Workplace wellness is a win-win that impacts both the top line and the bottom line. There are two basic parts to this – one is individual and the other is organizational. HR professionals can address both. Nurit Shiber, vice president of people at Sisense, a business intelligence software platform, offers these tips.
1. Teach employees to focus on work-life integration.
Work-life balance is still relevant, but Shiber is a big believer in work-life integration. “Integration is all about the choices you make, the boundaries you set, and you manage the work environment. Being able to integrate work into your life successfully is a skill, and HR can help employees develop these skills.”
2. Organize your workplace with stress reduction in mind.
The way you design your office matters for employees’ stress levels. Sisense has an open space where people can work and another open space where people can just hang out and relax. There also is a quiet room that Shiber says she was initially unsure about, but has worked out well. “Sometimes people need that space to go in and focus.”
3. Implement activities that promote wellness.
Providing wellness activities makes a big difference. This year, Sisense began offering yoga in the office. The company also provides coaching to employees and managers about how to healthily integrate work into their lives.
4. Use surveys to gauge stress levels.
Surveys are a powerful tool for HR professionals and managers to determine engagement levels and get a sense of the stress employees are experiencing. You can compare stress levels across departments, determine if there are any issues that need to be addressed, and then start working with the business on solutions. Obviously, it’s also critical to have feet on the ground and observe what’s happening.
Author
Get our newsletter and digital focus reports
Stay current on learning and development trends, best practices, research, new products and technologies, case studies and much more.
