Workplace wellbeing is at the forefront of business success, especially in today’s era of employment. Value, purpose, and happiness are now more important than ever essential for companies looking to attract and retain valuable employees. And if current statistics are to be believed, companies have to focus on cultivating and embracing a holistic wellbeing strategy in order to maintain workplace productivity.

In The Workplace Health Report 2023, over a third of surveyed employees reported that workplace stress has negatively impacted their work, with some workers feeling too overwhelmed to cope. According to the same study, half of all employees feel anxious and experience symptoms of depression.

Gallup also reports that a decline in workplace wellbeing isn’t consequence-free, with up to $322 billion being lost in turnover and lost productivity globally. 

That being said, there are several ways to look at workplace wellbeing - through the eyes of business leadership and through the eyes of employees. A wellbeing strategy may make sense from a leadership perspective and not deliver the best outcomes for employees. For example, a supportive environment may help management reach employees on-site, but the effects may be diluted for remote workers.

That’s where digital signage comes in. We have found it to be just as effective in helping leadership improve employee wellbeing.

That’s why this post is not only dedicated to traditional workplace wellbeing strategies but also to innovative ways your organization can use digital signage to improve overall well being in the workplace. 

​​Workplace wellbeing is the state of overall health, happiness, and satisfaction of employees in their work environment. It involves creating conditions that support employees' physical, mental, and emotional health so they can perform their job well and feel a sense of satisfaction while doing it.

Workplace well-being is quite complex because a wide range of factors can affect employees’ wellbeing, tipping it in one way or another. For example, a positive company culture can improve wellbeing, but excessive workload will move things in the other direction.

Some of the biggest factors that affect workplace wellbeing include:

Understanding these factors can help you create a healthier work environment for employees and yield long-term growth benefits.

Why organizations should promote an employee wellbeing strategy

Setting up a health and wellbeing strategy is not easy. It will require resources, time, and an active commitment to employee health. However, organizations need to be committed to building a wellbeing strategy because of all the positive outcomes it can yield for both employees and the organization.

Employees’ mental health directly affects everything from motivation to performance and the ability to cope with challenges in the workplace (Health Shield). Employees these days seek out work environments that support their health and wellbeing as much as career growth opportunities, and a culture with poor mental health just won't cut it. 

As a result, focusing on this aspect of employee wellbeing isn’t just about the performance of current employees; it can seriously affect your ability to attract new top talent as well.

Employees who feel supported and valued by their organization are more likely to be engaged and productive (American Psychological Association). In today’s competitive business landscape, organizations need their workers to constantly bring their 100% if they want to beat out the competition.

But that’s not all there is to it. Investing in an employee wellbeing strategy also shows a genuine commitment to the workforce, fostering a sense of loyalty and motivation. Wellbeing initiatives like mindfulness programs or flexible work options can significantly improve employee satisfaction, leading to higher employee retention rates and greater productivity.

Organizations that prioritize employee wellbeing also end up cultivating a positive corporate culture (source). Since corporate culture is linked not just to talent attraction but turnover reduction and improved market perception, companies are incentivized to focus resources on improving employee morale and their overall workplace wellbeing strategy.

Maintaining a safe working environment to keep workplace wellbeing high always pays off in consistent productivity from employees. When they enjoy what they do and have a healthy work and life balance, they are less likely to call in sick just because and are more adept at generating creative ideas for growth. (source)

A big part of customer experience is how they are treated and made to feel by employees. A strong employee wellbeing strategy leads to a happy employee, and that energy translates to how they engage with customers.

A friendly, helpful attitude and passion for the product or service will make customers feel special and keep them coming back for more. None of that would be possible without a focus on workplace wellbeing.

7 Ideas for your employee wellbeing strategy

Earlier, we promised to introduce some outside-the-box but effective strategies you can use to improve workplace wellbeing using digital signage. Before we get to that, let’s look at conventional approaches that have worked in the past. 

One thing to keep in mind is that workplace wellbeing often always comes back to employee happiness. Happy employees are more productive and show a greater commitment to the company and it's goals. So keeping your employees happy and engaged is an excellent place to start.

1. Establish a holistic wellbeing program

Developing a comprehensive, integrated wellbeing strategy that addresses various aspects of employee health is a great place to start. It shows a commitment to improving employee well-being and also places it on the to-do list of management.

This program should support mental health, physical health, work and life balance, and professional development. Holistic wellbeing programs should also provide resources for:

Equally effective is creating a workplace culture that encourages open communication and empathy and supports the creation of positive relationships. Managers can be encouraged to regularly check in with employees and provide opportunities for feedback and suggestions. 

A supportive environment usually also includes flexible work arrangements that ensure fair workload distribution. This will reduce stress levels and encourage healthier behaviors, resulting in higher job satisfaction and reduced burnout.

3. Promote mental health awareness and training

Even though a holistic employee wellbeing program could address employees' mental health needs, it’s also important to focus on it as a stand alone project. Invest in mental health awareness programs and training for both employees and managers to educate on the signs of common mental health issues, and how to access help when the signs show.

Some other steps to consider when setting up mental health awareness and training include:

It’s also important to encourage employees to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Companies have done this through flexible work arrangements, promoting time off, and discouraging excessive overtime.

You can also encourage breaks and provide opportunities for physical activity that help employees prioritize their personal lives and development. All of this can help improve job satisfaction levels, reduce stress levels and ultimately benefit the organization too.

Often, companies won't know if employees are unhappy unless you ask them. According to the study from The Workplace Health Report 2023 mentioned earlier, up to 50% of employees reported pushing through to deliver results even though they were stressed. Workplace wellbeing deficits don’t start to show in employee output until a critical level. 

Therefore, employee feedback is essential, whether on financial security, safety concerns, or work distribution. Of course, not all of their issues can be resolved, but taking the time to talk it through with them, organizing employee focus groups, and finding a middle ground will show your talent that they are valued. It also gives the business direction on where to focus efforts.

6. Reward and recognize employees' hard work

It’s very easy to feel like you’re just another name on a spreadsheet, especially in large organizations with hundreds of employees. But, this can have a massive impact on mental health and wellbeing, as one study found. 82% of employees feel this way, while only 45% believe the organization truly recognizes them (Gartner)

One solution is to give employees the recognition they deserve when they cross milestones, break a record or demonstrate extraordinary performance. Recognition boards, awards, and shoutouts are critical for this. Rewards and incentives are also a great way to motivate staff and show them appreciation. 

Occupational Health and Safety compliance is required by all companies, regardless of their size and industry, and adhering to the laws and guidelines alone can dramatically improve your employees’ workplace wellbeing.

Prioritizing OHS standards can make your employees feel more confident, knowing their company is taking the precautions to protect them in every way possible. When employees feel safe and protected, they feel greater job satisfaction and are more inclined to adhere to safety policies, resulting in fewer incidents and industries.

Tips on using digital signage for an effective employee wellbeing strategy

If you’re looking to take things one step further and innovate with your workplace wellbeing, this is the section for you. If you already have a digital signage network in place, you can hit the ground running with these strategies. Just sign up for a digital management software like ScreenCloud, and you can be set.

On the other hand, if you’re wondering if digital signage is worth it for your organization, here are 4 more reasons to tip you in what we believe is the right direction. 

1. Visualize and communicate wellbeing messages

Your company can use digital signage displays to visually communicate wellbeing messages, such as mental health awareness campaigns, fitness challenges, or upcoming wellbeing workshops. Keeping these on a loop will not only keep employees engaged but also remind them to prioritize their mental health.

Check out our post on Keeping your digital signage content updated and fresh.

You can also use your digital signage to provide real-time updates on wellbeing initiatives, deadlines, and upcoming events. Remind employees about the availability of mental health resources, encourage participation in wellness activities, and share success stories to inspire employee engagement.

2. Use digital signage to improve work processes

The beauty of digital signage is that you can turn any TV into a digital whiteboard or create interactive walls quite easily. These no doubt look cool, but they can also help with the work processes we mentioned earlier.

For example, imagine you wanted to create a more flexible work schedule and spread the workload so no one feels over-burdened. What better way to make that happen than a digital whiteboard where current KPIs, work schedules and other critical info can be displayed?

Check out our post on Interactive digital signage for even more ideas.

Digital signage is a great training tool, and you can use it to raise awareness about mental health, share information on available resources, and provide tips for maintaining employee health and wellbeing. We’ve talked about how important education is for breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging help-seeking behaviors. Digital signage in employee training can really help make a difference here.

We’ve already talked about how recognition and awards can improve workplace well-being. But with digital signage, you can take things one step further. Use digital recognition boards to commend employees and teams that display exceptional performance. 

The beauty of this is that you can recognize as many employees as necessary with no additional cost. It’s a no-brainer way to improve morale and support employee wellbeing quickly.

Create a robust workplace wellbeing strategy with ScreenCloud

We have a range of digital signage product offers, apps, and several service tiers that can help your business actively improve your employees' wellbeing. But don't take our word for it. Book a demo today and see why 10,000+ clients globally trust ScreenCloud.

How can workplace wellbeing improve your business performance and employee productivity? We look at how to design and manage a wellbeing strategy at work.

Workplace Wellbeing: Why and How Businesses Should Cultivate It?

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