Importance of employees\’ wellbeing
Work has a significant impact on both our physical and mental health. Employees\’ health improves when they work in a healthy setting. A job also has many advantages: it provides revenue, provides stability, often contributes to a person\’s sense of self-worth, and as such can lead to better health. On the other hand, a new work environment can have a negative impact on employees\’ health. Inflexible working hours, remote working, working overtime, combined with a busy family life and leisure time: all of this can lead to increased work pressure and stress.
The number of employees unable to work due to neurological and mental disorders is increasing around the world. Employees with health problems take more time away from work and are much more likely to quit their jobs, which would lead to earlier retirement as well. Businesses lose all their competent talents\’ potential. Just from the arguments mentioned above, we may already see that employees’ health is essential for a variety of reasons.
The success of the business depends on how the employees feel in the workplace. Many studies and research papers have already shown the strong link between happy employees and a company’s achievements. The summary of studies concluded that happier employees show:
- 19% increase in task accuracy
- 15 less sick days taken annually
- 15% increase in improvement of leadership effectiveness
- 33% higher profitability according to Gallup
- 43% increase of productivity level according to Hay Group
- 37% increase of sales according to Shawn Achor
- 300% more innovation according to HBR
- 51% lower turnover according to Gallup
- 50% less safety incidents according to Babcock Marine Clyde
- 66% decrease in sick leave according to Forbes
- 125% less burnout according to HBR
Employee wellbeing continues to rise on the corporate agenda because it is in our workplaces and from our workplaces that we get distressed both physically and mentally.
Encouraging health in the workplace already comes in many forms nowadays, but digital health servicesintroduce additional potential and advantages. Here are a few examples:
Flexibility
One of the most appealing aspects of e-health is its adaptability and ease of integration into a hectic lifestyle. We expect electronic communications to be more frequent simply because they are more convenient. Because of the flexibility of e-health in the workplace, employees can fit teleconsultations between meetings, order their medications via a mobile app, and use their app to ensure they do not develop backache from sitting for too long. Integrating health into the workday benefits both the employer and the employee.
Time saving
Because the time saved increases productivity, e-health benefits the workplace. Employees can balance their professional and personal lives because they spend less time traveling to doctor\’s appointments and picking up prescriptions. Modern businesses have realized that the two must coexist. If accessing a one-on-one consultation takes one week, the employee can be absent for that period plus the recovery period on the other side.
E-health, such as teleconsultation or ordering online medications, can simplify diagnostic and therapeutic solutions, giving results in as little as a day. One overlooked benefit of e-health\’s time savings is that a doctor can spend more time with the patient. Most face-to-face consultations last less than ten minutes, leaving the rest of the morning free for travel and waiting in the line. Instead of wasting time, it is possible to devote it to a healthcare solution, resulting in a healthier, happier workforce.
Appreciation
Employees feel valued when their employer provides a health service or allows them to use one during work hours. Offering a teleconsulting service or health kiosks could result in significant increases in talent retention, making it especially valuable in fields where skilled workers are in high demand, since it isn\’t always about the money.
Productivity
From the standpoint of the employee, e-health, whether used at work or at home, can reduce absence due to illness or care-giving duties, and ill health due to stress. E-health has the potential to enhance the health of employees while decreasing sick leave. Employees are more likely to seek treatment if it is quick, convenient, and inexpensive. Indeed, employee health and well-being have a direct impact on company profitability.
Employees may choose not to seek treatment if medical care is extremely expensive or requires a long wait at the doctor\’s office. They may not recover as quickly in such cases and may need to take more time off work. Worse, they may arrive at work sick, resulting in low productivity and the risk of infecting coworkers.
Conclusion
Because of their disruptive character and immense potential, digital solutions and e-health serve as a positive tension and provide the chance for reforms in workplace health and prevention promotion. The question is how to channel this energy into improving one\’s health and well-being. We can all agree that having a healthy, engaged, and creative workforce gives you a competitive advantage.
At the same time, it is troublesome for companies to figure out how to quantify and attain this advantage. With a health-promoting mindset, however, companies can keep up with changes and adapt to them in order to promote health and wellness.
Sources
- Jimenez, Paulino, and Anita Bregenzer. “Integration of eHealth Tools in the Process of Workplace Health Promotion: Proposal for Design and Implementation.” Journal of medical Internet research 20,2 e65. 23 Feb. 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5845105/
- Stratton, Elizabeth & Lampit, Amit & Choi, Isabella & Calvo, Rafael & Harvey, Samuel & Glozier, Nicholas. “Effectiveness of eHealth interventions for reducing mental health conditions in employees: A systematic review and meta-analysis\”.2018, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321983353_Effectiveness_of_eHealth_interventions_for_reducing_mental_health_conditions_in_employees_A_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis
- Westmattelmann, Daniel; Kuen, Leonie; and Schewe, Gerhard, \”Ehealth Apps in Workplace Health Management – An Analysis of Determinants and Effects on Employee Health\”. 2021,https://aisel.aisnet.org/ecis2021_rip/31
- https://www.oecd.org/els/emp/health-and-work.htm
