Ibec is hosting its 11th annual National Workplace Wellbeing Day on Wednesday, April 30th. As Europe’s only day dedicated to workplace wellbeing, it’s an ideal time to highlight company initiatives that support employees.
Recent research from Ibec revealed that nearly seven in 10 employees said that workplace wellness has become more important to them over the past two to three years, with work-life balance, financial wellbeing support and mental health initiatives cited as top priorities in terms of employer supports. Twenty-eight per cent of those surveyed said there had been increased investment and focus on wellbeing from their employers, with another 30 per cent noting a moderate rise in efforts. However, 35 per cent believe their managers are not adequately equipped to prioritise employee wellbeing.
“We are now operating in a post-Covid work environment, where discussions on the future of hybrid work and the role of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives continue to shape workplace wellness,” said Ibec chief executive Danny McCoy.
“What remains clear is the vital role of workplace wellness in supporting employees and fostering an environment where they can thrive.
“This research underscores that workplace wellness has never been more important. Companies must continue to invest in it, while staying agile to meet the evolving needs of their workforce,” McCoy said.
The day itself presents an opportunity for companies to showcase the supports they have in place, launch new initiatives and demonstrate their commitment to making employee wellbeing a strategic priority. This year’s theme, Celebrate Connection, focuses on the joy of simple human connection. In a world of AI, hybrid working and an always-on culture, pausing for an analogue moment of in-real-life connection can reinvigorate colleagues.
So how can organisations celebrate the day and link it to their long-term strategic objectives? The National Workplace Wellbeing Day website offers a range of resources to promote, but here are the top 10 things that many of the companies already signed up to participate have said they’ll be doing:
Organise a wellbeing showcase
Hold an in-person, online or hybrid event to showcase available employee supports from policies to practical help in all areas of workplace wellbeing.
Organise a 5k walk & talk
Encourage staff to participate in a 5k walk to promote physical activity and build connection with colleagues. Physical fitness is key to improving focus and creating an energised, healthier workforce.
Launch a weekly team coffee break
Simple, yet effective, a shared coffee break added to everyone’s diary can boost morale, improve communication, spark creativity and strengthen relationships.
Introduce mindfulness sessions
The benefits of embracing mindfulness and being truly present in the moment include reducing stress, improving focus and decision-making, as well as reducing the risk of burnout. Why not introduce some grounding breathing techniques or screen-free meetings to your workplace?
Host a lunch & learn
Facilitate online or in-person sessions with experts in the wellbeing space. The National Workplace Wellbeing Day website has a dedicated partner page featuring a range of virtual events & offers to build out your plan for Workplace Wellbeing Day.
Encourage a little healthy competition
Be it a healthy bake-off, a not-so-healthy bake-off or a fitness challenge, friendly competition in the workplace can build connection among teams, and spark creativity.
Create a gratitude wall
A virtual or physical gratitude wall is a space where employees can share messages of appreciation for their colleagues, fostering a positive and supportive work environment.
Leverage the team’s skill set
Does your colleague play guitar or are they are a yogi in their spare time? We all have unique skills and passion points outside of the workplace that could be shared on National Workplace Wellbeing Day to build connection.
Art class
Organise a painting or drawing class and let the creative juices flow! Art encourages mindfulness, boosts relaxation and unlocks creativity by engaging different parts of the brain.
Book club
Start a virtual book club focused on personal development, self-help or mental health and encourage connection, learning and discussion. Why not create your own office library and promote circularity and sustainability at the same time?
While all these ideas can help companies to activate National Workplace Wellbeing Day, Ibec offers a range of services to formally assist companies of all sizes to establish or further develop their wellbeing strategies and frameworks. With more than a decade of experience, Ibec possesses in-depth knowledge of the practical realities of delivering successful workplace wellbeing programmes. For companies starting out, Ibec Consulting can offer a 1.5-day facilitated workshop to design a tailored employee wellbeing strategy. For companies requiring training in specific areas, the Ibec Academy provides a host of relevant courses. For companies seeking validation, The KeepWell Mark offers auditing and benchmarking against a set of recognised standards across eight critical areas of wellbeing.
To find out more about these services visit ibecconsulting.ie, ibecacademy.ie or thekeepwellmark.ie
