This article was last updated Jan. 18, 2023.
Tragedy, trauma, loss and change.
What do they have in common? They’re all inevitable in our lifetime and we can’t always forecast when they’ll happen.
In the midst of hardships, resiliency — the ability to bounce back from stress and challenges — allows your employees to keep going despite the circumstances.
What is resiliency?
According to Positive Psychology External Site, resiliency is a life-skill rooted in the key to humankind’s survival. But what does resilience look like and how can you tell if an employee harbors this skill? Keep a lookout for these traits:
- Ability to cope with stress and unexpected challenges
- Self-awareness
- Realistic
- Stays calm under stress
- Exercises empathy
- Motivated
- Optimistic
One thing to keep in mind is that each employee is unique. While you may have employees who excel in resilience at work, others may be more resilient in their personal lives. According to Positive Psychology, an individual's level of resilience External Site is dependent upon each situation and can change over time based on interactions and environmental surroundings.
Behavioral health solutions to meet your employees' unique needs
Every employee and every workplace has different needs, which is why Wellmark offers solutions that address your employees' mental, behavioral and cognitive health. Reach out to your Wellmark representative to discuss the solutions available to you.
How resilience impacts your workplace
In general, employees are spending more time at work, which means less time with their loved ones while stress and other mental health conditions in the workplace are on the rise. Take it from the World Health Organization (WHO) that says stress is considered the global health epidemic and occupational phenomenon External Site of the 21st century.
According to Workplace Mental Health External SIte, when employers improve workplace culture and resilience, they can seek ways to address and improve stress and mental health among employees. Resiliency can positively impact your workplace by leading to:
- Greater job satisfaction, work happiness, organizational commitment and employee engagement.
- Improved self-esteem and sense of belonging and purpose among employees.
- Increased productivity.
5 ways to create a more resilient workplace
If employees are practicing resiliency, then it’s time to look at your workplace to see where organizational changes can help support them further.
Make mindfulness a priority
Research shows that mindfulness can make a difference. In one study, employees who participated in a mindfulness program for six weeks reported reduced work-life conflict, increased job satisfaction, and an increased ability to focus their attention.Provide purpose
Take a moment to think of the reasons you love your job. Now, put yourself in the shoes of someone who is trying to find connection, higher meaning, and impact to the work they do. In any job or career, making a difference and having meaningful goals to work toward leads to purpose. According to Forbes, when your employees have purpose in their job or career, they are more likely to recover from failure or disappointment. Simply put, when employees feel they have a sense of purpose within your workplace, they are less likely to give up when faced with fear, tragedy, or loss.Foster strong relationships
The average employee spends 90,000 hours of their life at work External Site. And with recent world events, perspectives have shifted to what really matters: family, friends, health and meaningful connections. Even if your employees are working from home, creating strong social connections can help your employees live happier and physically healthier lives — which translates to improved performance.Encourage continuous learning
Personal growth and development is essential to a resilient workforce. This is especially true when employees' interactions with each other or customers is dependent on their success. Putting opportunities in place for building skills and strengths will help your employees feel empowered, passionate and inspired to bring their best selves to work each day.Place an emphasis on mental health days
With tragedy, trauma, loss and challenges can come stress, depression and burnout. For resiliency to exist among your employee population, they need to be able to effectively know when to take a step back, regroup and revive. Encouraging your employees to take advantage of mental health days when they need them is a great way for your employees to become refreshed and bounce back.
Ready, set, let’s talk about workplace wellness
At Wellmark, we know your business and have insights and data on your employees that you may not have in-house. Our team of employer health and well-being consultants can serve as an extension of your workforce and provide expertise in creating engaging solutions to meet the unique needs of your employee population.
Learn more, get connected and receive a complimentary consultation Opens in a new window with one of our employer health and well-being experts. Once you complete the form, you’ll receive a copy of our “Well-being that Works” guide. From there, we will be there every step of the way. Our team can be your go-to source for finding the right combination of solutions — because one-size doesn’t fit all.
If you are interested in learning more about how we can support your organization and employees’ overall health and well-being this year and beyond, contact your authorized Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield account representative, or email us at blueatwork@wellmark.com Send Email.
