A November report from McKinsey & Company showed that 62% of employees globally consider mental health issues to be a top challenge during the COVID-19 crisis [and beyond], with a higher incidence reported among diverse groups. The same report paints a picture of employers scrambling to address these issues: 96% of companies globally provided additional mental health resources to employees, but only one in six employees reported feeling supported.

Why is there such a gap between the actual employee experience and considered support that organisations are investing in? Do employees have ongoing and sustainable mental fitness and wellbeing programs to help them form positive mindsets and greater resilience. Are the programs tokenistic providing short term self serve modules or are the programs personalised and delivered in person addressing individual needs?

Whilst countless research including this one from Prodoscore last year shows that productivity gains improved by up to 47% [as a result of remote working) how will organisations and small businesses improve, adapt and sustain the wellbeing of its workforce in 2021 and start to imbed employee wellbeing as a organisational wide and executive responsibility.

Many organisations have established employee engagement programs reporting on employee satisfaction / employee experience largely reflected as an Employee Net Promoter Score (NPS) . To date employee wellbeing is often tracked as lag indicator noting absenteeism rates, usage on employee assistance programs, sick leave and employee turnover. How should organisations track and measure wellbeing as a lead indicator and how should this be reflected in executive incentives and a business priority?

The Davos Agenda 2021 has a big emphasis on Healthy Futures and has a great article on the wellbeing as a key priority for workplaces. Click here for more information.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing insights from leaders across various industry sectors from start-ups to corporations and thought leaders in Wellbeing and Mental Fitness and I’ll be asking some of the key questions surrounding employee wellbeing.

In the meantime let me know if you would like to share your organisations wellbeing practices and experiences, what has worked well and especially how you have been measuring it please feel free to contact me.

Christopher Walters

Wellbeinz.com.au