6. Supporting employee well-being in remote work: Strategies for promoting work-life balance
According to Tsipursky (2023), as organizations navigate the changing landscape of hybrid and remote work, the importance of employee well-being has become increasingly apparent. Organizations are finding that supporting their employees' well-being is crucial for maintaining productivity, reducing turnover and fostering engagement. The absence of a physical workplace can lead to feelings of isolation and decreased work-life balance. Hence it is important to provide resources for maintaining physical and mental health, building strong relationships with colleagues and finding meaning in work.
How to support remote employees' health and well-being
Offer personalized health benefits
According to Walker (2023), health insurance remains one of the most important benefits that can offer to employees. Organizations need to provide a health benefit that works regardless of where the employees live and can meet their diverse medical needs. Health reimbursement arrangements are customizable for every employer. Organization can choose monthly allowance amount and what medical expenses to allow for reimbursement. And employers can offer a unique allowance amount to different employee classes as well.
Share mental health resources
According to Walker (2023), there are several options for in-office mental health benefits. But it can be difficult for remote employees to know where to turn. Depression, anxiety and sleep loss are becoming more common among remote workers. To support the mental wellness of remote workers, create a list of resources and share it regularly such as in company-wide meetings, in employee handbook or on instant messenger. Organizations can initiate employee assistance programs and online counseling. Providing these resources can be a much-needed lifeline for any of remote and hybrid employees who are struggling.
Encourage staff to take breaks
According to Morganmckinley (2020), when working in the office, boundaries between work and personal time are clear. It may not be so simple for those who are working remotely. They feel like they should always be contactable. Therefore, organizations should encourage remotely based employees to take short breaks throughout the working day to keep their minds fresh and attentive. Not only will this improve employee wellbeing, but it will increase employee engagement as well.
Provide professional development opportunities
Walker (2023) states that, professional development opportunities provide financial wellness. According to 2023 Buffer report, 51% of remote employees believe their employer won’t promote them if they don’t physically see them. If organizations don’t consider remote workers for career advancement, there will be decreased productivity, lower morale and high employee turnover. Supporting remote employees' professional development and growth is vital to stimulating employee satisfaction and business’s long-term success.
Allow flexible work hours
According to Walker (2023), working remotely or hybrid is one type of flexible schedule. But flexible work hours are just as important. Flexible work hours allow employees to arrange their work hours in a way that supports work-life balance. This is especially key for remote workers who may need to balance family, appointments and other household responsibilities during work hours. By letting employees choose their work hours, organizations give them ownership over their jobs and show them to manage their time effectively. Flexible hours also allow employees to address medical needs privately and whenever necessary.
Schedule frequent check-ins
Walker (2023) states that, since remote employees are not in-office workers, regular check-ins are crucial for social interactions, team building, sharing updates and answering questions. Check-ins are also a good time for organization to determine if someone is feeling overwhelmed and learn how to support them better. Sending anonymous employee surveys allows individuals to safely voice constructive feedback without fear of retribution so then organization can take steps to make changes. Reaching out to remote employees with quick daily messages can reduce feelings of isolation, keep team members connected and ensure everyone is on track with their work.
Source - (MorganMcKinley, 2020)
Conclusion
Maintaining remote and hybrid work employees' well-being is a significance factor to organization success. When employees' well-being and work life balance are in at a satisfactory level, employee engagement will be high, and their productivity will also be increased. Thus, organization HRM has to consider how they can support to improve remote employees' well-being and what strategies they can use. By following these strategies organizations can maintain their employees' well-being and engagement high.
References
Freepik. (2024). freepik. Retrieved from freepik: https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/life-work-balance-illustration_831855.htm
MorganMcKinley. (2020, July 9). 7 Ways You Can Support Employee Wellbeing.
Morganmckinley. (2020, June 9). morganmckinley. Retrieved from morganmckinley: https://www.morganmckinley.com/article/employee-wellbeing-7-ways-you-can-support-wellbeing-remote-and-office-workers#:~:text=Employee%20Wellbeing%3A%207%20Ways%20You%20Can%20Support%20The,Explore%20the%20option%20of%20rotating%20work%20loads%20
Tsipursky, G. (2023, May 5). psychologytoday. Retrieved from psychologytoday: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/intentional-insights/202304/the-critical-role-of-well-being-in-hybrid-and-remote-work
Walker, E. (2023, November 22). peoplekeep. Retrieved from peoplekeep: https://www.peoplekeep.com/blog/how-to-support-remote-employees-health-and-well-being#:~:text=How%20to%20support%20remote%20employees%27%20health%20and%20well-being,hours%20...%207%207.%20Schedule%20frequent%20check-ins%20
Wisconsin. (2024). wisconsin. Retrieved from wisconsin: https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/well-being/
Ensuring the mental well-being of employees is crucial when it comes to remote work. This article highlights the critical factors that need to be considered when managing a remote workforce.
ReplyDeleteEmployee wellbeing for a distributed team may look a little different compared to that of an entirely office-based team. When the team feels their wellbeing is supported, they’ll be more likely to remain engaged with the company (Employmenthero,2022).
DeleteAbsolutely, prioritizing the well-being of remote and hybrid work employees is paramount for organizational success in today's dynamic work environment. When employees feel supported in maintaining a healthy work-life balance and their well-being is prioritized, it positively impacts various aspects of their performance and engagement.
ReplyDeleteyes, In the new world of work, the importance of employee well-being cannot be overstated. Companies that invest in the well-being of their employees will reap the rewards in the form of increased productivity, reduced turnover, and greater engagement (Tsipursky,2023).
DeleteThis is a good blog! yes, the wellbeing of the employee must be monitored! This is for the betterment of the company!
ReplyDeleteyes, for those who work fully remote, the absence of a physical workplace can lead to feelings of isolation and decreased work-life balance. It is important to provide resources for maintaining physical and mental health, building strong relationships with colleagues, and finding meaning in work (Tsipursky,2023).
DeleteThis article thoughtfully outlines strategies for supporting employee well-being in remote work, emphasizing the importance of personalized health benefits, mental health resources, break encouragement, professional development, flexible work hours, and regular check-ins. A valuable guide for organizations aiming to promote work-life balance and enhance productivity among remote teams.
ReplyDeleteabsolutely, employee well-being is crucial for maintaining productivity, reducing turnover, and fostering engagement in remote and hybrid work settings. Providing staff well-being tools, leadership training, and community building can improve company profits (Tsipursky,2023).
DeleteYour blog post on supporting employee well-being in remote work environments is particularly insightful. The strategies you outlined—not just emphasizing mental health resources and breaks but also flexible work hours and professional development—resonate deeply with the challenges faced in today's work culture. It's evident you have a deep understanding of the nuances of remote work and a genuine concern for employee welfare. Your approach to combining professional growth with personal well-being is commendable and surely a blueprint for organizations aiming to nurture a healthy, engaged workforce.
ReplyDeleteyes, employee wellbeing is a critical component of a healthy remote working environment and organization. Companies that promote wellbeing make it easier for employees to manage stress levels while also maintaining a positive and productive environment (Waida,2021).
DeleteMaintaining a healthy work-life balance is extremely important for remote workers because it reduces stress, increases productivity, and improves employee retention. Employees can enhance work-life balance by establishing routines and setting clear boundaries, while employers can introduce initiatives and monitoring tools to more fully care for remote workers.
ReplyDeletecorrect, as companies navigate the changing landscape of hybrid and remote work, the importance of employee well-being has become increasingly apparent. companies are finding that supporting their employees' well-being is crucial for maintaining productivity, reducing turnover, and fostering engagement wherever their employees are located (Tsipursky,2023).
DeleteBentley et al. (2013) discovered some minor adverse effects of hybrid remote work, particularly greater perceived social isolation, and stress/strain. It is necessary that their potentially adverse impacts are attended to through the providing of peer, organizational and technical support, as all were demonstrated to decrease the adverse impacts of remote working on stress, social isolation, and work/family conflict, whilst increasing work satisfaction and productivity. T. Bentley et al. (2013) further emphasized the necessity for positive managerial attitudes to remote work, ICT support, and enhanced technology training (Baker, 2021)
ReplyDeleteagree with you, companies that invest in the well-being of their employees will reap the rewards in the form of increased productivity, reduced turnover and greater engagement (Tsipursky,2023).
Deleteirrespective of the work method employee wellbeing is one of the important factors to consider by leadership as mental health is important of the employees. Insightful article
ReplyDelete