Imagine you are a manager at a company that cares about workplace sustainability. You want to create a culture that supports the well-being of your employees and the environment. But how do you do that? And why does it matter? In this blog post, I will share some statistics and data that show the benefits of workplace sustainability in terms of workers' well-being and environmental impact, as well as some tips on how to implement it in your organization.
Workplace sustainability is not just about reducing waste and carbon emissions, although those are important goals. It is also about creating a work environment that fosters physical, mental, social, and financial well-being for your employees. According to a survey by Deloitte, only 59% of employees said that their well-being was good or excellent, and the most-cited factors acting against well-being were a heavy workload or a stressful job (30%) and not having enough time because of long work hours (27%). These factors can lead to lower productivity, higher health care costs, increased absenteeism, and higher turnover rates.
On the other hand, investing in workplace well-being can have positive outcomes for both employees and employers. A study by Rise found that of employers offering wellness programs, 67% reported increased employee satisfaction, 66% reported increased productivity, 63% reported increased financial sustainability and growth, and 50% reported decreased absenteeism. Moreover, 54% of benefits professionals cited employee morale as their most improved metric from implementing wellness programs.
Workplace sustainability can also have a positive impact on the environment, which can in turn improve employee well-being. A report by Reba Global stated that environmental sustainability can improve well-being at work by creating a sense of purpose, reducing stress, enhancing creativity, and promoting collaboration. Additionally, environmental sustainability can help attract and retain talent, especially among younger generations who are more conscious of their ecological footprint and social impact.
So how can you implement workplace sustainability in your organization? Here are some tips:
- Start with leadership. Leaders should model and promote well-being behaviors at all levels, from the C-suite to the front-line managers. They should also communicate the vision and values of workplace sustainability and provide resources and support for employees to achieve their well-being goals.
- Design work for well-being. The way work is organized and structured can have a significant effect on employee well-being. Organizations should design work that is meaningful, engaging, flexible, and balanced. They should also provide opportunities for learning, growth, feedback, recognition, and autonomy.
- Foster a culture of well-being. A culture of well-being is one that encourages and rewards healthy habits, such as physical activity, nutrition, sleep, mindfulness, and social connection. It is also one that respects diversity and inclusion, fosters psychological safety, and supports mental health awareness and prevention.
- Align well-being with business strategy. Workplace sustainability should not be seen as a separate initiative or a nice-to-have perk. It should be integrated into the core business strategy and aligned with the organizational goals and values. It should also be measured and evaluated regularly to ensure its effectiveness and impact.
Workplace sustainability is not only good for the planet, but also for the people who work on it. By implementing workplace sustainability in your organization, you can create a culture that supports the well-being of your employees and the environment, which can lead to better business outcomes and social impact.
