Employee health and wellbeing key to success

By Duncan Harrison

In the workplace, employee wellbeing is important for business success and it requires an investment in energy and resources. These days, wellness programs are recognized as a vital part of an organization’s offerings, and studies have indicated that not having one is costlier than employing one after factoring in absenteeism and general morale and energy levels of employees.

An effective wellness program taking into consideration employees’ needs and expectations is imperative. It’s not only about the employer providing a job and compensation, but also about the employee’s happiness and mental state and encouraging increased physical activity, improved eating habits and reduced stress.

In Korea, which is well known for its long working hours, hustle and bustle and stressful lifestyle conditions to get ahead in life, the working environment for employees is improving but has not yet reached its full potential. According to a just released OECD report titled “How’s Life in Korea?” job strain among employees is among the highest in the OECD, while earnings and the employment rate are below the OECD average.

Overall, the report cites Korea’s performance as mixed. While income and wealth are below the OECD average, the long-term unemployment rate is the lowest in the OECD and labour market insecurity is low. In terms of what matters most to Koreans, a survey of 890 website visitors in the report indicated life satisfaction, safety and health as the three most important topics, highlighting the importance of health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Understanding attitudes toward employee health and wellbeing and finding practical solutions employers can implement is an important initiative at Robert Walters as we aim to provide long-term value to both the employer and employee.

As such, we conducted a survey of over 1,000 hiring managers and more than 2,400 professionals on the prevalence and value of workplace wellness programs. We found that 92% of professionals said it was very important or somewhat important for them to work in a firm which offers a wellness program.

To do it right, an organization must ensure its wellness program is sustainable and fully operational all the time and always maintain an attitude of “doing more” for its employees. A company must also understand the costs involved of mismanaging employee wellbeing issues and keep a focus on workers, monitor their needs and seek feedback through one-on-one contact.

To ensure a positive wellness program and eliminate barriers to implementation, a solid business case should be positioned internally to gain support from senior management and facilitate an active role outside of the HR department. Finally, all wellbeing initiatives should be promoted among existing employees and utilized effectively during the recruitment process to attract top talent.

Through our research, employee health and wellbeing is a predominant topic these days that is vital to business performance and one which can offer significant productivity gains. Ultimately, companies who invest time and resources into their health and wellbeing programs will be better positioned for future success.

Duncan Harrison is the Country Manager of Robert Walters Korea, one of the world’s leading specialist professional recruitment consultancies and outsourcing firms. Reach him at Duncan.harrison@robertwalters.co.kr