M4 - Wellbeing Flashcards
What is wellbeing?
Wellbeing is the state of being comfortable, healthy and happy, involving how people feel and function on both a personal and social level, including at work.
Explain why wellbeing is important in the workplace?
The wellbeing of workers is an increasingly relevant and necessary consideration in the modern workplace as without health and wellbeing, most people would struggle to feel a sense of purpose, fulfilment and connection in the world and not achieve their full potential.
Outline the personal factors affecting wellbeing?
Social and emotional: being able to manage life stresses and work productively in your community. This can depend on relationships, peers, work and money and affect personal and work relationships
Health: Better physical health through regular exercise, sufficient sleep and a nutritious diet can prevent illnesses and decrease mental health issues.
Economic: Higher income and social status allows for better health due to increased access to resources, services and education
Cultural: Impacts beliefs, norms and values as well as behaviours and attitudes towards seeking support due to stigmas.
Outline the workplace factors affecting wellbeing?
Negative workplace culture and morale: Little support is provided for struggling workers, high stress due to undrealistic expectations, micromanaging bosses limit worker autonomy and are not trusted or appreciated causes low levels of worker morale and job satisfaction.
Collegial relationships: Lack of support, isolation and high competitiveness to be better can cause workers to feel overwhelmed and stressed.
**Job autonomy, progression, and work opportunities: ** lack of opportunity for professional learning causes workers to feel like they little or no chance to progress
Intrinsic and extrinsic rewards: lack of recognition and reward causes workers to feel that their efforts go unnoticed causing decreased worker morale and productivity
How do personal and workplace factors affect wellbeing?
- Reduced productivity and worker morale
- Increased errors and mistakes
- Increased sickness and absenteeism
- Higher rates of resignations, job terminations and staff turnover
- Conflict with colleagues, supervisor and managers
What are the signs of work-related stress?
Physical: fatigue, headaches, excessive sweating, muscular tension
Psychological: depression, anxiety, irritability, reduced concentration
Behavioural: aggression, mood swings, decreased productivity and initiative, increased absenteeism
Explain two strategies that can be implemented to manage workplace stress?
IImproving work-life balance
* Use a calendar: Google calendar aids to organise, schedule and visualise the spread of events or tasks to maximise time. At SnackNation they recommend team members to plan out their weeks on Friday or even Sunday evenings, encouraging breaks to be scheduled.
* Make a to do list: Write tasks down in a notebook or a note taking app/task management software like monday.com to keep a handle on daily activities and tasks.
* Team building activities: After a long week, plan an event that stimulates creativity and problem solving to reduce stress at work such as an Escape room
Implementing a wellbeing plan
* Tracking stressors to identify situations causing stress and avoiding them
e.g. If stress is triggered by overwhleming workloads, a worker can use an application such as monday.com to handle daily actvities and organise tasks
* Learning how to take care of mental and physical health through meditation and deep breathing exercises
What are the types of communication styles and their advantages and disadvantages?
Formal: official, generally in writing
Informal: verbal, face-to-face or over the phone
Direct: explicitly stating opinions
Indirect: using gestures and tone of body language
Passive: Avoiding expressing opinions and feelings, limiting conflict but causes worker to lose confidence, and be treated as unimportant
Aggressive: Expressing feelings and opinions in a way that gets what you want but violates the rights of others and causes isolation, poor collegial relationships
Assertive: Expressing thoughts, feelings and opinions through honest communication so they are understood without putting down others but can be considered rude if not properly conveyed.
What is the most appropriate form of communication?
Verbal communication on a one-to-one basis or meeting with a supervisor is most effective. An email requesting this meeting should be sent prior containing additional information so both the worker and supervisor are prepared to approach any concerns.
Outline the importance of a communication plan and how it can be developed
Going into a meeting with a plan is beneficial so the worker knows what they wish to achieve out of the meeting. This helps to remeber points and issues they want to raise, guide the meeting by being straightforward and being organised.
- Write a list of issues that are affecting your wellbeing/performance/ enjoyment of work
- Devise a list of questions to be discussed
- Present possible solutions that could be implemented
What are strategies to deal with negative response?
- Remain calm and reply kindly stating your POV with reasoning
- Having an open and positive attitude to feedback
- Assess if their response is true abd be objective with opinions
What are formal and informal resources supporting wellbeing?
Counsellors (Lifeline crisis support)
Trained professionals that workers can build a healing and trusting relationship with to identify factors affecting wellbeing and provide strategies to effectively mitigate them.
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Supports employees of organisations in dealing with personal, family and/or work-related concerns that may impact their wellbeing, work performance, health and safety, or workplace morale.
Friends, family and colleagues
Connecting and forming good relationships who can assist with actively listening and provide support increases happiness, self-esteem and social/emotional health.
Online resources (Beyond Blue)
Assists in building the capacity of industries, workplaces and individuals to know what to do to be a mentally healthy workplace; promoting and protecting the wellbeing of staff and workers with mental health conditions.
Support staff (HR, WHS officers)
Developing strategies for wellbeing in the workplace, include staff wellbeing in evaluation criteria, building a better culture of communication in the workplace.
What strategies can a business introduce to help improve wellbeing?
- Provide flexible working arrangements so that workers can work from home and be more productive and relaxed
- Provide open plan and closed working environments – a combination of both helps workers be social and quiet when they decide
- Recognise and reward staff for good work. E,g flowers or a gift, a pay rise or extra time off work, verbal recognition in a meeting, hand written note
- Staff development program - Origin Energy book 2 hours a week into all workers calendars, dedicated to up skilling and hobbies — increases worker productivity, morale and job satisfaction.
- Send team on a team bonding day – PWC sent workers to Hunter Valley for 3 days, Deloitte did ‘The Amazing Race’ in Sydney – encourages communication between team members
What is the EAP?
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) supports employees of organisations who are dealing with personal, family and/or work-related concerns that may impact their wellbeing, work performance, health, or workplace morale.
What are the key features of the EAP?
- access to counselling
- confidentiality
- referrals and follow up services
- workplace wellbeing resources
