Wellbeing in the Workplace

The employees’ wellbeing has become a huge focus for many of today’s leading companies. From on-site yoga classes to fresh roasted coffee, these are not just tricks made to dazzle potential candidates. These companies know that these perks can boost employees wellbeing, and in turn contribute to the motivation, creativity and productivity of their workforce.

So how do you make sure workers stay energized and  driven day after day?

Several researches have shown that taking care of employees’ office environment is the key to keeping a high functioning and satisfied staff. For example, a recent study by the O.C. Tanner institute found that physical wellness has a large impact on an individual’s sense of satisfaction and wellbeing. The study states that as an employee’s physical wellness improves from ‘poor’ to ‘good’, their overall wellbeing and happiness also improves. Therefore, in order for employers to enhance their workers wellbeing, it is important to consider their state of physical health.

So, what contributes to a healthy and positive work culture?

Social Interactions – social wellness is known to be one of the most important keys to workers’ happiness and satisfaction. Interaction with various people, socializing, bouncing ideas off one another and even unrelated social moments pocketed within the workday, prove to keep workers content with where they spend most of their days and even excited for a new day in the office.

Flexibility – many companies are adopting flexible and personalized work arrangements in order to maintain a loyal and appreciative team. That way, they allow individuals to feel trusted, to move around and work from different spaces and to work hours that are more suitable for them. This, in turn, creates a more mature workforce that will be more committed to the organization they work for.

Physical Wellness – Fitness and nutrition are important ways to insure health. Therefore, many companies are providing gym memberships, yoga classes and healthy snacks for their employees. Exposure to natural sunlight also greatly improves workers wellbeing. Many organizations are now encouraging employees to work outside, take small breaks to soak up the sun and breathe some fresh air. Vitamin D deficiency can lead to increased susceptibility to disease and infections, fatigue and even burnout and depression.

Open and shared workspaces, social environment and consideration of team members as holistic beings, contributes to the gain and achievements of the organization as a whole. Wellbeing is quickly becoming a top contributing factor for both recruiting, maintaining and motivating employees, as many companies and corporations already know.

The importance of wellbeing in the workplace is one of the top reasons that lead companies to ditch the traditional offices in favor of modern coworking spaces. In these shared workplaces employees can enjoy social interactions (inside and outside the company), access amenities such as gyms, fully-equipped kitchens where they can prepare healthy lunches and snacks, and often an outdoor space where employees can chill during the day, breathe fresh air and boost their creativity.