Considered for a long time as a vague medical concept, burnout has been recognized by the WHO (World Health Organization) as a “work-related phenomenon”, reporting a professional exhaustion. Faced with this increasingly frequent drop in the number of employees, well-being at work has become a real concern for managers. Initiatives appear in companies, encouraging employees to feel better in their professional environment. In addition, numerous studies show that happy employees are more productive and bring real added value to their companies !

WHAT IS WELL-BEING AT WORK? 

According to the European Observatory of Working Conditions, “well-being at work implies safety and health, in an organization well led by competent leaders, as well as communities of workers who consider their work meaningful and useful, and picture it as a factor supporting their way of life.” An employee needs to feel useful to the company, to get involved in a team, to feel appreciated and recognized by his colleagues and managers, to progress regularly. To aim for this feeling of balance, serenity and happiness, companies must care about both the body and the mind and try as much as possible to satisfy these two components.

Today’s workers demand excellent working conditions, a criteria which is now more important than wages. Their personal development is at the heart of their professional quest, and often comes first when choosing their position.

MORE COMFORTABLE WORKSPACES

Office comfort clearly promotes employees’ sense of well-being. This requires more comfortable seats, an ergonomic workspace or good lighting. You can transform each person’s office significantly, with colorful and designer decor elements, as well as a lounge area with armchairs and small bookcase. Also add pretty green plants marking out the different workspaces or colorful carpets, to make the offices even more welcoming.

Some companies go even further, with the establishment of different living spaces such as a rest room for napping, a small nursery for parents, and even game rooms. The setting of these spaces with different identities allows everyone to gather, and contributes to the collective satisfaction of employees.

SPORT AND HEALTHY EATING IN THE OFFICE

A healthy employee is a happy employee. This is why certain initiatives have been put in place to promote the well-being of all: sophrology sessions, yoga lessons, massages, theater, etc. All of these activities support employee’s involvement and strengthen the bonds between colleagues.

But health also depends on food. So why not provide a small buffet of healthy food? Distributors of chocolate bars, crisps and other snacks filled with bad fats will not help employees to feel good about themselves, on the contrary. Favor omega 3, which act as a fuel for our brain and are present in nuts, hazelnuts and almonds among others. Also opt for fresh fruit platters, and voila ! 

MOBILITY TO LEVERAGE BALANCE

Professional mobility has become a reality rooted in the careers of many French people. This builds on several factors: mobility of the workstation, geographic mobility (transfer) or even remote working days. Within your company, you can set up in-house training workshops or organize brainstorming sessions. These actions reinforce the feeling of recognition and involvement of each employee, promotes a rise in skills and thus opens the possibility of progressing in one’s workstation. 

Among the new forms of professional mobility, there is remote working, which is becoming more and more common in private companies. According to Ifop, 29% of employees work from home or a remote place, one to two days a week. The benefits are positive: they feel more autonomous, more committed and more fulfilled. However, this should not be overused, since working from home can lead to a form of social isolation, putting team spirit and sense of belonging to a company at risks.

In addition to these well appreciated initiatives, it is necessary to keep in mind that listening and consideration are keys to happiness at work. Regularly highlighting its employees motivates them to overperform, listening to them and taking their comments into account have a direct impact on their productivity. A manager who knows how to remain accessible, open to discussion and paying attention to the progress of its employees allows them to feel recognized. They can then really get involved in their work. If employees are more motivated and enterprising, their professional life will take on its full meaning and can be harmoniously integrated into their personal life.