Inclusion & Wellbeing
3 in 5 employees reported feeling lonely at work (Total Jobs, 2020). This can have a devastating impact on our physical and mental health and potentially damaging to a business.
Let’s apply some theory to why businesses should care about driving wellbeing and inclusion across a business. Maslow's hierarchy of needs tells us that all humans have basic needs in order to reach their full potential and reach self-actualisation.
A fulfilled individual will be engaged, driven, doing a great job and will be working well with their colleagues to deliver excellent results. Essentially, self-actualisation = £££ for a business.
What impact does ignorance, lack of inclusion… have on an employee?
Look at the hierarchy... they won't feel safe and secure at work, they won't feel love or belonging either from colleagues or their management team. This will lead to low self-esteem, withdrawal, even depression. Self-actualisation has not only flown out the window, but it's disappeared into the horizon.
Therefore, it’s key to drive an inclusive culture in your organisation.
At Stanley & Davis employee wellbeing is at the top of our priorities, so we have come up with some practical steps you can take to address loneliness in the workplace.
Ensure that loneliness awareness is part of your wider employee wellbeing strategy and that it’s fully embedded at an organisational level within policies.
Identify a “champion”. A dedicated employee who is trained in wellbeing and loneliness is a great point of contact for individuals who may feel unable to approach a manager about difficulties in the workplace.
Create a staff network that brings together individuals with shared interests or concerns. This could include Carers, LGBTQ+, new parents, 50+, BAME etc. Setting up a professional network for employees to engage with peers can be a great way of helping to build relationships and combat loneliness in the workplace.
Utilise lunch breaks. Whether your team is operating remotely or in offices, organising team events such as discussing meal prep, having a lunch theme, or sitting together during breaks promotes engagement and team building.
Prioritise learning and training. When employees feel supported to progress, they are more likely to feel motivated and show better engagement with their work. This does not have to be role specific, and it’s proven that just 1 hour of learning each week promotes positive wellbeing.
Hobby/Skill sharing. Within every workplace will be a wealth of skills and experience. Encourage employees to share these by creating a short introduction or ‘taster’ session which will enable them to build connections with others and potentially re-engage with something they previously enjoyed.
If you need support with this or any other people area get in touch, we can provide guidance, advice, training...