Thrive cultures versus burnout cultures

The impact of the pandemic on economic activity, employment, and the way we work has been far reaching.

All of this has substantially impacted the world’s collective wellbeing and of course, this state of unease has flowed into workplaces.

As workers grappled with a host of pandemic-related grievances, the duty of care employers have for employees, especially in relation to their wellbeing, suddenly assumed unprecedented levels of importance. One thing is certain: the past 18 months have placed employee wellbeing firmly on HR’s agenda.

Fast forward to now and many countries around the world find themselves in a state of limbo. They are not yet clear of COVID-19 but are learning to live with it thanks to vaccinations and other restrictions. This uncertainty is also impacting mental wellbeing.

In a New York Times article, psychologist and author, Adam Grant, perfectly captured this collective feeling of ‘blah’ the world is experiencing: languishing. That is, not struggling per se, but the feeling of just ‘getting by’. And it’s true that this lacklustre feeling, too, has crept into workplaces, presenting new challenges for HR professionals.

But COVID or no COVID, what the pandemic and its aftershocks have reminded us is that employee wellbeing must be taken seriously through the good times and the bad. Failing to look after employee wellness costs organisations in lost productivity, absenteeism, and often their high performers.

Employee wellness programs, while being just one building block when it comes to cultivating mentally and physically healthy workforces, help staff to adopt behaviours that improve their wellbeing – creating a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce.

As we adapt and embrace the changing face of business, we take a look at the key ingredients for a successful holistic wellbeing programme in our eBook: ‘Thrive Cultures Versus Burnout Cultures’. ■  www.elmosoftware.co.nz