Ignoring employee well-being comes at cost to businesses

You’ve heard of companywide wellness programs and health coverage, but employees shouldn’t always be referred to outside resources and return to work under the same conditions. It’s a Band-Aid for poor management, lack of work-life balance and excessive workload. People who are happier at work are often more appreciated, have a sense of belonging and are mission-driven.

Throughout all of my jobs so far, some I simply outgrew or left due to a lack of growth opportunities, but others I left purely because of exhaustion. It was the battle of my mind wanting to push forward and make more money, but my body was suffering because of it. I recently heard Dr. Aditi Nerurkar, a stress expert, speak about the not-so-obvious signs we’re dealing with stress. She described a canary in a coal mine, a concept that referred to birds joining miners in the tunnels. The canaries would joyfully sing, but as soon oxygen levels lowered, they went quiet — indicating danger.  

“Hustle” culture, especially in the Bay Area, has made work exist with no boundaries. We are taught to believe that working hard is superior to your own being. Employees have families to feed, bills to pay and a desire for financial security in a stressful economy. To thrive, you must do whatever it takes. Unfortunately, our bandwidth as humans is limited. Regardless of who is winning the rat race, we are all subject to burnout sooner or later. Now more than ever, employers should be noticing the energetic shifts within their workplace. If productivity is the concern, pushing employees over the edge is doing more of a disservice to companies and organizations.

According to the American Institute of Stress, workplace stress costs U.S. businesses a whopping $300 billion annually. This accounts for absenteeism, reduced productivity and health care costs. Additionally, it means higher turnover and lower job satisfaction. In May 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention included burnout in the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Burnout is considered an “occupational phenomenon” or, in other words, “ a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.” We know about workplace burn-out and its effects on employees, yet workplaces are not prioritizing people first.

Across the United States, companies usually provide health insurance, paid time off and commuter benefits (to name a few). Don’t get me wrong, these benefits are great, but employees need more support within their roles. Psychologists have explored the benefits of “psychological safety,” which occurs when employees feel comfortable being themselves and sharing difficulties without negative repercussions. In rare cases, companies will hire executives dedicated to employee well-being to establish this.

Steven Bartlett, founder of FlightStory and podcast host of “The Diary of a CEO” recently appointed Harri Walsh as the Head of Happiness and Health. This is because research has proven people are successful at work when they experience feelings of belongingness and connection. “We just made one of the most important hires in our company’s history. Not a CMO. Not a COO. A head of Happiness & Health … ,” Bartlett shared on LinkedIn. Bartlett’s approach to business isn’t to praise. He cracked the code to a more profitable business by caring for the well-being of a team that makes it all happen.

Until more companies experience the cost of ignoring employee well-being on a larger scale, it is hard to determine if anything will change. Four-day work weeks, wellness retreats and other “cool” solutions are not as intuitive as better work days. Among “quiet quitters” who are doing the bare minimum, there lies the job dissatisfaction that led them to that point. Everyone has a breaking point, and employers should activate their leadership skills not just to delegate, but to listen, learn and support the staff that helps companies thrive.

Giselle Espinoza writes about health, mental well-being, higher education and entrepreneurship. She brings a Gen Z perspective with a slight coffee addiction.