What is workplace wellness? The keys to wellbeing at work

Work is a fundamental right, but it can also be an unbearable burden. When the latter happens, the need for a change is imposed, either by the company or by the worker, or both.

A negative situation in the company not only creates unhappiness in the employee in the work context but it will also lead to dissatisfaction that can affect your personal and social life.

• Related article: "Psychology of work and organizations: a profession with a future"

Signs that denote workplace wellness problems

There are a series of symptoms that would unequivocally denote that we are in a situation of unhappiness or job dissatisfaction.

Professional frustration for not having the opportunity (due to lack of job offers) or the possibility of growing or promoting at work would be one of these symptoms, but not the only one.

Having the feeling of not belonging to the company because we feel isolated or because of the "no one" from colleagues also gives rise to alarm, as well as lack of communication (the employee is not heard), stress, promotional injustices or pressure labor.

Sometimes, for the worker, the solution is simple: change jobs or companies. But job insecurity, family and economic responsibilities or job uncertainty in most cases do not make that decision so easy and we end up accepting dissatisfaction as a necessary evil. However, this "acceptance" could cease to be so frustrating and unsatisfactory if the worker tries to find new motivations to help him find a positive push.

Ways to boost wellness

Many studies show that getting the necessary hours of sleep and eating a healthy diet help you start the day with more energy, be more relaxed and perform better at work.

Practicing some type of physical exercise is another key to being active, but also signing up for specialized courses or studies to keep up to date. Likewise, get rid of boredom in the workplace and be organized.

A fundamental piece of information is disconnect from work both during lunch breaks and on weekends and holidays. For example, relax by simply changing the subject. Free time is necessary.

It is also not a bad idea to have our workplace as a pleasant place incorporating personal details that make us feel comfortable or smile when we look at them.

Being flexible in the face of the new challenges that the company poses is important because it can lead to job opportunities that we had not had before. Do not be afraid of changes.

Trying to have a good relationship and a positive attitude with colleagues and bosses is decisive to be happy at work, since we spend many hours with them in this area, but also can favor a climate of respect and kindness.

The positive attitude at work necessarily has to start with ourselves. Being happy is a matter of attitude, you have to encourage it.

On the other side of this coin of labor unhappiness would be the company. To alleviate this from your position, the employer must learn to manage his leadership and try to introduce changes in the management of the company aimed at facilitating happiness in the work of his employees. In this sense, change is possible.

Booming trend

Wellbeing is a concept that has become fashionable lately, but it is taking hold. The term does not refer only to a state of tranquility and personal satisfaction thanks to good physical and mental conditions (emotional activity and personal development), which also, but also to that in their workplace that person finds certain practices that make them feel good globally, and therefore perform more.

Basically, this initiative is the commitment of companies to motivate their employees with positive guidelines that have a personal and collective impact on the group. All this is being tried to promote in the companies with a high degree of commitment to their employees, because they have realized that well-being, at all levels, according to the latest studies in psychology, is beneficial in attracting positive emotions and bonds, as well as a degree of commitment and reach of achievements.

In short, that "wellbeing", or job well-being, is the way to attract more happiness for employees and thus more productivity for employers. Or what is the same: employers must take care of their employees because the happier they are, the more and the better the company's progress will be.

Good practices

From this point of view, There are several initiatives that are pointed out as positive and healthy for companies to address that happiness of workers that will improve your performance.

First of all, there would be physical well-being. In this sense, it is not a question of the company taking care to minimize accidents or the occupational safety of its employees, but rather to enhance their health by creating conditions, plans or physical activities run by sports professionals, organizing company-level races, putting a gym in the office, or the like in this regard.

Second, it would be emotional well-being whose main objective would be to reduce, and ultimately eliminate as much as possible, stress and anxiety of workers in the company carrying out a series of initiatives aimed at this, such as courses, seminars and motivational and relaxation workshops (Mindfulness) carried out by professionals in this field both individually and in groups. This is to minimize sick leave for these reasons.

The field of nutrition would follow. Namely, everything that has to do with well-being through nutritional health. Or what is the same, that the company adopt measures, better if it is supervised by a nutritionist, so that employees have their reach healthy menus in the dining room (if there is one) or in the vending machines to be able to stock healthier items and natural.

Another initiative that can help to achieve that labor well-being would be conciliation, that is, taking into account the flexibility schedules, maternity / paternity leave, promoting teleworking or simply remodeling spaces to make them more pleasant and relaxing.

Another important aspect would be provide your workers with medical and legal services arranged so that if at any time it is necessary to go to them with full guarantees that your company is behind as a guarantee.

Thus, these practices carried out by the company for its employees would be focused on improving their occupational health and with it the positive transformation of the company. Companies that have already incorporated this type of program strategically to promote healthy habits are very satisfied with the measurable results achieved in the short, medium and long term in terms of productivity, competitiveness, innovation and profitability of the deal.

Work stress

According to a report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Most of the annual casualties of workers in your company are caused by issues associated with stress. In fact, this stress would be related to bad work practices, which are the ones that would have a decisive influence on producing some type of diagnosed disease or even death.

These bad practices are almost always associated with long working hours, irregular hours, precariousness, lack of labor control or conflicts between work and family.

In another report prepared by the World Economic Forum it is said that, at the global level, more or less three-quarters of the expenses are linked to chronic and non-contagious diseases, and that these, in turn, represent 63% of all deaths.

It is scientifically proven that stress is what causes chronic diseasesat the same time as unhealthy lifestyles such as drinking, smoking, drugs or certain types of food. But also overeating or overeating due to stress.

In this sense, several studies reveal that the workplace is one of the main reasons for stress in individuals, and, therefore, a important cause of the deficit in health systems, since it has been estimated that alleviating this problem involves a real cost of billions each year. On the other hand, stress, anxiety or depression related to work have become the fifth leading cause of death in the world.

The need to create healthy work contexts

Definitely, Bad practices at work are not only harmful to employees, but also irreparably harm the company in the long run. Thus, whenever we can or have the opportunity, we should choose our employer based on our psychological and physical health and not so much on salary and promotion.