There is no consensus around a single definition of wellbeing, but there is general agreement that at minimum, wellbeing includes the presence of positive emotions and moods (e.g. contentment and happiness), the absence of negative emotions (e.g. depression and anxiety), satisfaction with life, fulfilment and positive functioning. In simple terms, wellbeing can be described as judging life positively and feeling good. Happiness can come and go in a moment, whereas wellbeing is a more stable state of being well and feeling satisfied and content.
A company’s success depends on its people. Companies need to ensure their people are operating at their optimum and are in the best of their health, both physical and mental. It is therefore vital that companies provide the right frameworks and policies to support their employees.
Last year CBRE explored the options that could be introduced to the office to improve the overall health and wellness of the staff through its “Global Workplace Innovation”. The project identified five trends fuelling the demand for wellness programmes now (see box below).
Implementing wellness in the office
Based on these findings, CBRE introduced upgrades and wellness in its new Dubai office through a green fit-out approach and monthly wellness initiatives. One of the key changes introducing was the use of sit-stand desks. Studies have connected being sedentary for prolonged periods of time with everything from increased risk of breast and colon cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and neck pain. Standing desks allow you to burn slightly more calories than you would sitting while you work, and they can also reduce the risk of shoulder and back pain.
Other key initiatives included improving the lighting. Poor lighting directly affects work performance as it puts strain in the eyes. This can also lead to further problems like headaches and eye illnesses. CBRE also has a number of breakout rooms. It’s become increasingly commonplace for majority of organisations to have a breakout area included in the office.
Past studies have shown that having an area in the workplace of this type, surrounded with comfortable breakout furniture, is supposed to greatly help with improving employee wellness. Due to the nature of thousands of peoples’ jobs in the corporate world, it’s often likely for staff members to develop unpleasant eye strain and back pains. This makes it paramount for employees to have a place where they can just relax and unwind for a while away from their daily tasks.
Having that option to disconnect from work for a few moments has proved to not only help reduce stress, but it’s also found to increase productivity levels too. This is because you return to your work with a fresh mind and greater willingness to complete your work, rather than having to continually work at your desk with no break.
Wellness champion
From January, a wellness committee was formed, which has mapped out an array of wellness workshops and initiatives to begin the process of improving the employees’ health and knowledge on the importance of wellness in everyday life. Some of the initiatives involved a chef coming into the office and showing the employees how easy it is to make a healthy lunch at work and other methods of improving your eating habits in the workplace. Our insurer held a wellness day in the office, which involved employees having a free health check, covering BMI, glucose levels and blood pressure followed by a healthy lunch.
The company also has a number of “wellbeing champions” who are a diverse group of people from different parts of the business. Their purpose is to promote and help to raise awareness of one’s wellbeing; and they are trained to support individuals if they are experiencing any personal difficulties. While the wellbeing champions are not trained counsellors, they are there to listen and to guide employees to specialist advisors or to support groups, should that be necessary.
Trends fuelling demand for wellness
Employees are living and working longer. In many parts of the world, the workforce is aging. Since 2005, the average life expectancy globally for both women and men has improved by nearly two years. More of us are choosing to work past the standard retirement age and many countries are raising the age of retirement in an attempt to slow the escalating costs of pensions and health care for retirees.
Declining health. While we’re living longer, we’re not necessarily living healthier lives. Worldwide obesity has nearly doubled since 1980 and non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes now account for more than 60 per cent of all deaths worldwide.
Key skills are hard to find. With high levels of employment in key global markets, and an aging workforce in many Western countries, one consequence is the well-documented war for talent. Recruiting employees with the right skills and then keeping them is a costly and highly competitive business.
A growing awareness of stress and mindfulness. Stress is experienced by most people during a normal work week and is a major cause of burnout and depression. According to a CBRE survey, 79 per cent of respondents stated that balancing private and professional commitments was a cause of stress.
Technology is making it easier for people to monitor and manage their health. Brands like Apple, Nike and Garmin already offer a huge array of gadgets and apps to help us get fitter, faster and stronger. Biometric sensors and wearable technologies capture real-time data on our sweat levels, pulse, heart rate, body temperature and movement, so that we can detect stress, tiredness or illness. This technology will act as an enabler to the increasing number of people who want to proactively manage their health.
Source: CBRE Global Workplace Innovation
