Four Long-Term Trends that Impact Wellbeing at the Workplace
As many territories ease and adapt into our new normal, wellbeing at the workplace is taking on an even more important role in employer priorities. After all, employees can only be fully productive and engaged when they feel that their safety and health are being looked after at the workplace.
The move towards wellbeing at work is part of long-term changes that are taking place in the world around us, accelerated by the current situation. Here are four long term trends that are shaping the demand for wellbeing at the workplace.
Informed, aware users
Employees are now more informed and aware than ever before. From issues such as mental health, climate change and racial justice, employers are expected to have clear stances and take concrete actions on these issues. To cater to employees’ physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, employers increasingly see the need to institute programs such as physical fitness, mental health, third-party employee support groups and community outreach programs.
Climate Change
With climate change a pressing global concern, employees are increasingly worried about their own carbon footprint, as well as that of their employers’. From carbon neutral datacenters to smart sensors that can adjust lights and HVAC systems to improve energy efficiency, employees increasingly demand for more concrete sustainability measures at the workplace. Employers should also look to increase the options for telecommuting to reduce the cost and carbon impact of commuting to and from the workplace.
Generations at Work
With longer lifespans and an increasing emphasis by governments around the world on active aging and later retirements, we will soon have five generations of workers at the workplace. It is essential therefore that workplaces cater to a variety of needs, expectations and activities across various generations and age groups, from traditional desks and quiet focus zones to communal collaborative work areas and activity hubs.
Accessibility of data
With technology such as the Internet of Things (IOT) and wearable devices measuring datapoints from ambient temperature and oxygen levels to our resting heart rate and the steps we take, there’s a wide availability of data that can be used to make workplaces more conducive to health and productivity. Lower oxygen levels can bring on fatigue and sleepiness, while sitting down at a desk for long stretches could lead to physical aches and pains. Data can inform changes to be made, from increasing oxygen levels in workplaces to customised reminders to take breaks and move around.
Workplaces are rapidly transforming, and business will need to stay on top of their game to ensure a competitive edge in today’s war for talent.
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