If you had to take a guess, how many of your employees are thriving in every element of their well-being? This means every facet of their well-being (physical, career, financial, community, social and emotional) are all working together in complete harmony.
According to Gallup External Site, only 1 in 14 employees in the U.S. are thriving in all areas of their well-being.
While you can find ways to promote well-being within the physical workplace, it can be harder to reach or communicate the importance of well-being to your remote workforce. In today's current climate, we know you've got a lot on your plate. We've rounded up the best resources for you to share with your remote workforce to keep their overall health and well-being top-of-mind.
"Supporting employees in all areas of well-being has been important but with the recent events, it has become a must for employers. Each person is dealing with their own set of circumstances, from adding homeschooling to their duties to juggling which bills to pay, said Julie Enga, team leader of employer health and well-being consulting services at Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield."
Use the six elements of well-being to your advantage
Work performance is important, sure. But your employees are humans — not robots — and when their overall health and well-being takes a backseat, their work can suffer. Tackle well-being with your remote employees head-on by leveraging these six back-to-basic tips.
"Providing tips and guidance to meet your employees where they are at will provide support in a time of uncertainty. You can also review your current support in place for all areas of well-being and highlight that as part of this," Enga added.
Physical.
When your employees feel better physically, they are more likely to perform better. This includes everything from the diet they consume, the exercise they get throughout their workday and even to the furniture or desk setup they have. It's all vital to increased and consistent performance. Consider these resources to help your employees incorporate better physical habits into their everyday routines — no matter where they're working (i.e., coffee shop, home office).Career.
Remote workers are just as motivated and eager to develop both professionally and personally, even if they aren't in the office or working with you one on one. Without the added commute and distractions, remote employees tend to have a difficult time creating balance between work and home. It's why 52 percent work longer hours than their office coworker counterparts according to Forbes.Social.
Remote workers are more prone to isolation. Daily interactions with coworkers, peers, friends or family members reinforce your employees’ sense of well-being and belonging. Friendships and bonds are created among employees in physical work spaces through project work, adversity, team activities and mentoring sessions. We’ve rounded up some ways you can help keep your remote workers' social well-being in check both during and outside of work.Financial.
Nearly 78 percent of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck External Site. And, we hate to break it to you, but 4 out of 5 employers report that their employees’ personal financial issues are impacting their job performance. For starters, 76 percent of employers have seen an increase in stress among their employees surrounding finances. Even during uncertain times, providing financial education, support and solutions to your employees — regardless of title or paycheck, can provide peace of mind . The best part? This can all be done digitally!Community.
While much of your employees' time spent volunteering is usually done in person, we’ve rounded up options for your employees to volunteer together (even virtually) or with their friends and family members outside of work hours.Emotional.
Remote work is common across many industries today. But that remote work can be hard on your employees' emotional well-being. For example, Forbes.com states that 82 percent of remote technology workers are prone to workplace burnout. Here’s how you can support your remote workforce whether you’re online, or off.
BONUS:
Setting goals are essential, but encouraging your company leaders to set daily or weekly intentions with their employees can help focus in on the moment, recognize values, and determine where emotional energy can be placed. Intentions have no limits, are expansive and help with effectiveness of contributions within an organization.
Here are a few examples to get you started:
- Keep your mind open to inspiration and information that will guide you toward my goals this week.
- Stop apologizing for: other coworkers/stakeholders’ behaviors, saying no, taking care of yourself, setting boundaries, or voicing your opinions.
- Remain open and receptive to opportunities for contribution in (insert project or cause here) and I am grateful for any facilitation I have in this matter.
Every organization — including their employees — are unique. The key to a healthy workplace is delivering solutions based on your population data. Through the Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield's free well-being benefit, our wellness center delivers relevant, timely health content based on the unique needs of each employee’s interest and health profiles.
Need additional support? Our team of experts are here to help
At Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we know your business, and have insight 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.
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 your employee’s health and well-being, contact your authorized Wellmark account representative, or email us at blueatwork@wellmark.com Send Email.
