How Any Business Can Promote a Healthy Work/Life Balance

According to a survey conducted by mental health charity Mind, 60% of employees feel more motivated and more likely to recommend a company if their employer actively supports mental health and wellbeing.

It’s been a difficult few years in numerous ways, with a particular struggle for many as we learnt to navigate the workforce amid a pandemic. Some of us had to become teachers to little ones while still trying to work full-time, others lost their jobs entirely and had to seek new employment in such unprecedented times. Business owners have had to adapt their policies, become more open to flexible working and understand how to manage employees remotely. It’s been one heck of a journey, one many of us are still on.

As a business, we too have had to make changes. While we have always felt proactive in encouraging a healthy and happy working environment, the pandemic has brought to light many things for all of us. Even if you think you are at the top of your game, you can always improve, learn and listen.

Wellbeing in the Workplace

What is employee wellbeing?

We spend a lot of our time at work so it’s no surprise that the culture and environment of a workplace can have such a dramatic effect on mental health. The reality is, employees always perform better when they feel valued, supported and healthy. Mental health should not be the elephant in the room at any company. Employees need to feel understood and a conscious effort by their employer will create a culture of openness and encouragement. This enhances morale, boosting staff retention and productivity.

Also, just be a good person.

Tips for Promoting a Healthy Work/Life Balance

It doesn’t matter what your net profit is or how many employees you have on your roster, wellbeing should always be a priority. There are things any company can do to prevent burnout and ensure their team feels like work is a good place to be.

Send a Clear Message

Mental health matters. Problems often spiral because people are afraid to talk. Use internal communication channels, such as blogs, newsletters, noticeboards and factsheets, to raise awareness and promote discussion on mental health. Normalise these conversations.

Create an Open Dialogue

It’s important that your team knows and understands where they fit in and how they play a part in that. Ensure that you hold regular team update meetings, keeping employees informed of any business changes and then seek out their feedback. Encourage your team to talk openly about the business, their role and things that need to change or be addressed.

Introducing regular review meetings with individuals where you can discuss their development and any issues they may have, will ensure they feel valued and motivated to work.

Sending out regular, anonymous surveys is also an easy way to obtain feedback and open the door to change.

Flexibility is Key

Not just in a pandemic. Flexible working is something many have fought for over the years and it’s only now that businesses are starting to see it brings value.

The opportunity to work from home/remotely reduces stress and burnout. We’re often trying to juggle too many plates and at some point, one of them is going to smash. It’s usually work.

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that a huge chunk of us can still conduct business from home. We took this on board and created our Hybrid Working Policy last year to allow people to be wherever they want to be. Being flexible means supporting healthier and more productive ways of working.

Perks That Matter

A pool table in the office? Sure, that’s great. What about healthcare? Prioritise what really matters. We’d all love a beer fridge, but we’d love a business that supports our mental and physical health more.

5874 Commerce does this by ensuring every employee is enrolled into our private healthcare scheme. We also give our employees their birthday off and a paid 4-week sabbatical when they reach 5 years with us. Not only that, we have an ongoing mentorship programme, an office library and frequent 1-2-1 sessions with line managers. All of this is because we know we would be nothing without our team, so ensuring they are happy, healthy and motivated is our main goal.

The important thing to remember here is that mental health is not a one-size-fits-all. It’s important to listen to your employees as individuals and provide opportunities for growth and empowerment within the workplace. Not everyone wants to work from home 5 days a week, and that’s fine. It’s all about adapting and creating a culture of change for the better.

If you’re looking for a new challenge and want a workplace that puts huge emphasis on employee wellbeing, head over to our vacancies page now and see if we have an opportunity for you.