Imagine yourself in a work environment where pressure is building up, deadlines are approaching, and employees’ mental workload is always increasing. Every day, you notice a lack of energy, a hard time concentrating, and a drop in general enthusiasm. Breaks are short, and informal discussions between colleagues are becoming rarer. This atmosphere affects not only morale, but also individual and collective performance, and consequently the organization’s productivity.
Now imagine another scenario: an environment where employees feel valued, where flexible schedul, and mutual support are encouraged. Employees take regular breaks, participate in activities that motivate them, and share their ideas in a climate of trust. In this workspace, everyone feels listened to, and the energy of the group is positive. This benefits not only individuals, but the whole company.
Employee well-being isn’t just about personal satisfaction; it’s also crucial to business success. A study by Oxford University revealed that happy employees perform up to 13% better. Placing employee well-being at the heart of corporate strategy creates win-win conditions. This is reflected not only in productivity, but also in the energy, mental health and happiness of your employees. Like any business, it wouldn’t exist without its employees. So companies don’t have to choose between well-being and productivity. In fact, by focusing on well-being in the workplace, they naturally boost productivity.
6 initiatives to enhance your teams’ well-being and boost productivity
It’s never too late to adopt practices aimed at improving well-being. Let’s take a look at 6 solutions that influence different types of well-being: physical, psychological, social, organizational and human. These solutions will help increase your teams’ well-being and create an environment conducive to achievement and productivity.
1. Offering flexible working hours
Offering flexible schedules allows employees to work at times when they are most productive, whether that’s in the morning or evening. This can include telecommutingoptions or adjustable days, making it easier to balance workloads according to individual needs, fluctuations in demand and family realities. Focusing on organizational well-being is an effective way to demonstrate goodwill towards employees and increase productivity by 29%. In some sectors, it is more difficult to offer flexible working hours. In such cases, effective personnel and schedule management is essential to ensure a balance that meets employees’ expectations. AI-powered tools can help juggle the different variables influencing schedules, including more effective forecasting of labor requirements, while respecting sector-specific constraints.
2. Move at lunchtime
Offering sports activities over the lunch hour allows employees to get outside and secrete hormones such as endorphin, dopamine and adrenaline, which combat stress and can act as an antidepressant, contributing to greater social well-being. By allowing a longer lunch hour and encouraging employees to get moving, employees maximize their exposure to the sun, build team spirit and forge valuable bonds that have a beneficial effect on individuals and the work atmosphere.
3. Encouraging communication and meetings
By holding regular meetings, organizations can ensure the psychological well-being of employees by strengthening project cohesion and enhancing recognition from superiors. For example, one-to-one meetings between supervisor and employee, as well as Town Halls, promote transparency and unite the team around a common goal. According to the study “Diagnosis de la motivation dans les entreprises françaises”, 51.9% of the highly motivated people questioned in this study claim that their superiors have a major influence on their motivation.
4. Build on a strong corporate culture with clear values
A strong employer brand, with clearly defined values, promotes the human well-being of individuals within an organization. People don’t like ambiguity; when the company clearly establishes its values, it helps your employees better understand their role and place in the organization. What’s more, the implementation of a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach delivers an average performance gain of 13% compared to companies that don’t bother. A well-established employer brand is also an essential asset for attracting and retaining talent, especially in a context of labor shortages. Candidates are increasingly attentive to an organization’s corporate culture and values. By promoting an authentic and engaging employer brand, a company stands out on the job market, attracting profiles aligned with its values.
5. Offer wellness and training programs
It’s common to think that offering stress management training to employees is beneficial. However, some may feel attacked or disinterested by this type of training. For companies, it is crucial to focus more on training managers, who play an essential role in employee well-being. They need to be able toidentify behaviours of concern, and embody positive leadership that motivates and offers appropriate support. Indeed, a study reveals that 54% of those surveyed believe that a good manager motivates and inspires his or her teams. This recommendation underlines the importance of empathetic, proactive management as part of workplace well-being.
6. Integrating AI and new technologies
With new technologies, including artificial intelligence, now within your reach, they become your best allies in optimizing processes and lightening your daily routine. By taking charge of repetitive and tedious tasks, these technologies can finally help you reduce your to-do list and free up time for more rewarding missions. The result: a reduced mental workload and the ability to concentrate on high value-added tasks, boosting not only productivity, but also pleasure and satisfaction at work.
Workplace well-being at the heart of our priorities
Well-being at work is much more than just a trend; it’s a necessity that has a direct impact on the health of the company. Imagine an environment where everyone feels valued, listened to and encouraged to flourish. This scenario is within reach. By integrating wellness practices now, and using the modern tools at our disposal, such as artificial intelligence, we can transform our workplace into a dynamic and positive space. Don’t wait for the situation to deteriorate before taking action. By investing in your employees’ well-being today, you’re building a future that combines harmony and productivity. Now is the perfect time to make a difference: let’s embrace change and together create an environment where everyone can flourish!
Amanda Arciero, M.Sc., CRHA Vice-présidente aux Opérations amanda.arciero@airudi.com
