It seems employee wellbeing might be the next ‘greenwashing’…
Every business is talking about the physical and mental health of their workforce, but is it all just lip service?
We’ve all been there. It’s your first day in your new job and HR sits down with you and outlines all the benefits you’ll be entitled to. From cycle-to-work schemes and childcare vouchers to discounted gym memberships and 24-hour access to counselling.
But are these benefits being utilised? A week into the job and most employees have either forgotten what’s available to them, or are too distracted with the day-to-day to think about their physical and mental health.
And so, just like with sustainability, it would seem that businesses are falling into the same trap as they did with ‘greenwashing’ – making positive claims that aren’t actually true. Often wellbeing has been ‘ticked off’ but not properly addressed.
So what can businesses do to actually help their staff?
Keep the apps and portals – they have some value and contribute to the bigger picture. But in order for organisations to truly move the dial when it comes to wellbeing they need to help their staff to eject from the daily stresses of their jobs.
Firstly, a physical relocation. As long as people are in the office they will be thinking about their work and the ever-expanding to-do list that hovers over them. Secondly, a mental relocation. If you’re willing to invest in an ‘away day’ then allow your staff to be present – no emails, no work calls – otherwise you’re only making things worse. If staff are taken away from their desk but continue to think about the work that might be piling up, you’re only increasing their anxiety.
So in order to make their absence effective both in the present and the future, the wellness retreat needs to be delivered right. Career experts in the field of wellbeing should be used, not just a confident public speaker who delivers a variety of ‘teambuilding experiences’. Options should be provided, as everyone finds mindfulness in different activities – puppy therapy may be perfect for one person, while yoga exercises might be the solution for another.
All in all, if you’re going to invest in wellbeing then fully commit to it. Because when it’s done by halves, it’s often more detrimental than beneficial.
