Promoting Workplace Health and Well-being.

 Fazil Farook

   Figure 1:Workplace Wellness: Promoting Health and Well-being Among Employees


Introduction

At the core of our mission to advocate for work and working lives is our commitment, to promoting and supporting the wellbeing of our employees. We firmly believe that a designed workplace well-being program can bring advantages to individuals’ organizations, economies, and communities alike. By fostering work environments, we enable people to thrive and achieve their potential. This entails creating a setting that actively encourages contentment benefiting both employees and the organization.


 Source: YouTube video - HR leader’s guide to remote employee wellbeing


Investing in employee wellbeing can lead to increased resilience, better employee engagement, reduced sickness absence, and higher performance and productivity. However, wellbeing initiatives often fall short of their potential because they stand alone, isolated from the everyday business. To gain real benefit, employee well-being priorities must be integrated throughout an organization, embedded in its culture, leadership, and people management (CIPD, n.d.).


Mental health at work key facts:

  • Decent work is good for mental health.
  • Poor working environments – including discrimination and inequality, excessive workloads, low job control and job insecurity – pose a risk to mental health.
  • 15% of working-age adults were estimated to have a mental disorder in 2019.
  • Globally, an estimated 12 billion working days are lost every year to depression and anxiety at a cost of US$ 1 trillion per year in lost productivity.
  • There are effective actions to prevent mental health risks at work, protect and promote mental health at work, and support workers with mental health conditions (World Health Organization, 2022).


Promoting Health and well-being at work.




Figure 3: DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING


  • Workplace regulations, covering areas such as working hours and smoking in the workplace
  • Financial incentives such as accident insurance premium variation, tax credits, and subsidies
  • Dissemination of information and guidance developed together with other stakeholders
  • Certification and award schemes, such as Japan’s Health & Productivity Management Program, provide reputational benefits and spotlight employers implementing best practices. Measures targeted at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises are particularly important as they employ a large proportion of workers in OECD countries

In addition to policymakers, stakeholders involved in health promotion at work include occupational health professionals, insurance institutions, employers, employees, trade unions, and social partners (Mark PEARSON, n.d.).‌


Risks to mental health at work:


At work, risks to mental health, also called psychosocial risks, may be related to job content or work schedule, specific characteristics of the workplace or opportunities for career development among other things (World Health Organization, n.d.)


Ensuring the health and safety of individuals within the workplace is a legal obligation. Although prioritizing the mitigation of physical injuries is typically the primary concern in a professional setting, it is also imperative to ensure the protection of employees' mental well-being.

 Mental health conditions have the potential to diminish productivity and escalate rates of absence inside the workplace. Protecting employees from stress and mental health difficulties can yield significant benefits. Legal implications may arise due to the duty of care that employers have towards their employees, necessitating their responsible oversight (Health Assured, n.d.).


Conclusion:


In conclusion, fostering a culture of workplace health and well-being is not just an ethical choice; it's a strategic one. It benefits not only employees but also the organizations they serve. As humans, we thrive when our physical and mental health is prioritized, and the workplace is no exception. By investing in initiatives that support physical fitness, mental resilience, work-life balance, and stress management, we create environments where employees are more engaged, productive, and satisfied.


References

  1. CIPD, n.d. Wellbeing at Work. Available at: https://www.cipd.org/en/knowledge/factsheets/well-being-factsheet (29 October 2023).


  3. Health Assured, n.d. Health Assured. Available at: https://www.healthassured.org/free-downloads/mental-health-risk-assessment-template/ (29 October 2023).


  5. Pearson, M., n.d. WASS Conference, Tokyo 2022. Available at: https://www.oecd.org/els/promoting-health-and-well-being-at-work-e179b2a5-en.htm (29 October 2023).


  7. World Health Organization, 2022. Mental health at work. Available at: https://www.who.int//news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work (30 October 2023).


  9. World Health Organization, n.d. Risks to mental health. Available at: https://www.who.int//news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-at-work (30 October2023).

 

Figure 1:Workplace Wellness: Promoting Health and Well-being Among Employees
Figure 2:HR leader’s guide to remote employee wellbeing,2022 (video file), Available from:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDBNEcQtn6M&t=85s
Figure 3: DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND WELL-BEING


Comments

  1. Rasika GardihewaOctober 30, 2023 at 3:53 PM

    Mental health awareness and support are essential, and it's great to see the emphasis on creating a positive work environment. Let's continue to prioritize the physical and mental well-being of employees to foster a thriving workplace for everyone.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Zeinab Ahamed HRMBAOctober 30, 2023 at 10:25 PM

    here you've highlighted link between an employee's health and performance is strong, and the article emphasizes it with clarity and insight. investing in mental health and wellness shows dedication to the proper care of their employees.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aravinda Fernando MBA29November 1, 2023 at 10:43 AM

    End of he day, HR is From people TO people. Clearly shown the Extra mile that HR should walk to win the employee.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anjali FernandoNovember 6, 2023 at 9:42 AM

    great article with valuable facts.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Nadishani BastianszNovember 8, 2023 at 8:31 AM

    Good topic and a article, End of the day physically and mentally healthy work force is required for the organization to move forward and achieve better results.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Manthika SKNovember 9, 2023 at 5:35 AM

    You discussed the importance of workplace health and well-being for employees and organizations. It explains the risks and benefits of mental health, and the actions and policies to promote it. It concludes that workplace well-being is a strategic imperative.

    ReplyDelete

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