4 Simple Ways To Improve Wellbeing Post Covid-19

The coronavirus outbreak means that millions of employees in Northern Ireland and across the UK are having to adapt to new working methods, and in some cases, incredibly stressful situations. However, while the shift in working habits may damage employee wellbeing in the short-term, in the longer-term, there could be some unexpected benefits. For example, businesses that have been reluctant to embrace home working in the past, may find that employees are actually more productive and motivated when working from home.

With that in mind, we’re going to explore four simple changes you can make to improve employee wellbeing and give your staff a much-needed boost once the current crisis is over.

1. Embrace flexible working

Employee wellbeing isn’t just about how we feel at work – it’s about every part of our lives. Work is extremely important, but for many people, it’s the things outside of work that give our lives meaning and purpose. If work impacts our ability to enjoy those things, then inevitably, we start to resent it.

If there’s one positive that can hopefully come from the current situation, it’s that employees can work flexibly and still do a great job. Allowing employees to work from home and choose hours that suit them can eliminate all those wasted hours spent commuting and improve their work-life balance. A flexible working study by the New York Times found that those who spend 60-80% of their time away from the office have the highest rates of engagement at work.

2. Judge employees by output, not time

In many sectors, there’s still a pervading view that employees who spend the most time at work are more productive and committed to their jobs. This sort of culture is extremely damaging to employee wellbeing and encourages the wrong type of behaviours.

The time has come to focus on what your employees actually do – their output – rather than the number of hours they spend at their desks. By focusing on output and not clocking them in and out or micromanaging their every move, you also exhibit a level of trust in your staff, which further boosts employee wellbeing and engagement.

3. Design daylight into your office

Research published in the Harvard Business Review found that more natural light is the number one office improvement employees want above all else. And really, it’s hardly surprising. Natural light is vital for our wellbeing, and, if all else is equal, multiple studies have shown that employees with more access to natural light feel happier and healthier.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of natural light. There are also cognitive benefits, with employees feeling more creative, more energetic and able to interact with others more effectively. Perhaps it’s time you redesigned your office to bring in more natural light?

4. Promote healthy eating

Promoting healthy eating is all about making it easier for employees to make healthy choices. Eating healthy food makes us feel better, perform better and look better. Giving employees access to healthy foods such as office fruit bowls is an excellent starting point, but you also need to promote and educate your employees about the benefits.

Nutrition is at the core of wellbeing at work, with a well-balanced diet contributing to a whole range of benefits for employers and employees. That includes a boost in energy levels and mood, improved cognitive function and decreased stress and anxiety.

Ready to boost employee wellbeing after lockdown?

Get in touch with Calibro today to talk about creating an amazing new workspace.