Employee wellbeing is a critical component of a thriving workplace. According to Gallup’s State of the Work Survey 2024, “over 62% of employees do not feel engaged at work globally”. This adds up to approximately $8.9 trillion in lost productivity worldwide.
With such staggering numbers, it’s clear that prioritizing employee health and wellbeing isn’t just beneficial—it’s essential.
In this blog, we’ll dive into 10 effective employee wellbeing strategies. These strategies equip HR professionals, business leaders, and managers to promote a healthier, more productive work environment.
10 Employee Wellbeing Strategies to Keep Your Team Happy
Summarize this article for me pleaseWhy is Employee Wellbeing Important?
Work can be stressful, especially for knowledge workers who struggle to keep up with the industry’s ever-changing nature. Can employee wellbeing strategies really improve this?
Well, yes! The EY 2023 Work Reimagined Survey found that “Trust, empowerment, and care reduce the likelihood of quitting by 40%.” While these may sound like abstract concepts, a well-designed employee well-being strategy can help make them more tangible in your workplace.
Here’s why it matters so much.
Happy employees = productive employees
When employees feel good, they’re more likely to be focused and motivated and get things done. They bring their A-game and tackle challenges with a positive attitude. They churn out better work, hit deadlines with a smile, and develop creative solutions. It’s a win-win!
Less stress, less sick days
Feeling overwhelmed and burnt out can lead to more sickness. Promoting employee health and well-being helps employees manage stress and stay healthy, which means fewer absences and a more reliable team. Everyone wins when people feel well enough to come to work and do their best!
Lower turnover, higher retention
Nobody wants to leave a job where they feel valued and supported. When you prioritize improving employee well-being, you show your employees you care about them as people, not just cogs in the machine. This can lead to a happier, more loyal workforce that sticks around for the long haul. You can save time and money on recruiting and add more resources to your existing team!
Creativity and problem-solving
Imagine a team that feels safe sharing ideas and taking risks. When employees feel supported and valued, they create an environment in which happy and healthy employees think outside the box and bring innovative solutions.
Stronger company culture
When employees feel good about where they work, it shows! A positive and supportive work environment promotes a sense of community and belonging. People are more likely to help each other out, collaborate effectively, and create a culture of trust and respect.
That positive energy can spread throughout the company, making it a more enjoyable place for everyone.
Employee well-being is a strategic investment in the sustained growth of your entire organization. A work environment that promotes employee well-being leads to a good employee experience and long-term success.
According to EY 2023 Work Reimagined Survey, organizations that prioritized employee-centric strategies were:
- 140% more optimistic about attracting the talent it needs
- 204% more likely to agree that company productivity has changed/improved in the last two to three years
- 131% more likely to agree that company navigated external pressures well in the last two to three years
- 187% more likely to agree that flexible work has been successfully operationalized
Summarize this article for me please10 Employee Wellbeing Strategies
Beyond the loss of profit, there’s a far more intricate connection between employee well-being and organizational performance.
Gallup’s survey suggests that employee engagement is an even greater predictor of business unit performance during challenging times, such as a pandemic or a recession. By investing in employee engagement, you’re also improving your business’s immediate bottom line and longevity.
Here are 10 employee wellbeing strategies to help you boost employee engagement and create a positive work environment.
1. Set clear and measurable goals
Employees thrive on a sense of purpose and achievement. Setting clear, possible goals helps them feel motivated and engaged in their work. ClickUp Goals is a powerful tool that allows employees to visualize their objectives and track progress.
Let’s look at how it optimizes your goal setting:
- ClickUp Goals allows you to break down large goals into smaller, manageable steps. This makes goals feel less overwhelming and helps employees track their progress
- You can track progress with numerical, monetary, true/false, and task Targets with ClickUp Goals
- It provides transparency around goals and progress. Everyone can see how their work contributes to the bigger picture
- Keep your goals organized in one folder. Create folders to track sprint cycles, project statuses, weekly employee scorecards, and important team goals
- Use ClickUp Milestones to acknowledge and celebrate goal completion. Recognize and celebrate when goals are met to boost morale and motivation
2. Conduct frequent employee check-ins
Regular communication is key to understanding employee needs and concerns. Schedule frequent check-ins, one-on-one or in small groups, to provide a safe space for open dialogue.
Templates like ClickUp’s Employee Feedback Template guide you in these discussions and gather valuable insights. With this template, you can:
- Get quick and valuable feedback from your employees
- Monitor employee feelings over time with clear visual tools
- Openly share feedback and create a culture where employees and managers feel comfortable talking to each other
That’s not all. ClickUp’s Employee Feedback Template provides you with numerous benefits like:
- Helping managers communicate and provide feedback in a structured and consistent manner
- Encouraging employees to take ownership of their performance
- Providing a platform for open and honest conversations between managers and employees
- Providing an opportunity for team members to recognize and reward one another for their achievements
Use these check-ins to set clear, actionable steps for improvement and follow up on these in subsequent meetings. Offer resources or training to address any identified needs or gaps during check-ins.
3. Track employee engagement
Employee engagement is a strong indicator of overall workplace well-being. It helps you understand how connected and motivated your team feels. ClickUp’s Employee Engagement Template comes to your rescue here.
With ClickUp’s Employee Engagement template:
- You can regularly survey employees about their engagement levels
- You can manage detailed employee profiles and do seamless onboarding processes
- It also helps you to get insightful performance reviews
You can use these employee engagement data to tailor initiatives that address specific needs. For example, if the data shows that employees feel disconnected from their colleagues, you might implement team-building activities.
Here are some steps that can help you with employee engagement:
- Share the results of employee engagement surveys with employees. This transparency shows that you value their input on the employee surveys and are committed to creating a positive work environment
- Develop an action plan to address the feedback received in employee engagement surveys. This will show employees that their voices are heard and valued
- Regularly check back with employees to ensure that engagement levels are improving and adjustments are effective. ClickUp’s Employee Engagement Template helps you attain all these effortlessly
ClickUp also boasts an all-in-one HR management platform for recruiters and people teams. It helps you manage your dream team effortlessly. You can create the perfect system to simplify hiring and onboarding and improve employee well-being and development.
4. Promote work-life balance
A healthy work-life balance is crucial for reducing stress and preventing burnout. It means keeping work and personal life in sync. It’s about managing time and energy to handle job and personal tasks while also caring for oneself.
Encourage practices that help your employees maintain this balance.
- Offer flexible working hours to help employees manage their personal and professional responsibilities
- Allow remote work to give employees more control over their work environment and reduce commute stress
- Promote taking regular breaks throughout the day to rest and recharge
- Encourage employees to set boundaries between work and personal time and respect these boundaries as a company culture
- Actively encourage employees to use their vacation days and take mental health days when needed
- Set realistic deadlines that take into account workload and employee capacity using ClickUp’s Resource Management features Unreasonable deadlines can be a major source of stress
- As a leader, model healthy work-life balance by taking breaks, leaving work on time, and using paid time off. This sets the tone for the entire organization
5. Prioritize physical health
Physical health is a key component of overall wellbeing. Encourage employees to stay active by providing opportunities and resources. Here’s how you can promote your employees’ physical health:
- Provide subsidized or free gym memberships to encourage regular exercise
- Host company-wide fitness challenges to motivate employees to stay active
- If possible, offer on-site fitness facilities or classes, such as yoga or pilates
- Promote walking meetings or standing desks to incorporate more movement into the workday
- Offer health incentives for employees who bike or walk to work, such as bike storage or shower facilities
- Invest in ergonomic workstations to prevent physical discomfort and injuries. This includes providing adjustable chairs, proper lighting, and comfortable keyboards
- Encourage employees to take breaks for physical activity throughout the day. This could include short walks, stretches, or even yoga sessions
- Organize voluntary health screenings to raise awareness about preventive healthcare
Investing in employees’ mental and physical wellbeing and health reveals your care for their long-term wellbeing.
6. Nurture mental wellness
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Encourage open conversations about mental health and create a safe space for employees to seek help. Here are several key strategies you can implement to nurture mental wellness in your workplace:
- Provide access to confidential counseling or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
- Allow employees to take days off specifically for mental health without stigma
- Organize stress management and mental health awareness workshops
- Designate quiet areas in the workplace where employees can go to relax and de-stress
- Offer mindfulness training programs or meditation apps to help employees manage stress and improve focus
7. Create a positive work environment
A positive work environment is where employees feel safe, valued, and respected. It can impact their mental health and overall wellbeing. So, how can you do it?
- Promote a culture of inclusion where diversity is celebrated, and all employees feel valued
- Create opportunities for teamwork and collaboration to build a sense of community
- Regularly acknowledge and reward employees’ hard work and contributions
- Encourage open communication by making management accessible and approachable
Open communication underpins a lot of efforts to create a positive work environment. ClickUp’s collaboration suite—which includes features like ClickUp Chat View, @ mentions, and comment threads—can enable more transparency in your workplace and break down siloes between leadership as well as different departments.
8. Promote social connections
Building strong social connections at work can improve morale and create a supportive community. Employees who feel connected to their colleagues experience increased job satisfaction, improved communication, and a stronger sense of belonging.
Here are a few strategies to foster social connections in your organization:
- Organize fun and engaging team-building activities that encourage collaboration and communication
- Encourage employees to recognize and appreciate each other’s contributions. This could be through a simple shout-out system, a dedicated online platform, or even handwritten thank-you notes
- Recognize employee achievements in team meetings, company newsletters, or even social media. Public recognition goes a long way in boosting morale and making employees feel valued
- Encourage employee-led groups based on common interests or backgrounds
A strong team spirit leads to improved collaboration, increased creativity, and a more successful organization.
9. Invest in professional development
Employees who feel challenged and supported in their professional development are engaged, productive, and stay with your company. Provide opportunities for professional development to help employees grow their skills and advance their careers.
- Regularly conduct skills assessments or surveys to identify individual and team skill gaps
- Involve employees in identifying their own learning needs and development goals
- Offer training programs, workshops, or online courses to address different learning styles and interests. This could include in-person training, online learning modules, or access to external training resources
- Consider offering tuition reimbursement programs to help employees pursue certifications or educational opportunities relevant to their roles
- Provide financial support or paid time off for employees to attend industry conferences, workshops, or networking events
- Help employees map out their career progression within the company, setting clear milestones and opportunities for advancement.
- Pair employees with mentors who provide guidance, support, and career advice.
By investing in professional development, you’ll build a future-proof workforce that’s adaptable, innovative, and excited to take on new challenges.
You can use the ClickUp Learning And Development Strategic Plan Template to help you track and capture L&D needs across your organization. This will help you:
Establish clear goals and objectives for employee development
- Monitor and address training needs across your organization
- Create and implement L&D programs that align with your organization’s goals
- Review the impact and effectiveness of your initiatives
10. Recognize and reward employees
Recognition and rewards for hard work and achievements can boost morale and motivation. Here are impactful strategies to recognize and reward your team’s achievements:
- Offer a variety of rewards and recognition options to cater to different employee preferences. This could include public recognition, additional paid time off, gift certificates, or opportunities for professional development
- Encourage a culture of peer-to-peer recognition. Implement a system where employees can easily recognize and appreciate each other’s contributions
- The sooner you recognize an achievement, the greater the impact. Don’t let outstanding work go unnoticed for too long
- Recognize employees who consistently demonstrate your company’s values. They become role models for others and inspire them to follow suit
This motivates employees to strive for excellence, contributes to a positive work environment, and ultimately leads to improved performance and a more successful organization.
Summarize this article for me pleaseBuild a thriving workplace with ClickUp
Employee well-being isn’t a one-time fix. It’s an ongoing commitment to creating a work environment where your team feels valued, supported, and thrives. Implement these 10 impactful employee well-being strategies to create a happier, healthier, and more productive workforce.
ClickUp is your one-stop shop for managing all your employee wellbeing initiatives. From setting clear goals with ClickUp Goals to tracking employee engagement and enabling check-ins, ClickUp aids you in implementing and managing your strategies.
Start your ClickUp free trial today and see the difference a focus on employee wellbeing can make!
Questions? Comments? Visit our Help Center for support.