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The Impact of Well-being on Employee Engagement and Retention

According to a recently published article, researchers are recommending that employers shift the focus of their wellness programs away from weight-related issues and toward emotional and psychological health.

The lead author of the paper, Michael Johnson, an assistant professor at Louisiana State University, along with co-authors Marshall Schminke from the University of Central Florida and David De Cremer from the National University of Singapore, conducted studies across several samples from southeastern Louisiana and northern Europe, as well as a nationally representative sample from the United States.

The studies led the researchers to conclude that how an individual feels about their weight is a better predictor of job performance than their actual weight. Johnson suggests that employers should place less emphasis on weight loss, which is often difficult to sustain long-term, and instead focus on promoting a psychologically healthy lifestyle.

This approach is consistent with the Health at Every Size Movement, which emphasizes the importance of emotional and psychological health for people dealing with weight issues. By implementing programs that help employees develop a psychologically healthy outlook, employers can improve both the health and performance of their workforce.

Building a Workplace Culture of Well-being

A recent poll from management consulting company Gallup shows that less than 25% of U.S. employees feel strongly that their employer cares about their well-being. This is the lowest percentage in nearly a decade.

The Impact of Well-being on the Workplace

Employee well-being can impact employers in various ways. The same Gallup poll noted above states that employees who strongly agree that their employer cares about their overall well-being, compared to others, are:

  • 69% less likely to actively search for a new job
  • 71% less likely to report experiencing a lot of burnout
  • Five times more likely to strongly advocate for their company as a place to work
  • Three times more likely to be engaged at work
  • 36% more likely to be thriving in their overall lives

Fostering a Culture of Well-being

By building well-being into its company’s culture, an organization can encourage employees to better identify with the concept. An increased focus on well-being may also result in improved employee health and wellness, which leads to a happier and healthier workforce. These employees can then contribute to lower healthcare costs, increased engagement, and improved recruitment and retention.

Here are some ways employers can foster a culture of well-being:

  1. Prioritize employee mental health and emotional well-being by offering resources such as counseling services or employee assistance programs.
  2. Encourage physical activity by offering gym memberships, fitness challenges, or on-site exercise classes.
  3. Promote healthy eating habits by offering healthy snack options or sponsoring healthy eating challenges.
  4. Encourage employees to take time off and recharge by offering flexible work arrangements or unlimited paid time off.
  5. Provide financial wellness resources, such as financial planning or retirement savings plans.

In conclusion, building a culture of well-being is crucial for creating a healthy and productive workplace. By focusing on total wellness, employers can improve employee engagement, productivity, and retention while reducing healthcare costs.

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Some contents within this article is shared with permission from Zywave and is for educational purposes only and is not intended as advice.