Workplace strategy and the wellbeing timebomb: what the experts say

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‘One positive from the pandemic is that facilities is on the agenda of every C suite… everybody is trialling and phasing…We can give teams insight. C suite is seeing much more value and strategic partnership. It’s a good opportunity.’

Speaking on IWFM’s podcast series on workplace wellbeing, Julie Ennis, CEO Corporate Services UK & Ireland at Sodexo, underlined the strategic opportunity for the workplace and facilities profession at a time when organisations are seeking a workplace strategy that best serves their business and their people.

Evidently, this has been challenging for many organisations: in IWFM’s latest research into hybrid working 33% of workers said they did not receive either enough or any equipment to be able to work from home productively, while 17% felt they were similarly hindered by a lack of suitable equipment in the office.

The wellbeing timebomb’s fuse has been lit

According to wellbeing expert Nancy Hey, Executive Director at What Works Centre for Wellbeing: ‘In adulthood, the three biggest factors for overall wellbeing are: having a job; your partner relationship; and your health, particularly your mental health.’

Sadly, at least one of these factors is under strain as our research also found that more than one in five (21%) UK workers reported that their overall wellbeing had worsened over the past year due to changed working practices. The figures for women (26%), part-timers (27%) and over 55s (31%) underlined the problem.

The threat to organisations is so significant that the Forbes guide to ‘the next normal of work’ put employee wellbeing as the number one people issue that business should be mandating in 2022.

Improving wellbeing and maintaining it is not solely an exercise in compassion; it is also key to productivity, as shown in research by Deloitte which found that poor mental health costs UK employers up to £45 billion each year. However, Deloitte’s analysis also showed that for every £1 spent on supporting their people’s mental health, employers get £5 back on their investment in reduced presenteeism, absenteeism and staff turnover.

Evidently, the fuse has been lit on a wellbeing timebomb that could hinder businesses in the post-pandemic recovery unless they ensure their workplace strategy supports their people’s needs, including their wellbeing.

What the experts say about workplace wellbeing

Thankfully, there is a great deal of expertise and insight available in this area, including several recent contributions by IWFM which gathered some of the best minds in this space.

The IWFM Podcasts: Wellbeing series in partnership with Sodexo has four episodes featuring 17 experts and practitioners who discussed wellbeing’s emergence as a core workplace consideration. Across nearly three-and-a-half hours, they looked at wellbeing through the lenses of physical space, organisational culture and digital technology. Grab your headphones and listen here.

Last week, we also ran a live webinar with Sodexo on ‘Navigating turbulent times’. This drew on some of the main talking points from the podcast series to consider the opportunity and challenges before today’s workplace and facilities practitioners and the wider sector. Watch the one-hour webinar in full here.