Employee Wellbeing at Work
The best way to get the most from your employees to make sure they are happy at work. There are plenty of different ways to do this, and it’s important to find what works best for you and your team. Here are some suggestions to help you to get started:
Use natural light
Natural light can make a big difference to how we feel in work, so make the most of the windows in your office! Natural light can help to boost mood and energy which can lead to increased productivity in the workplace. It has also been shown that employees who are exposed to more natural light get better sleep which can lead to overall better help and lower stress levels.
If your office doesn’t have many windows, there are ways to make the most of the natural light you do have. For example, using clear partitions to allow acoustic privacy but still allow natural light into the space.
Get active
Eight hours per day at a desk is great for productivity but not for the body - or necessarily the mind. Encourage your team to get up and move about throughout the day; perhaps you could encourage some sort of monthly challenge for step counts or even help with subsidised gym memberships for your team.
Socialise
Find ways to socialise outside of work; could you have a monthly or quarterly team lunch or do other activities together? This helps people to put work differences aside and find common ground and interests which will mean they feel more like friends than work colleagues.
Desk exercises
Encourage your team to do basic stretches throughout the day so that they don’t begin to feel aches and pains associated with desk work. You could look up some “desk yoga” videos online or even pay for a therapist to come in and provide short desk based massages during break periods. This can help to relieve muscle tension and stress and promote wellbeing.
Office layout
Take a look at how your office is set out: can staff hold conversations and interact with each other easily? Is there private space to hold meetings or take time out? These things make a real difference and can impact on everyone’s mood. Look at making small changes to desk positions etc and see if you can make your office space feel more sociable and inclusive.
Add some plants
Having plants (real ones, not plastic ones!) can help to improve air quality. As well as this, providing staff with something to look at for a while other than their work can give them a bit of a break. A little more greenery around the office can help to make it feel more relaxed and inviting.
