5 workplace wellbeing ideas to create a happy and engaged workforce
When it comes to running a successful commercial real estate business, not only is it important to attract and retain top talent, but it is also crucial that you find a way to keep those skilled employees happy. With the industry becoming increasingly competitive, employee engagement strategies that focus on features such as flexibility, a healthy work-life balance, benefits packages, and a workspace that fosters collaboration amongst teams, are critical to long-term success. According to Deloitte, organisations with engaged workers may have employees who are:
- 57% more effective
- 87% less likely to leave
Pre-pandemic, employee expectations were focused primarily on equitable rewards, fair promotion and a positive workplace culture. Now, the expectations have shifted drastically and organisations must realign their approach accordingly. Many want a higher degree of flexibility from their employer than ever before, as well as the ability to work from home and better approaches to mental health, diversity and inclusion, and parental policies.
What is the definition of workplace wellbeing?
‘Workplace wellbeing’ relates to all aspects of working culture, from how employees feel about their work, their environment, their work-life balance, and the business that they work for and whether their values align. The Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) states that wellbeing involves ‘creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows an employee to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and their organisation’. If an employee feels generally good about their health and emotional state, this will translate into greater satisfaction with their work and drive better results and performance.
Employees’ health and wellbeing is embedded in the way individuals interact with one another day to day and is part of the way working conditions and management practices are structured, as well as the way business decisions are made and communicated to the wider team. The wellbeing of individuals can be affected in the workplace by several factors, such as whether you offer:
- Personal growth and development opportunities
- Suitable financial reward
- A positive workplace culture
- Diversity and inclusion initiatives
- A supportive focus on physical and mental health
Developing an effective workplace wellbeing programme is not an easy undertaking, though putting the needs of your workforce in your commercial real estate business at the centre of what you do is a great place to start.
Why should you invest in workplace health and wellbeing?
If your workforce is healthy, engaged and satisfied this will translate into increased productivity and collaboration amongst teams. It will also boost morale and in turn, your employer brand, as staff turnover will be reduced and you’ll end up attracting more like-minded talent to your business. This will ultimately have a positive impact on your bottom line as your workforce will be less stressed, content and more productive.
Though if the wellbeing of your staff is left unaddressed, your workforce may feel:
- Dissatisfied
- Undervalued
- Demotivated
- Prone to stress and ill-health
- Unable to work to the best of their ability
5 workplace wellbeing ideas to implement in your company
Enhancing your workplace wellbeing strategy takes time and consideration, as it’s not just about physical health but rather about mood and cognition and less tangible factors like a sense of purpose. Above all, it’s about understanding your employees from a holistic perspective, taking into account their lives both in and outside of your commercial real estate business and considering their overall quality of life. Although this is easier said than done, there are several methods you can put in place to boost employee engagement in your business, such as:
- Encouraging regular breaks
Reinforce the importance of taking breaks when feeling overwhelmed or stressed, rather than feeling like they need to power through any struggles they’re having. All UK employees have the right to an uninterrupted break for 20 minutes if they work longer than six hours, so make sure your team know this and encourage them to take time away from their desks!
- Promoting physical exercise
Encourage your workforce to exercise, whether that’s going for a brisk walk on their lunch break, consider cycle to work schemes or discounted gym memberships.
- Considering wellbeing apps
Mindfulness is incredibly important in the workplace and offering to subsidise a simple subscription for a mindfulness app could make a huge difference at a relatively low cost. Apps can be a great supportive measure when it comes to mental wellbeing, such as:
- Headspace
- Insight timer
- Calm
- Having a wellbeing champion
Having a wellbeing champion will demonstrate your commitment to improving the wellbeing of your workforce. Having an empathetic point of contact for team members when they feel they need extra support will ensure they feel listened to and valued.
- Supporting healthy work-life balance
Discourage employees from working long hours and always remind them to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Make sure you provide training and guidance for people to manage their time effectively and leave their work behind at the end of the day and effectively ‘switch off’.
If you’d like to discuss workplace wellbeing ideas to implement into your organisation or would like advice on employee attraction and retention strategies, we’re here to help.
Building a meaningful career at Foundation Recruitment
At Foundation Recruitment, workplace wellbeing is particularly important to us. As such, we ensure that our team members wellness is at the centre of what we do. We foster a culture of feedback and praise so that individuals can thrive and work to the best of their ability and ensure that every employee can build a meaningful and rewarding career. We also promote collaboration amongst teams as we feel that this elicits a positive work culture and an engaged workforce, where their wellbeing is our priority.
We recognise recruitment can be a high-pressure, high-stress environment and we are committed to supporting employee wellbeing and reducing the stigma around mental health. But don’t just take our word for it! Hear what three of our employees feel about why Foundation Recruitment is a great place to work:
What makes you happy about working at Foundation Recruitment?
‘’We are always listened to and I feel that my opinion is valued. We are given a platform to feedback and this is regularly actioned, e.g., desire for a less corporate office space, increased flexibility to work from home, change in dress code, time given to get involved in CSR initiatives’’ – Danielle Godolphin
What are the best things about your job?
‘’The best thing about my job is the team around me and getting to work with them every day. The Recognition and rewards when you achieve something, not just from your managers but also from your colleagues. Making a difference to people’s lives by getting them their dream job is really fulfilling!’’ – Holly Allason
How do you keep or create a happy/positive/healthy mindset in the workplace?
‘’Part of my role is to really focus on ensuring that our wellbeing is top priority. I run various monthly touch points with the team and share coping strategies that can help keep a positive mindset. Personally if I feel that my mindset is being compromised or if I am struggling to focus, I like to make sure I get out and go for a walk. We also have a calm app subscription as part of our wellbeing commitment so I like to listen to this before bed too!’’ – Ghislaine West
Work for us
If you are looking for a fruitful career in recruitment then look no further! Foundation Recruitment are on the hunt for exceptional individuals who have a drive to succeed. We are committed to supporting employee wellbeing and endeavour to continue developing and evolving along with contributing factors to provide a healthy, supportive, and enjoyable working environment. As well as providing a platform to grow and develop a lucrative career, we offer numerous wellbeing benefits including mental health cover, free subscription to the Calm App, early finish on Fridays and work from home days. Get in touch with one of our consultants today, we’d love to hear from you!