According to the American Institute of Stress, some 40% of workers rate their jobs as extremely stressful. That’s no way to spend your day, or to nourish your longer-term professional and personal development. Traditionally, employers might have been reluctant to discuss stress with their staff, seeing it as a personal issue, but those employers who are willing to take a proactive approach to their employees’ wellbeing can expect an uptick in engagement, retention and profitability. It stands to reason. Many of us define ourselves by our careers and are prepared to dedicate a large portion of our lives to the office in pursuit of success. Here’s how employers can support that ambition.
Flexible Working Boosts Productivity
Breaking away from a rigid 9-to-5 structure puts an organization more in tune with the needs of the modern workforce. Office-based employment based on locked-in hours presents a barrier for many workers, especially those who are juggling childcare responsibilities with work, or who are transitioning toward the later years of employment. The irony is that employers have nothing to fear. Studies have shown that employees who work from home can deliver an extra day of productive output per week compared to those who remain in the conventional office structure. The key takeaway? Don’t insist that your employees must be present. Assist them in being productive.
Office Fitness Perks Attract Talent
Today’s hotshot recruit isn’t necessarily aiming for a corner office as a life goal. Evidence suggests that many employees are looking instead for a working environment that chimes with their personal wellbeing goals. In other words, they want their professional lives to support their personal lives, instead of having to sacrifice health and wellbeing for the sake of work. Here’s what they’re looking for:
- Healthy options in the staff canteen, including juice bars and free-from alternatives
- Opportunities to connect, re-energize and relax with yoga classes, guided meditation and fitness sessions
- Breakout spaces that encourage creativity and relaxation, whether for playing board games, reading or power-napping
Include a Stipend in the Recruitment Package
During periods of low employment, job security and salary take precedence when it comes to the job search. When the employment market is more competitive, candidates look for more-creative packages. Increasingly, employees are searching for something more-holistic in employee benefits than a simple salary offer can satisfy. They want perks and rewards that reflect their own personal goals, whether it’s the acquisition of new skills or consolidation of existing ones. The issue is particularly pertinent for millennials: 87% evaluate a job offer on the basis of career development rather than salary alone.
Power up your recruitment package with benefits that include:
- In-house courses on a regular basis
- Support for acquiring skills through online courses
- Career paths that incorporate certification and accreditation
Take Part in Financial Wellbeing
While a regular salary contributes to financial wellbeing, it is not, by itself, the key to financial freedom. That’s because no two employees take the same position from an identical starting point. Each of us brings our individual circumstances to the equation, whether it’s the size of our student and car loans, or the health of our credit score. While no employer is obliged to assume responsibility for the financial health of their employees, any employer can play a part in the long-term wellbeing of their staff. A profitable business, by its very nature, has expert insight to share when it comes to prioritizing repayments and building a credit score. A little guidance from an established employer can make a significant difference to an employee who is just starting out in the financial world. Offering a tool such as ScoreMaster can help your employees achieve their best possible credit score in 20 calendar days — alleviating financial stressors that your team may inadvertently bring into the workplace.
Employers who help their staff grow will reap the benefits of an empowered, motivated workforce. Our job isn’t just an exchange of time and skills for a salary. It can be an opportunity to grow, learn and nurture future ambitions. Those flourish in an environment based on happiness and wellbeing.
To learn more about how ScoreMaster can empower your employees and improve their wellbeing and happiness, contact us today.
*Legal Disclaimer – ScoreMaster is a patent-pending educational feature simulating credit utilization’s effect on credit scores via payments or spending. Your results may vary and are not guaranteed.
References:
- https://www.stress.org/workplace-stress
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/nazbeheshti/2019/01/16/10-timely-statistics-about-the-connection-between-employee-engagement-and-wellness/#1ce0edf222a0
- https://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/econ/i11_work.pdf
- https://www.inc.com/scott-mautz/a-2-year-stanford-study-shows-astonishing-productivity-boost-of-working-from-home.html
- https://www.businessinsider.com/companies-amazing-health-and-fitness-benefits-2019-8?r=US&IR=T
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2019/02/26/the-best-perk-you-can-offer-employees-in-2019-might-be-learning-stipends/#6e8626dcdafe
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2019/02/26/the-best-perk-you-can-offer-employees-in-2019-might-be-learning-stipends/#6e8626dcdafe