In 2014 the British Council for Offices (BCO) released research making the business case for wellbeing.
Essentially the research found three ways to boost wellbeing at work.
Three Ways to Foster Wellbeing and Productivity
The BCO, along with Morgan Lovell and Hatch, quantified the impact of the workplace on employee wellbeing.
They investigated working conditions, attitudes and expectations by surveying office workers. The results were analysed by sector, geography and size.
The study focused on getting the physical environment right. A key finding was that most UK employees believed that the design of their workplace supported their physical wellbeing.
It also presented a business case for boosting wellbeing and productivity and prioritising a healthy corporate culture – summarised as the 3 Cs:
Care
Nine out of ten employees feel a greater sense of wellbeing if they believe their job has meaning.
To foster wellbeing, organisations must communicate the impact that individuals are having on customers and colleagues, in order to encourage a sense of value and care.
88% of workers questioned in the research wanted to feel more valued at work and clear communication around each individual’s contribution can go some way to improving this.
Control
BCO research found that 87% of workers feel their wellbeing diminishes if they don’t have some control over their day-to-day activities. People want the flexibility to mix collaboration with colleagues with quiet moments of concentration to help them get ‘in the zone’.
Nine out of ten workers claim that working ‘in the zone’ helps them perform better as well as feel better.
However, currently over three-quarters of people feel they are hampered by a noisy open-plan environment, for example.
Offering employees some flexibility around the elements of how and where they work can help instill a sense of control.
Collaboration
Nine out of ten employees believe that support from colleagues enhances their wellbeing and makes them more productive.
So as remote working becomes more common companies need to embrace connectivity to build a collaborative environment. This will ensure that employees have the tools to work, discuss and innovate together no matter where they are.
The Three Signs of a Miserable Job
These findings are echoed in the highly readable work of Patrick Lencioni who outlined the three signs of a miserable job in a 2007 book of the same title.
Irrelevance
Everyone needs to know that their job matters, to someone. Anyone. Without seeing a connection between the work and the satisfaction of another person or group of people, an employee simply will not find lasting fulfilment.
Immeasurement
Employees need to be able to gauge their progress and level of contribution for themselves. They cannot be fulfilled in their work if their success depends on the opinions or whims of another person.
Anonymity
People cannot be fulfilled in their work if they are not known. All human beings need to be understood and appreciated for their unique qualities by someone.
These findings echo those of our research into the requirements for the workplace of tomorrow if people and planet really matter.
To find out more about resilience and wellbeing in the workplace of tomorrow and the Oasis response, have a conversation with Lise Ribeiro on 01937 541700 or use the contact form.
