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It’s no secret: healthy workplaces create healthy outcomes for organisations. Employees who are in good physical, mental and emotional health are more likely to deliver optimal performance in the workplace than employees who aren’t, according to research by the Harvard Business Review.
Unfortunately, since a global pandemic radically changed the way we live and work, our wellbeing has been turbulent to say the least.
For employers, re-establishing a stable and emotionally healthy workplace will be the key to unlocking the benefits that a connected workforce can return.
Support for employees matters
The truth is in the numbers. Every dollar spent on effective mental health action returns $2.30 in benefits to an organisation, according to a study by PwC. To put in another way, happy and healthy workers perform better.
The disruption caused by COVID-19 has only highlighted this further, with 57% of workers saying the support they received from their employers since the pandemic began has made them a more loyal employee, a study by MetLife has shown.
The truth of this is well-documented, but the pandemic has helped give extra air time to the research. A recent white paper by Medibank speaks to this shift, where employers no longer only see health and wellbeing as a risk mitigator, but as a key strategy for developing high-performing teams.
The benefits of a connected workforce
Once workplaces are restabilised and reconnected, employers can start to see the benefits. According to research by Cognitive Solutions, the benefits of investing in the mental health and wellbeing of employees include:
- improved decision-making
- increased productivity
- higher levels of employee engagement
- boosts in employee innovation
- improved company reputation as a wellness leader
- reduction in absenteeism and employee turnover.
By investing in wellbeing, social connection and a supportive work culture, employers are investing in a more engaged, higher-performing workforce.
What can employers do next?
If you’re looking for new ways to connect your employees, we can help. Medibank offers workplace engagement support to its corporate customers.
Email your account manager if you have one or get in touch at corporate@medibank.com.au
READ MORE: Keeping your workforce engaged
The benefits of a connected workforce
