In the world of fast-paced, high-output professional life, maintaining your well-being and work-life balance often takes a backseat, and the pressure to excel often overshadows the importance of nurturing your physical and mental health. However, many companies now offer workplace benefits that extend beyond the conventional, providing a multitude of opportunities for both personal and professional development.
Taking time off when you're ill or need a break might feel difficult, but it's essential. These breaks give you a chance to rest and come back feeling better. Let's explore these workplace benefits and how they can make a real difference, discussing simple ways to balance your work and personal life, be more productive, and take care of yourself.
Utilising workplace benefits is great for contributing to your overall well-being. Having access to health and wellness programs enhancing your physical and mental health, can lead to increased job satisfaction and productivity, and even provide opportunities for professional development. There are many great workplace benefits to keep and eye out for in your career and you should take advantage of them where you can.
As the weather continues to change, and often seemingly become more extreme, many of us can expect to sick at some point during the winter. While minor symptoms like a runny nose or cough don’t always have a severe impact on your day, its important to take a day to recover. A study conducted by the University of Arizona found that more than half of commonly touched surfaces in the office like door knobs, printers, or refrigerators can easily become infected with a virus, and it only takes one person to be ill to infect many surfaces. While the same study revealed simple intervention like washing hands can significantly reduce the risk of infecting others, the possibility to get everyone else sick is still there. The study, which involved contaminating 1 of 80 people in a large office with an artificial virus, found that by the end of the day the 1 person had contaminated roughly 70% of surfaces tested. Although work from home options exist and can help to mitigate risk when you feel an illness may be coming on, your sick days are there to cushion you and to give your body a break.
Many people find it hard to take a break from the grind of always working and being stuck in their routines, but it’s important to remember to take a break occasionally and take time for yourself, to alleviate some of the constant stress that work can bring. Obvious stuff like deadlines or a large workload can bring on stress, but also small things like constant checking of email, inability to switch off when working from home, or the daily commute in traffic can all wear you down over time. Making sure you take your well-deserved time off can keep you in better physical health, not just through exercise but also through reducing the risk of high blood pressure. Taking an extended break is also great for mental health, the relaxation achieved from being in an environment not associated with work enables your mind to heal anxiety and depression. Other benefits like increased motivation, better relationships and less risk of burnout all happen as a result of getting out of the office and taking your annual leave. Annual leave doesn’t always have to be grand trips abroad, or multi-week stays out of town. Consider an extra day on the weekend and book an Airbnb in a town near the beach, or book a Bach with friends for a short getaway.
They might not be as common in some workplaces, but they should be! Mental health days are increasingly recognised as crucial components of a supportive work environment. Taking a day off to address stress, anxiety, or other mental health concerns allows you to focus on self-care, seek professional help if needed, and return to work with a clearer mind and greater resilience, it’s like hitting the reset button on your brain. Improving morale and attitude towards work, improved resiliency to stress, increased productivity and prevention of mental health issues are all benefits of giving employees the option to take a mental health day when needed. At Find, we offer our team a ‘Find Day’ once every quarter to take a day off for whatever they need, no explanation required. We have found it helps in establishing a healthy work-life balance and boosts productivity as our team have the support in place to assist when important work arises.
Flexibility is important as well, having some freedom during your work hours or the option to work from home can be a game-changer. You'll be able to find that sweet spot between your personal life and work responsibilities. This takes away some of the guilt felt for attending that family event or doctor's appointment, when you would otherwise be stuck in traffic or unable to afford the multiple hours to navigate out of the city. When you achieve your ideal work-life balance, you and your employer can enjoy a multitude of advantages. Notably, productivity levels soar, absenteeism rates decrease, and both physical and mental health show marked improvements due to increased commitment and motivation towards work. Moreover, individuals can foster stronger personal relationships as a result of attaining this balance, with a good work-life balance everybody wins.
Mental health support is a critical component of any comprehensive employee wellness program, focusing on the well-being of employees' minds and emotions. In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, employees often face various stressors that can impact their mental health negatively. By providing access to counselling services, confidential mental health resources, and Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), organisations demonstrate a commitment to supporting their employees' mental well-being. Creating an open and accepting atmosphere where employees can discuss their mental health challenges freely can significantly reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the workplace. Supporting mental health not only contributes to a healthier and happier workforce but also enhances overall organisational performance. Employees who feel emotionally supported are more likely to be engaged, productive, and resilient, resulting in reduced absenteeism and turnover rates. Addressing mental health issues proactively can prevent more severe problems from arising in the future, fostering a positive work culture and improving the overall quality of work life for employees.
Employee Share Schemes (ESS) are programs that some companies offer to their employees. Essentially, these schemes allow employees to become partial owners of the company by buying or receiving shares. There are quite a few benefits for both the employees and the company itself. When employees own a piece of the company, they feel more connected to it, taking pride in being part-owners and really care about the company's success. This ownership mindset can motivate them to work harder and be more dedicated to making the company thrive. One of the benefits for employees is that they can help employees build some serious wealth over time. If the company's shares increase in value, employees can cash in on their shares, and reap the benefits of their hard work. On top of all that, these schemes foster a strong sense of teamwork and collaboration. When everyone feels like they have a stake in the company's success, they work together better and really feel like they're part of something important.
Many workplaces offer opportunities for professional development. Embrace them! Expanding your skills and knowledge not only boosts your career but also enhances your self-confidence and overall happiness. Industry trends can rapidly shift, and it’s important for companies to keep pace with the times. Ongoing professional development can prevent potential as well as keep you at the forefront of your industry by maintaining and improving employee skills and has the potential to open opportunities for career advancement like promotions and pay rises. It can assist you in honing existing skills and in learning new ones. It’s also great for your employer, Employers who encourage their employees to seek out professional development opportunities are in turn encouraging higher productivity and job satisfaction.
Thanks for your interest in what we do here at FIND. We love meeting and helping amazing kiwis every day and will always do our best for our clients and candidates. We've been simplifying the recruitment game since 2008, so don't hesitate to get in touch if you need our help!
