There is growing recognition about the importance of employee well-being in and out of the office. Studies show that employee job satisfaction is positively associated with productivity, workplace financial performance, and the quality of output. Keeping employees engaged and motivated is essential to the success of any organisation, and it is up to leaders to set the tone and create a culture that supports well-being in the workplace.
At the individual level, there will be a wide range of factors that influence well-being; however analysis of several studies suggest there are certain key factors for increasing well-being (and performance) in general. Some of these are:
Autonomy and variety: It’s beneficial for employees to have a degree of autonomy over how they undertake their work. This is not to say core processes should be ignored, but allowing a certain degree of self-management can lead to higher productivity. They should also be included in discussions around job design and organisational decision-making, empowering them to use their ‘voice’ at work.
Purpose: Employees want to know that their job has significance within the wider organisation. Those with a sense of purpose are more innovative, passionate and committed to achieving success.
Expectations: Setting clear expectations improves engagement, and creates excitement around taking part in an important project or working toward a greater goal.
Support: Supportive leadership and an environment where co-workers supporting each-other is celebrated are key elements of a productive workplace culture. Investing in things like online courses, ‘away days’ and industry events help support employee development in addition to regular appraisals.
Fairness: Every organisation will deal with office politics to a degree, but perception of fairness is crucial to well-being in the workplace, both in terms of how employees are treated and how they see their colleagues being treated. It’s important that there’s a fair process in place to deal with grievances.
Employees want to work for a company that places value on workplace culture, and organisations that invest time in promoting and supporting well-being in the workplace will see an upturn in engagement, productivity and overall performance.