time in the past year.The most grave cases of mental health stigma have resulted in workplace suicides, which are foreshadowed by a high amount of overtime work and low amount of self care.
  • 7. In the American market, 1,000,000 US employees call off work each day due to workplace stress. Paid personal leave increased from 20% to 49% between 1993 and 2012. Productivity losses related to these absences are valued at $1,685 per employee per year ($225.8B annually). Some employers have taken steps to combat the work- related stress their employees face. In 2010, companies with the most effective health and productivity programs: • Achieved 11% more revenue per employee • Delivers 28% higher shareholder returns • Faced lower medical trends for their employees • Had fewer absences per employee All of these results lead directly to business growth, which reinforces the fact that it is in the company’s best interest to manage the mental health of their employees.
  • 8. Social Health The Need for a More Flexible Workday 65.2% of people we surveyed said that they are not happy given their current work situation.With the need to create high returns for investors, employers often require workers to work long hours or during times that are not always when they are most productive.The Majority of participants reported being productive in between hours not captured by the traditional 9-5 work day; with the exception of a few, everyone believed flexible hours would help increase their productivity and usefulness to the company. “I work when I want, where I want and I can manage my time according to my own needs, not that of my employer. This means I can work when I feel productive and my outputs are better.” - iX Survey Respondent
  • 9. For working mothers, the rigidity of work schedules can lead to work-life imbalance and additional stress and unhappiness The US is one of three nations that does not require businesses to offer paid maternity leave. Mothers are forced to take unpaid work leave if they extend what their business allows. Decreased pay and increased responsibility post childbirth result in increased stress which affects productivity levels. ¼ have missed two or more significant events in their child’s life in the last year. ⅓ of working mothers would take a pay cut to spend more time with their children. 6 in 10 moms say that balancing work and family is difficult.
  • 10. What Is Being Done? Tech companies are leading the way in offering better work- family balance incorporation. Amazon has begun to offer paternal leave and has made family-forward policies part of its norm. Other employers should recognize the benefits of offering flexible hours, not only for working parents, but all employees in their company- optimizing on when employees are most productive- in order to recognize the highest profits. Looking at the Future: Millenials Millennials are increasingly choosing medium and small sized firms to work for over larger, less personalized ones. Growing up in the digital age in which customization is a given, they are not attracted to the one-size-fits all methodology.They want to feel valued, treated as an individual, not lost in the mix. Business’ that want to appeal to the youngest and brightest minds must incorporate flexible work hours to ensure that they provide a healthy social environment necessary to attract the future of their company.
  • 11. Ways Employers Can Begin to Focus on Wellbeing in the Workplace Incorporating Physical Health Initiatives to Increase Productivity Here are some ways that employers can promote an active lifestyle in the workplace: • Attach a health section to newsletter with recent trends or health facts • Put up informational signs in places where employees are most likely to view them • Provide gym or sports club memberships • Extend lunch hour • Allow employees to workout • Start a company sports team • Utilize treadmill desks and sit stand desks • Studies done found that sitting decreased by 29%
  • 12. Incorporating Mental Health Initiatives to Increase Productivity Incorporating Social Health Initiatives to Increase Productivity Employers should incorporate programs into mandatory training that address mental health issues • Anti-stigma intervention program to improve employee knowledge and support to those of their colleagues with mental disorders as well encourage those suffering to seek help • Evidence that targeted interventions have helped erode stigma • Bring in a yoga specialist once a week Employers should allow for some flexibility in the workplace • Email Meetings - our survey shows a range of numbers and hours of meetings per week; clear majority found that at least some meetings served no purpose • Flexible Work Day • Allow employees to work from home on certain days • Allow employees to come in late or leave early depending on preferences • Provide childcare for working parents, allowing them to attend doctor appointments, work out, or take a break when stressed
  • 13. Sources An Introduction to Comprehensive Workplace Health Promotion. Rep. 1.1st ed. Ontario: Banting Institute, 2004. Print. Fermin, Jeff. "19 Frightening Workplace Mental Health Statistics." Officevibe. N.p., 06 May 2014.Web. 17 June 2016. "Get Up, Stand Up, Get Moving." Occupational Health (2016): 11-13.Web. 10 June 2016. Hanisch, Sabine E., Conal D.Twomey,Andrew C. H. Szeto, Ulrich W. Birner, Dennis Nowak, and Carla Sabariego. "The Effectiveness of Interventions Targeting the Stigma of Mental Illness at the Workplace: A Systematic Review." BMC Psychiatry 16.1 (2016): n. pag.Web. 14 June 2016. Kashen, Julie. "Tech Companies Are Leading the Way on Paid Family Leave." The Century Foundation. N.p., 10 Nov. 2015.Web. 17 June 2016. Segal, Ph.D., Jeanne, Lawrence Robinson, and Melinda Smith, M.A. "The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise." HelpGuide. N.p., May 2016.Web. 10 June 2016. Smith, David, Katherine LaVelle, Mary Lyons, andYaarit Silverstone.