Employers are paying more and more attention to the psychological and emotional well-being of their employees. ‘Well-being’ means creating a positive work environment and putting systems in place to support employees so they feel their best and function in their roles optimally. It's about listening and responding appropriately to the challenges they face both in and outside the workplace. It doesn’t take more than common sense to tell us that people who are stressed or exhausted don’t perform as well at work.
Improving well-being in the workplace can reduce absenteeism and presenteeism (attending work whilst unwell and not performing to one’s full ability), two things that increasingly cost the New Zealand economy annually. Higher levels of well-being in the workplace are correlated with greater productivity and happiness among employees, with the obvious benefit of often improving the profitability and efficiency of the company.
Presenteeism occurs for several reasons:
1) Unmanageable workloads may make taking time off difficult
2) Employees are low on sick leave or annual leave so can’t afford to take leave without pay
3) A lack of available staff to cover in the event of an absence
4) Workers may worry about being disciplined or penalised for phoning in sick
5) Workers may be too embarrassed to admit that they're struggling with their mental or physical health.
Well-being can be addressed with open conversations with staff, anonymous questionnaires, putting well-being practices in place and
improving your workspace.
If your business is struggling with low employee productivity, take comfort in the fact that you can change that. Getting a realistic view
of your corporate culture is a great place to start. Go straight to the source and ask your staff. Find out how confident and supported they
feel in their position. Ask if they are satisfied with their work and the work of others. How happy are they? Ask them to identify any areas
of tension or conflict within their role.
The sooner problems are identified, the faster (and easier) they can be fixed. Surveys should be anonymous, but if employees want to record
their experiences, encourage them. Wellness should not be a one-time event, it should be a conversation that you need to return to
regularly. You can always outsource this data collection to a third party if you are not sure which information to collect and which to
ignore.
FLEXIBILITY
Employees who benefit from personalised work rules will be more efficient.If your staff has the option
of working from home and still being productive, this could alleviate a number of issues around pressure to be in the office. Parents who
also have to navigate the current schooling challenges of Covid-19 and
childcare could find flexible work schedules a huge help to keep personal and work pressure to a minimum.
ENVIRONMENT
Creating a pleasant work environment can do wonders for employee well-being. Bright and cozy places
where people like to work are best suited. Employers can add recreational areas where people can interact and interact. Organizing social
gatherings or ordering takeaways for lunch and sharing meals helps build a more cohesive team. Outdoor seating can be great in the sun.
PERKS
Work-related bonus programs are a welcome bonus for staff. Employers pay a commission to a third-party company, and their employees
have access to a variety of special offers and discounts, which can include reduced gym memberships, food delivery services, and even
discounts on bills.
Wellness
is often about better communication between managers and employees. It's about having people on the team who understand the link between
burnout and workload and can help create an honest and open work environment. Companies that take the time to make sure they have a happy
and productive workforce often find that they have a better and more profitable business in the end. As a commercial office
furniture
specialist with over 40 years experience,
we can help discuss how to fit-out your office with well-being in mind. Let’s
discuss your office needs today
and put a smile on your employees faces
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Therese / Eftpos Now
"I wanted to say a huge thank you to Juliet for making our office fitout process so smooth. Juliet always found answers for us, provided an amazing design and made the whole process easy. Thanks team - we love our new furniture!"
Bethlehem Baptist Church / Staff
"Bethlehem Baptist staff have been very pleased with the furniture we have purchased through Modern Office. In particular we have found the office furniture of a high quality. As a company they have been very easy to work with."
Bruce Thompson / Vulcan Steel Tauranga
"Juliet and the team did a great job. We can’t fault the service or the resulting fitout. Very pleased to have been able to do business with you again and it is always good to support local business.”
Matt Stevenson / CEO / HSM Group
"HSM are delighted with the service received from Modern Office in undertaking the office furniture project for its new premises. The furniture suggested looks amazing and provides the right levels of space and storage as well as looking great. Their delivery and setup, as well as the communication with them and the prompt response has been fantastic and we would highly recommend them."
Kevin Marsh / Interior fit-out Project Manager / Property and Project Consulting Ltd
“Modern Office provided a range of height-adjustable desking, storage, and meeting room furniture for our WRC project. We found the team to be cooperative and flexible, and the risk management they applied during the Covid-19 lockdown meant we were kept informed of progress. A feature of the service provided was the support they provided during the installation phase, their on-site crew was outstanding and delivery and installation of furniture was achieved on time, every time.”
Kate / Chow Hill Architects Ltd
"The service I received as an interior designer is of a very high standard with extremely competitive pricing and a large and impressive range of furniture. I use Modern Office for the majority of my projects."
Annmarie Lee / General Manager Growers / Seeka
"Working with Modern Office was a really good experience. We required a complete fit out of new furniture for our new premises and I would go as far as to say they were the best contractor we used in the whole build. The service was outstanding – very professional and approachable. We are very happy with the products and the advice provided, and the staff feedback has been positive. I have already recommended Modern Office to others."
Melissa McBride / Office Manager / Hawkins
"We were extremely happy with everything. Very efficient and hassle free. Thanks heaps to you and your team for all your help."
Kieron Wain / National Projects Manager / SSA New Zealand
"Please pass on my thanks to your team…they did a great job! They removed every bit of wrapping…I couldn’t tell they had been there it was that tidy. They asked for guidance where the desks needed to be placed and went about their business until the job was completed…very professional. Thanks for your support."
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