Well-being at work is more than a vague concept. For some time now, it has become one of the main topics of debate in companies, a real issue that leads to a high rate of absenteeism due to work-related accidents or illnesses. Several actions are then adopted to ensure the well-being of employees if in 2019, nearly 40% of employees admit that employers were not paying attention to it.
Workplace well-being: what is it really about?
The notion of well-being in the workplace is not only about the environment in which the employee is exposed: the organization, space, decoration and design, although these elements are essential. The various rules and regulations as well as the extra-professional life are also included, such as health problems and social benefits. This well-being is primarily assessed in terms of the stress generated in the employee's work environment: the pressure, the difficulty of the tasks, but also the relationships the employee may have with colleagues or the general atmosphere within the company.
How did the different studies related to well-being at work proceed?
According to surveys conducted by social protection groups in 2018, the burdens produced by absenteeism are exorbitant. Burn-out, extended recovery time, depression, but also benign everyday ailments, this illness-related absenteeism costs companies dearly. In the same year, 37% of employees had to stop work and in 2019, 20% claimed from a doctor a total stop of work, if in 2016 they were only 9%. Observing the expenses caused by this rate of absenteeism, companies have decided to address health and safety at work as well as well-being at work.
Why is quality of life at work an asset for companies?
Business leaders are well aware that the quality of life at work and psychosocial risks are major issues for the development of their structure. Many of them believe that this issue is one of the biggest challenges they have to face. Revitalizing employees, building loyalty... Because the well-being at work has considerable impacts on the performance, productivity, attractiveness of the company and its development. Thus, well-being at work has become the new priorities of human resources departments.