Higher Well-Being Increases Employee Engagement

A valuable relationship between employee well-being and employee engagement was recently measured in a research report on workplace wellness. The study found that when employees feel they have higher well-being they’re more likely to be engaged at work.

Let’s start with a quick definition of each term. Employee well-being is a state of optimal health and sense of purpose while employee engagement is the emotional connection employees have with their work, team, company and higher purpose.

The survey questioned more than 1,250 employees across 45 US markets and found that 88 percent of employees who cited feelings of high well-being (i.e., access to healthy options, the flexibility and freedom to pursue healthy programs, the ability to achieve work/life balance, and/or a sense of belonging and value to their employer), also reported feeling engaged at work. For those employees reporting lower well-being, only 50 percent felt engaged at work. Furthermore, for employees in the higher well-being category, 83 percent said they enjoy their work versus 41 percent in the lower well-being group; and 84 percent of employees who reported higher well-being felt loyal to their office co-workers, versus 54 percent of employees who reported feelings of low well-being.

While this connection may seem intuitive, little research has been conducted on the relationship between employee well-being and employee engagement. Employers can use the findings from this study to take steps to make positive organizational changes that will increase employee well-being and drive up engagement rates.

It was discovered in this study that managers, not executive officers, are the primary source of support, or non-support, in organizations. As perceptions of organizational support diminish, so do perceptions of well-being. The study found 72 percent of people who felt their employer cared about their well-being also reported having higher organizational support, whereas only seven percent of employees with lower organizational support reported feeling higher well-being. Employers should educate managers about the impact of well-being on employee engagement and provide the necessary tools, training and support to make it a priority.

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Is Too Much Sitting Making You Unproductive?

By now, most of us have heard that “sitting is the new smoking.” Plenty of studies have shown that the more you sit during the day, whether it’s at your office or at home in front of the TV, the higher your risk for chronic disease and mortality. Increased physical activity reduces these risks, builds and preserves lean muscle mass, and promotes weight loss and weight maintenance.

But what if you are too busy during the day to fit in exercise? One might think that the longer you are sitting at your computer instead of doing exercises or taking walking breaks, the more work you can get done. However, one recent study challenged this theory and examined whether how much you sit affects your productivity level and overall mood.

Employees from four different Spanish universities completed a survey that included questions on several socio-demographic variables, such as gender, age and weight, as well as self-reported sitting time, physical activity (PA) level, mental well-being and work productivity over a seven-day period. The employees were split into three categories: low, moderate or high physical activity level. Specific assessment tools were used to analyze these reports.

This study found that higher levels of physical activity were associated with better reports of overall mental well-being and the least amount of lost work productivity. The study also measured the association between higher body mass index (BMI) and work performance losses. Those with a higher BMI had more difficulty achieving work-related demands, performing cognitive tasks and interacting with other employees. Researchers also found that increased sitting time over the weekend and while commuting was associated with lower mental well-being and decreased productivity. Another finding to note with regard to sitting time is that women were more likely to report a low state of mental well-being than men.

Bottom Line: If you find it difficult to stay on task at work, one solution is to get moving! Take the initiative to break up the amount of time you spend sitting. If you work in an office setting, find out if obtaining a standing desk is an option. Build time into your calendar to take stretch breaks or go for a short walk. Finding time over the weekend to engage in physical activity will also benefit your mood and productivity for the week ahead.

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Exercise Is an Important Business Decision

Employee well-being has a positive effect on business. A recent study found that when employees exercise during the workday, their mood, job performance, level of concentration, work relationships and resilience to stress all improved. In fact, exercising three times each week for 30 minutes or more gives employees a 15 percent boost in job performance, and exercising during regular work hours can have an even greater impact on performance.

The substantial boost that exercise gives to employee engagement is especially significant. Research shows that employee engagement benefits an organization’s bottom line.  A Gallup research poll found that employees who are the most engaged have 37 percent lower absenteeism, 21 percent higher productivity and 22 percent higher profitability when compared to those least engaged.

To remain competitive, organizations should consider exercise as important as other business decisions and incorporate regular movement and exercise into the workday. This can improve worker performance, result in fewer sick days, increase job satisfaction, positively affect productivity and enhance employee recruitment.

Recognizing the business importance of motion in the workplace, senior executives across the country are participating in The CEO Pledge, a national campaign promoted by the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA), which encourages every CEO in the US to recognize physical activity as an important driver of employee health and business performance. CEOs that have signed the pledge include those from Johnson & Johnson, Levi Strauss & Co., Mary Kay and Wegman’s Food Markets.

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Visit Wellness Workdays for more information about our worksite wellness programs.