Supporting your people
Written by Julia Hetherington
So here we are at the beginning of 2022. How did that happen?!
The New Year brings an abundance of positivity - new beginnings, fresh ideas, renewed energy. For some however, this can mean a time of questioning and contemplation; where they are in their lives, what areas need changing and possibly improving. This reimagining, coupled with the reality of returning to the daily grind after the summer holiday, so often results in a feeling of dissatisfaction and unhappiness at work and a desire to change jobs or careers.
There is a lot of conversation around “The Great Resignation”, a term coined by Anthony Klotz a psychologist and professor at Texas A&M University, to describe the wave of people who are rethinking their lives because of the COVID pandemic. Klotz asserts that with any significant change and period of uncertainty, people naturally reassess all aspects of their lives, which very often includes their career. Lockdowns brought increased periods of working from home which meant people had more time with their families and loved ones. There was a lot of reflection on what gives us purpose, how we achieve happiness and what is deserving of our energy.
Adding to this picture are the current market conditions. We know that the present market is candidate-driven; there are a lot of vacant roles, the borders are closed, and talent is scarce. The push and pull factors are aligning perfectly for capable and driven employees. Candidate calibre and availability are hot topics being discussed by many businesses.
With people being a company’s most valuable asset, now more than ever, employers need to be thinking seriously about how they can attract and retain the best talent. Businesses are entering 2022 with a unique opportunity to re-assess how things have always been done; a chance to rethink their people strategies.
No longer is it just money and job security that are the big hitters. With the change in mindset that COVID has produced, employees are looking for the benefits that an organisation offers and how they will be looked after by employers. People want to be treated as individuals and not as a disposable resource. According to Inc Magazine, Millennials will make up 75% of the workforce by 2025 and they’re looking for socially responsible employers. 72% of employees want employers to champion mental health and wellbeing in the workplace (rated greater than equality, sustainability, and diversity across all generations) according to a recent survey of office workers by workplace consultants Peldon Rose.
We are seeing real movement and progress in this space. 85% of New Zealand boards are regularly discussing workplace mental health and wellbeing. This is a large spike compared to 2019 where only 62% of boards discussed the mental health of their employees. Many boards (72% of those surveyed) have approved initiatives to help address workplace mental health issues in the last 12 months. (Source: Director Sentiment Survey 2021; Institute of Directors, NZ).
It is becoming increasingly clear that the benefits for organisations to support people to look after their mental health isn’t just because it’s morally the right thing to do, but it also makes commercial sense. Focus in this area has clear links with higher productivity, lower employee turnover and increased financial returns. Business leaders need to be tuning in to their people, embracing a more progressive culture and prioritising the wellbeing of every individual. Promoting wellbeing health for your employees is vital and has moved from a nicety to an imperative in today’s world.
At Best of Today, we are people and wellbeing specialists. We make it our mission to support organisations like yours to achieve a healthier workplace. We give your employees the tools to manage their mental health and the education to understand it. We help you to create an environment where open communication is encouraged and talking about these issues is the norm. In turn, your business reaps the rewards of improved performance, increased attraction and retention rates, a culture of positivity and an enhanced external reputation.
Let Best of Today support you to tune in to your people before they tune out.