Elevating Employee Wellness in a Post-Pandemic Environment

In a post-pandemic environment, employers have the unique opportunity to engage and motivate employees to be the best they can be. There are several areas to consider, including leadership, work-life balance (work-life integration), and factors that best drive and support employee engagement.

Diversity in the workplace

During the recent COVID-19 pandemic, many things we once took for granted were challenged. One of those things was the employer-employee relationship. Several factors contributed to this change. But one critical driver was increased exposure and highlight of societal and workplace inequities.

In the post-pandemic environment, a truly diverse workplace is crucial. As we begin to work toward creating a more equitable society, it is important to consider the implications of the workplace for underrepresented groups. Employees of diverse backgrounds want to feel included and supported in the workplace.

Although a variety of employee groups experienced additional challenges during the pandemic, women, people of color, and the LGBTQiA+ population had the greatest challenges. These groups cite greater concerns about job security, safety at the workplace, and balancing work and family life.

Leadership

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended the business world, and it has changed the way employers interact with their employees. While the crisis has created unique challenges, it also offers new opportunities. By rethinking the way they work, employers can improve the way they engage with their workforce and increase employee well-being.

One of the most important elements of workplace engagement is leadership. Leaders play an important role in helping employees maintain positive emotions and a sense of belonging during a challenging time. But how does a leader effectively communicate and promote employee engagement?

During a crisis and immediately following, leaders have the opportunity to influence the well-being of their workforce by actively listening to their employees’ voices. They also have the opportunity to share their vision for the future of their organization with their employees.

Work-life balance

Work-life balance and employee well-being have become defining factors for businesses and organizations that which to excel. While employers will continue to face many challenges, they can take steps to ensure that their employees are well taken care of.

One of the biggest problems for employees today is the increase in work pressure. Overworked employees often suffer from chronic illness and are more prone to mental health issues. The good news is that organizations can help their workers by giving them more control over their schedules.

Investing in work-life balance will pay dividends in the long run. Employees who are satisfied at work are more productive. In addition, happy employees are more likely to advocate for their companies.

Keeping existing employees happy will also boost retention rates. A motivated workforce can boost performance and help attract top talent.

Having someone readily available and willing to help

It's no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on the working population. But what impact has the pandemic had on the workforce's mental and emotional health? And how has it affected employers?

One way to gauge the impact of the pandemic is to study the demographics of the workforce and the impact of stressors on all employed generations. Leverage generational differences, encourage stress management “tip exchanges” between employees, and take other key initiatives to enhance their employee's mental and emotional well-being. For example, a one-on-one session with a compassionate and culturally competent manager or a workplace wellness coach may be just who understands the intrinsic link between wellness and DEI may be just the ticket to show the team how you are prioritizing workplace morale. A flexible schedule may also be a good idea.

Interdisciplinary research on employee engagement and the physical workplace environment

The physical workplace environment may be a missed component of employee engagement metrics. In a world where many employees work in distributed or remote settings, it is essential that employers recognize the renewed value of the physical workplace if at all possible.

Traditional academic employee engagement metrics do not fully consider the built environment. Despite a growing body of research, studies on the physical workplace are limited. While many studies highlight the importance of the physical environment, these studies tend to be focused on standard office workplace designs.

A new approach is needed for monitoring the impact of the physical workplace on employee engagement. More research is needed to determine how different types of physical spaces influence engagement, and to clarify the linkages between employee engagement and the metrics used in management monitoring tools.