Understanding the Link between Holistic Health and Performance
Holistic health plays a crucial role in predicting various work-related outcomes, surpassing measures like burnout, engagement, and happiness at work. It emphasizes that health components, while related to other workplace factors, are distinct. Healthy employees sustain growth, contributing to long-term workplace success. Beyond immediate business performance, employees with robust holistic health engage more in community activities, easing the strain on health services and enhancing societal participation. Moreover, they're more likely to work longer, crucial for dealing with an aging workforce.
Insights into Burnout and Health
Our research reveals that 22% of employees experience burnout symptoms, with significant variations globally. Factors like age, company size, and managerial status influence burnout rates. Demands at work, such as dealing with toxicity or role ambiguity, primarily drive burnout. However, addressing broader negative health outcomes beyond burnout is vital for employers.
Reframing the Approach to Health
It's time to shift the focus towards supporting overall employee health, including preventative measures and creating conducive work environments. Improving both holistic health and addressing burnout concurrently is essential.
Identifying Key Drivers for Action
Our findings underscore that workplace factors significantly impact holistic health and burnout. Interventions at the individual, team, job, and organisational levels are crucial. Meaningful work, self-efficacy, and adaptability emerge as top drivers of holistic health.
Taking Action at Every Level
Organizations should invest in initiatives at each level to foster employee well-being:
Organization: Executives must champion initiatives supporting health, including fair compensation, flexible work arrangements, and health benefits.
Team: Managers play a pivotal role in creating a positive team climate through training and intervention.
Job: Redesigning jobs for sustainability, setting clear work-hour norms, and ensuring adequate compensation is essential.
Individual: Encouraging meaningful work, offering career customization, and providing skill development opportunities to enhance employee health.
Recognising the Strategic Imperative
A healthy workforce is a strategic necessity. Employers must acknowledge their role and integrate well-being into organizational strategies. By prioritizing holistic health, organizations align with broader environmental, social, and governance goals, attracting investor interest and fostering sustainable success.
In conclusion, adopting a holistic approach to employee well-being is essential for organisational prosperity. By understanding and addressing employee health at all levels, organisations can create environments where everyone can thrive.
