Are you an
employer wanting to incorporate a fantastic wellness initiative in your
workplace? Maybe you’re an employee wondering just how vital workplace
wellbeing is. Or maybe, you have no idea what workplace wellbeing is and
stumbled across this blog accidentally.
We’re big on
benefits, and with our new employee benefits initiative well and truly
underway, we wanted to share the importance of wellbeing in the workplace.
We spend a
large proportion of our waking lives at work, so it goes without saying that
work is a substantial contributing factor in our mental health. With mental
illness the #1 cause of sickness absence and
long-term work incapacity
in Australia, it’s time for Means for “workplace safety”, workplace wellbeing provides a layer of
protection over the mental health and wellbeing of an employee and not just
their physical safety. When a workplace actively cares about the welfare of its
Means for $50,000 worth of benefits. That’s $50,000, per employee, per year – a yearly salary for many Australians.
So, why is an
employee wellness program so important?
We take a look
at three straightforward ways to bring wellbeing into the workplace, and what
it will do for Australia ranks joint 10th in the world, spending a vast 70% of
our waking hours working every day. So how can we inject a little work-life
balance into our daily routines?
The impact smartphones
and laptops have had on the workplace is undeniable, making it easy for people to
work pretty much anywhere (with an internet connection!). The internet has made
flexible working the new norm in Australia, with up to 70% of Australians waving farewell to clock counting
bosses.
yes to that appointment at 9am – just adjust your hours to work later!
you are more productive at home, you’re trusted to get the job done.
While flexible
working hours benefits quarter of people put in up to 6.7 extra hours per week
when not chained to a desk? That’s over 300 extra hours a year! A UK study saw
the number of sick days fall from 12% to just 2% after the introduction of flexible
working hours.
With more
people working than ever before, workplaces must acknowledge that lives don’t
stop from 9-5, and not everyone works on the same clock. Many companies work with
contractors in other countries and time zones – it seems fair to provide
employees with flexibility.
We at UEC know
the importance of removing rigidity at work. That’s why we provide all
employees with flexibility at work: employees are only required in the office
during core hours of 10am-4pm Monday – Thursday. Early birds choose to come in
at 7 and leave at 4 while others work more hours Monday to Thursday to spend
less time working on Fridays – or better yet, they take Fridays off completely!
Of course, you
don’t have to change your working week every week. Some employees choose to
work standard hours ranging from 8-6 and then use their flex time when they need
it. All employees are encouraged to find which working hours suit their levels
of productivity or creativity, as well as fitting “life” into their weekdays.
While flexible
working hours are bound to have a beneficial impact on employees, studies have
shown that simply offering a flexible working environment doesn’t immediately equal
better health and happiness.
So, what more
can you do?
Mindfulness is
a practise which helps you focus on the present moment, boosting concentration
and productivity and alleviating stress. Used in Buddhism for thousands of
years, it’s been somewhat relieved of its spiritual origins to fit into the
ideals of the western world.
“[There’s]
growing interest in using the practice of mindfulness in the workplace to
provide a buffer against stress.” – Jason Marsh, Director of Programs for the
Greater Good Science Center, University of California
In recent
years, the topic of mindfulness has made headlines and is now incorporated into
many employee wellness programs, helping employees learn how to build
resilience, reduce stress and cope in difficult work-related situations.
The practice of
mindfulness can promote a healthier work-life balance, prevent ill mental health
and help employees perform with more focus. But it’s important not to treat
mindfulness as a band-aid to cover underlying problems amounting to stress in
the workplace. Mindfulness should instead add to a happy and healthy work
environment.
Typically
forward-thinking company Google includes
a meditation room and onsite yoga classes in its Sydney office, where one
employee, James Worsley, maintains
“You
would think taking 20 minutes to do nothing might slow you down, but it
actually frees you up to get a lot more done.”
Ultimate Edge’s
wellness program features a wellness, health or fitness activity every year,
whether that’s a yoga retreat, a hot stone massage or a mindfulness program – it’s
up to every employee to choose their calling.
Sport & Health
Keeping fit is
hugely important, especially for desk workers. It’s all too common to put on
weight when working in an office – show us someone who stays in shape by
sitting down for 40 hours a week (please!).
Ultimate Edge
CEO Aleisha McCall comes from a background in international junior figure
skating championships, while several other employees share her competitive (and
non-competitive) sporting backgrounds. Naturally, we know exercise doesn’t just
keep you physically fit, it also improves your productivity. Dedication to
sport also increases your focus, determination, commitment, teamwork and
tenacity – but that’s another story!
Exercise
increases the blood flow to your brain and in turn, keeps your awareness levels
on high alert. It triggers a protein called BDNF (Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor), which
boosts your cognitive abilities. Increased energy, sharper focus and higher
awareness equip you for a more productive day, enabling you to churn out high-quality
work at a faster pace. Not to mention you’ll feel a whole lot better for it!
Long and short-term
benefits of exercise are widely known, including staying in shape, increased
energy and reduced risk of cardiovascular-related disease, but lesser known is
it’s significant link to improving mental health.
Exercise
releases a concoction of chemicals, including endorphins, dopamine and
serotonin. Endorphins are the euphoria you feel after exercising, which provide
prolonged benefits such as improving and regulating your mood and energy
levels. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that sends a message to your brain to
stimulate your mood and emotion, helping to control feelings of depression and
anxiety. That’s why routine exercise is a pick-me-up recommended by Doctors as
a natural supplement or even alternative to anti-depressants.
A stronger
state of mind will not only improve your lifestyle but naturally better-equip you
to handle any work or life-related stresses you may face.
As part of the benefits program, Ultimate Edge has partnered with East Coast Squash Academy, kitting out all staff with a yearly squash membership. With this, UEC staff are encouraged to increase their fitness levels, learn something new, blow off steam, enjoy a great rally and ultimately, squash some balls!
Wellbeing and the workplace can coexist
There are a
myriad of ways to improve your lifestyle starting at work, and while you should
place importance on taking care of your own mental and physical health, your
employer also has a duty of care to uphold – namely to not let the workplace
have a negative effect on your health and wellbeing, long or short-term.
While big
conglomerates like Google, Microsoft and Virgin can find space for onsite running
tracks or fund onsite clinics with full-time medical staff, a good wellness program
doesn’t have to cost thousands.
Effective
wellbeing initiatives can form through smaller gestures, like our monthly
cinema tickets, sporting memberships and flex time. Ultimate Edge’s employee
benefits scheme goes beyond wellbeing to guide staff in their personal
development, helping employees advance their current skills, expedite their
goals and earn promotions and pay raises. These personal development benefits
are optional, but if used, can expand a person’s breadth of their role and
increase their value and employability – and with staff wellbeing at the
forefront of our ethos, it’s a win-win on all accounts.
To health and happiness!
