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Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Work Environment

Olumide Obanla Written by Olumide Obanla · 1 min read >

It is known from experience that the nature of the work environment is a strong determinant in successfully recruiting new staff, enhancing job satisfaction, and retaining quality staff. These are issues of critical importance for organizations. High rates of staff turnover can be costly and negatively affect the quality of care delivered. Thus, it is beneficial for organizations to actively pursue creating a healthy work environment.

Every individual, team, committee, program, and division in the organization shares responsibility in creating and maintaining a healthy work environment. Each has various levels and responsibilities in this regard. For example, paying heed to self-care and one’s role in interpersonal communication is everyone’s duty. It is the particular task of leadership to pay attention to and promote organizational wellness through creating appropriate structures and policies, seeking feedback, and consistently acting in a respectful and exemplary manner.

Everyone has personal problems and it is only human that some personal emotions get brought into the workplace. Try not to ignore them but instead, find the core of the problem and be a supportive employer by showing concern. Your employee may come in to work depressed due to a passing a loved one or they had a terrible weekend.

As an employee, show compassion and be there for them. You do not need to sit by them the whole day, but by dropping an email, saying your doors are always open for them, shows that you not only care about the progress of the company, but you also care about the well-being of your employee. Remember that a supportive workplace culture is the foundation of a healthy workplace

Just as healthy, vital organizations are dependent on employees who attend to their wellbeing, likewise, employees are dependent on organizations that function healthily. Ultimately, the key to creating and sustaining a high-performing organization is establishing a healthy work environment. Organizations that prioritize long-term success must show that they care about their employees, whether their team members are on-site, remote, or part-time.

If you’ve ever been in a work environment where it feels heavy, negative, and unproductive, you know what it’s like to be in a mentally and physically draining place. It’s not healthy in any way, which is why it’s of the utmost importance company leadership and workers come together to maintain a good work culture and environment. This type of environment is where workers will thrive and feel happy and motivated to do well.

Improving the well-being of your employees not only prevents a high turnover rate and absenteeism, it also boosts motivation and employee morale. You don’t have to do a complete overhaul of your system to improve your work environment. Just by implementing some small changes, you can start creating a healthy workspace. A healthy work environment is one in which healthy patterns are cultivated and integrated into the company culture.  Unlike toxic work environment, healthy workplaces have positive, open, and honest communication.  

In conclusion, Managers can learn to support health and well-being by sharing the wellness vision, serving as effective wellness role models, and aligning cultural touch points. Successful organizations combine support for individual change with supportive environments.

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