What is Employee Wellbeing?

The physical health of employees is highly valued by many employers. And with good reason: a fit and healthy team is productive and brings energy to the workplace. Additionally, a good workout or boot camp fosters connection among team members.

But did you know that mental and financial health are just as important for your wellbeing? In this blog, we look at the effects of mental and financial support on stress, focus, creativity, and absenteeism in the workplace. We will also tell you how a small investment in the right benefits can lead to significant successes in employee wellbeing.

Mental Health for Business Success

While many employers are still lagging behind in this area, there are already companies that recognize the importance of mentally healthy employees and take action. A great example of this is the German company SAP. SAP operates on the principle of a comprehensive approach to wellbeing and offers employees a wide range of personalized benefits. From psychological support and emergency assistance at the office to childcare and healthy meals to take home.

The positive effects of this strategy are clear and impressive. SAP's analysis clearly shows that this approach results in higher engagement, more trust in management, and lower absenteeism. Participation in specific programs also resulted in improved focus and creativity. All these factors together led to a significant increase in employee productivity and ultimately profit.

No less than 43% of the Dutch have dealt with mental health issues in their lifetime.

While many employers might find SAP's approach a bit extreme, the numbers show that the importance of mental health cannot be ignored. No less than 43% of the Dutch have dealt with mental health issues in their lifetime. For example, high levels of stress or depression. And that, of course, comes with its consequences.

If this happens to one of your employees, presenteeism is often at play - being present without really being productive. This obviously reduces employee productivity and team morale but also leads to uncontrolled rising costs.

Benefits for Physical and Mental Health

Fortunately, as an employer, you can support your employees mentally without going as far as SAP. There are plenty of accessible solutions that already make a significant difference. A nice example is the coaching and meditation app Headspace. One month's use of this app can reduce stress by as much as 32%, according to a study conducted by Headspace among its users. Additionally, a short meditation reduces the wandering of thoughts by 22%, and users report 28% fewer negative thoughts after ten days.

Of course, mental health is closely linked to physical health. If you move enough and eat healthily, you usually feel better both physically and mentally. This is not just the responsibility of employees. No, employers also have an impact on the fitness of their employees.

Financial Health

Just like stress from work pressure or personal circumstances, financial burdens on employees can also cause extra stress. Lower purchasing power due to high inflation impacts in various ways, but it’s primarily the rising monthly fixed costs for energy and food that can add additional pressure: without anyone changing their way of life, costs still go up.

Financial stress can affect the health and happiness of employees, and performance can suffer as well.

This financial stress can then impact the health and happiness of employees, and their performance can suffer as well. And that's not all: long-term financial stress, if nothing is done about the situation, can ultimately lead to absenteeism. With [1.2 million Dutch households](https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2022/06/09/cpb-mogelijk-12-miljoen-huishoudens-in-financiele-problemen-door-hoge-inflatie-2-a4132962) potentially facing financial problems soon, this is something that employees should not underestimate.

What is the solution for employee wellbeing?

Do you want to help improve the wellbeing of your employees? Offering appropriate support can be done with our platform. In our marketplace, you will find meditation apps such as Headspace, as well as various coaching apps like Inuka and Aurora, and a wide selection of gym memberships like ClassPass, TrainMore, and Basic-Fit. Additionally, users can also contribute (extra) to their pension. This way, your employees can select benefits in the areas where they need support.

Providing individual support doesn’t have to be difficult. With Alleo, you provide your employees with the tools they need for enhanced employee wellbeing. That investment is well worth it.