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  • Let’s face it: productivity won’t see improvement through punitive measures or stricter policies; in fact, these approaches may be counterproductive to your goals. We live in an age where job-hopping and quiet quitting are the most prevalent trends among the U.S. workforce. Proactively addressing these challenges is not only necessary to maintain current productivity levels but also to enhance them.

    Research shows a direct correlation between employee well-being and productivity. This means that by nurturing a workplace culture that prioritizes the health and wellness of your employees, you can expect an enhancement of your business’s productivity levels.

    How Employee Well-Being Impacts Your Business

    Employee well-being has a direct impact on your bottom line. It impacts employee engagement, retention, and productivity and encompasses many factors within the work environment. These factors range from health and safety to work culture, work-life balance, and overall job satisfaction.

    While the primary responsibility lies with you as an employer to establish the tone and formulate policies that promote your staff’s well-being, it’s equally important that every member of your team actively contributes to creating a healthy workplace culture. Prioritizing and investing in employee happiness and health can yield substantial benefits across the board, ultimately strengthening your organization’s performance and financial outcomes.

    Guiding Principles

    If you’re aiming to create a positive impact, launching a wellness initiative, when thoughtfully implemented, can be a significant step forward. Choosing what to include and which areas to focus on can take time and effort. However, a few principles should form the foundation of whatever strategies you choose to adopt:

    • Prioritizing physical health
    • Promoting mental health
    • Addressing financial stability

    These core ideas can serve as a compass to guide your efforts in improving your team’s well-being. 

    Physical health

    Exercise has a positive impact on employee productivity, aids in fostering creative thinking, and enhances problem-solving abilities. Research shows that employees who engage in moderate exercise, such as walking or bike riding, tend to produce higher-quality work and perform better than those who don’t.

    Prioritizing physical health within your organization doesn’t mean pushing everyone to run a marathon. Instead, it involves implementing programs encouraging physical fitness and healthy eating, which can significantly contribute to your team’s overall well-being. These programs may include offerings such as gym memberships and nutrition and wellness courses.

    GMS’ metabolic wellness program offers an excellent solution for business owners seeking to support their employees in adopting a more active and healthier lifestyle. This program is rooted in science and offers personalized dietary guidance and temporary supplementation to assist individuals in cultivating healthier habits. With the added benefit of weekly one-on-one sessions with medical practitioners, tailored meal plans, access to educational resources, and a supportive community, your employees will be well-equipped to achieve their fitness objectives.

    Mental health

    More than 15% of working-age adults live with a mental health disorder. These disorders can vary in severity but substantially impact employee productivity, absenteeism, and overall capacity. According to the World Health Organization, depression and anxiety alone result in the loss of an astounding twelve billion working days every year. While addressing mental health is not solely the responsibility of employers, offering initiatives such as employee assistance programs (EAPs) or counseling services can be a valuable and supportive step toward promoting employee well-being.

    Safeguarding mental health also includes developing and executing policies that empower employees to seek assistance or report issues impacting their work, such as resource shortages, inappropriate workplace conduct, or harassment. By implementing these policies and procedures, you can directly influence the overall health of your workplace culture, which in turn greatly benefits the mental well-being of your employees. In fact, research has shown that a healthy workplace culture is associated with higher engagement and lower stress and depression levels.

    Financial health

    Employees facing financial stress are more inclined to seek alternative employment opportunities, have a higher likelihood of experiencing accidents, and tend to take more sick days. These factors can lead to financial repercussions for your organization and decrease employee morale and well-being.

    To effectively address this, it’s essential to offer competitive compensation packages that encompass salaries and benefits adequately reflecting the market value of your staff’s skills and contributions. Regularly reviewing and making necessary adjustments to these packages demonstrates your commitment to their financial stability.

    Additionally, consider tools like FinFit. FinFit provides a comprehensive suite of products, resources, and tools designed to help individuals establish financial stability within their households. Their platform offers early wage access and emergency funding options, along with a wealth of educational resources, personalized coaching, and budgeting tools. These services empower individuals to proactively prepare for the future and create a financial safety net to handle unexpected crises, ultimately reducing stress and enhancing their overall economic well-being.

    Principles In Practice

    There are many different strategies you could implement to improve your staff’s well-being. However, it’s best to gather your team’s input to pinpoint your specific company’s needs. In the meantime, the following are a few ideas to help get you started:

    • Offer manager training. Managers play a significant role in the health and wellness of your staff. Managers impact employee mental health 69% more than doctors or therapists. Providing resources to leadership development programs is essential for equipping managers with the necessary skills to effectively lead and inspire their teams. By fostering strong leadership capabilities, organizations can enhance team performance, employee engagement, and overall productivity, resulting in a more thriving and resilient workforce.
    • Offer flexible work. In light of the evolving workforce, it’s essential to acknowledge that many employees now place a high value on flexibility. Providing alternatives such as remote work, flexible scheduling, or compressed workweeks can positively impact job satisfaction and contribute to higher employee retention rates.
    • Promote work-life balance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have adopted remote and hybrid work styles. While this marks progress toward fostering a flexible work culture, it also means more employees have access to work at home and may be tempted (or asked) to work during off hours or while they’re technically out of the office. Thus, it is equally crucial to prioritize promoting a healthy work-life balance. Encouraging employees to maximize their breaks, utilize their vacation time, and unplug from work during their off-hours not only nurtures their well-being but also cultivates lasting job satisfaction and fosters loyalty to the organization.
    • Ensure clear and manageable workloads. Similar to work-life balance, ensure your staff understands their role and responsibilities. Studies indicate that employees experiencing workplace stress often report it affecting their home life (71%) and overall well-being (64%). While occasional anxiety is inevitable, and periods of heavier workloads may necessitate adaptability and ambiguity, it’s crucial not to normalize this as an everyday aspect of your organizational culture and workflow. Striking a balance between clear expectations and the flexibility to navigate challenging times is vital to fostering a sustainable and healthy work environment.
    • Prioritize inclusivity. An inclusive culture fosters a sense of belonging among employees and taps into the collective wisdom of individuals from various backgrounds and experiences. This diversity of thought and perspective can lead to more innovative problem-solving, improved decision-making, and, ultimately, heightened productivity within your organization.

    Telemedicine Saves You Time And Money

    Healthy employees are good for every business. Telemedicine gets employees in contact with doctors for a free consultation, helping them avoid time-consuming visits to the doctor or unnecessary trips to the emergency room (ER). As part of our premier employee benefits administration services, GMS helps employers by offering telehealth services through Teladoc. Telemedicine saves you and your employees valuable time and money through prompt, convenient access to licensed physicians based right in the U.S.

    Affordable, convenient health care consultations with licensed physicians are only a phone call or mouse click away through Telehealth. Contact us today and start investing in your team!

  • Employee burnout has become an increasingly prevalent issue in the workplace, impacting both individuals and businesses. As a business owner, it’s crucial to prioritize the well-being of your employees and create a supportive environment that fosters growth, engagement, and productivity. In addition, as businesses continue to push the boundaries of productivity and efficiency, the toll on employees’ physical and mental well-being has become increasingly apparent.

    Now, more than ever, it’s imperative for business owners to recognize the detrimental impact of burnout and take proactive steps to prevent it. Approximately one million American workers call out sick because of stress every day. Let’s explore strategies to help business owners reduce employee burnout and build a thriving workforce.

    Cultivate A Culture Of Work-Life Balance

    One of the most effective ways to combat employee burnout is by promoting a healthy work-life balance. Encourage your employees to prioritize self-care and personal well-being by providing flexible work arrangements, such as remote work options, flexible hours, or compressed work weeks. Foster a culture where breaks and vacations are encouraged, and lead by example in demonstrating a balanced lifestyle. By respecting their personal lives and allowing them to recharge, you’ll empower your employees to bring their best selves to work.

    Develop Clear Expectations And Realistic Workloads

    Unclear expectations and overwhelming workloads are major contributors to burnout. Clearly define job responsibilities, objectives, and performance expectations to ensure employees have a clear understanding of what is expected from them. Collaborate to set realistic workloads and deadlines and regularly review and adjust them as necessary. Encourage open communication and provide support to employees who feel overwhelmed, allowing for potential workload redistribution or task delegation. Ensuring a manageable workload empowers your employees to perform at their best without feeling overwhelmed.

    Foster A Supportive And Inclusive Work Environment

    A positive work environment plays a significant role in preventing burnout. Cultivate a supportive culture by encouraging collaboration, fostering open communication, and recognizing employee achievements. Create channels for employees to provide feedback and address concerns. Promote diversity and inclusivity by valuing different perspectives and backgrounds. Building a culture of trust, respect, and support establishes a foundation where employees feel valued and motivated, reducing the risk of burnout.

    Invest In Professional Development And Growth Opportunities

    Employee burnout can arise from feeling stagnant and lacking growth opportunities. Demonstrate your commitment to your employees’ professional development by investing in training programs, workshops, and skill-building opportunities. Provide regular performance feedback and create clear pathways for career advancement. Encourage employees to set personal development goals and support them in achieving these goals. By nurturing a growth-oriented environment, you empower employees to unlock their full potential and find fulfillment in their work.

    Implement Employee Wellness Programs

    Prioritizing employee well-being through wellness programs can have a significant impact on reducing burnout. Offer wellness initiatives such as yoga or meditation classes, fitness challenges, or access to counseling services. Promote healthy habits through initiatives such as healthy snacks, ergonomic workstations, or encouraging regular physical activity breaks. By investing in employee wellness, you demonstrate your commitment to their overall health and happiness.

    Protect Your Greatest Asset – Your Employees

    At the end of the day, you want to protect your greatest asset – your employees – from experiencing the debilitating effects of burnout. Fortunately, when you partner with a professional employer organization (PEO) like GMS, you gain access to a comprehensive suite of resources and a team of dedicated experts to support your employees before they reach that breaking point.

    A PEO can provide guidance on implementing strategies for work-life balance, streamlining workload management, fostering a positive work environment, and offering wellness programs such as diabetic management and metabolic wellness. With GMS by your side, you can proactively address burnout, cultivate a culture of well-being, and ensure that your employees thrive personally and professionally. Together, let’s build a resilient workforce equipped to navigate the challenges of today’s economy. Contact us today to learn how you can get started.

  • Burnout. The feeling we’ve all experienced. As we wrap up 2022, we all get in the holiday spirit and get distracted from our jobs. Oftentimes, this time of year is a time when we get that burnt-out feeling of not wanting to give it our all. 48% of employees and 53% of managers report that they’re burned out at work. Job burnout is a type of work-related stress – a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that involves a sense of reduced accomplishment and loss of personal identity. The following are common characteristics of burnout:

    • Frequent illness
    • Disengagement and detachment
    • Feelings of frustration or helplessness
    • Loss of motivation

    What Causes Burnout?

    Even though burnout has become simply “part of the job” for many workers across the world, the organizational cost of burnout is substantial. Burned-out employees are 63% more likely to take sick days and 2.6 times as likely to be actively looking for a different job. Your job as a business owner is to ensure your employees don’t have these feelings before they choose to look elsewhere. The first step in doing so is understanding what can cause your employees to feel burned out. It may come as a surprise that the main factors driving employee burnout have less to do with expectations for hard work and performance and more to do with how someone is managed.

    The main factors that cause burnout include the following:

    • Unmanageable workload
    • Challenging to find a work/life balance
    • Feelings of having little or no control over your work
    • Pressure
    • Disconnect in values
    • Lack of support from managers, feedback, fairness and equity, participation in decision making

    How To Prevent Burnout

    Fortunately, you can prevent burnout from happening. You need to start by addressing the true causes of employee burnout. Perhaps you enforce weekly or bi-weekly meetings with your employees to check in on them. This will create a workplace environment that empowers employees to feel and perform their best, eliminating that feeling of burnout. Additional steps you can take as a leader for your employees is by considering the following:

    • Hold meetings in a different setting
    • Promote work/life balance
    • Monitor workloads and schedules
    • Encourage employees to use vacation time
    • Provide work-from-home options
    • Prioritize workplace wellness
    • Enforce management wellness
    • Create goals and career paths
    • Practice open communication
    • Lead by example
    • Welcome employee feedback

    The list is never-ending. You have to determine what works best for each employee, which you won’t know until you meet with them one-on-one. This is a time for you to get creative. Perhaps you create a contest with prizes to add a new dynamic to everyone’s daily routine, or maybe you do an exercise break once a day.

    Wondering Where To Start?

    Engaged employees drive concrete business results. When employees aren’t experiencing burnout, they’re more energized, enthusiastic, and focused. Step out of your normal work style and change it up a bit. Not sure where to start? GMS has you covered. Our performance review systems provide you with resources to provide your employees with consistent feedback, develop employees’ careers, goal setting, and so much more. In addition, our benefits department works with you to develop a benefits package your employees want and need. Whether you provide them with personal days or additional benefits they can use when they do reach that feeling of burnout, we help you every step of the way. We’re in this together. Contact us today to learn more.