It is common to hear business leaders say “Our people are our greatest asset,” but more often than not, employees are not treated as assets, let alone the greatest asset of a company. Employers often realize too late the value of their human capital and the fact that people make the business, not the other way around.
Human capital is the greatest driver of a company’s success, and just like the parts of a vehicle, not paying attention to the persons that make up an organization would lead to its downfall. Therefore, employers need to revisit their people skills to optimize workplace productivity and success.
Equip and Educate
Since the pandemic began, many organizations started hybrid or entirely remote work models. But whichever work pattern you choose for your employees, the new shift in the corporate world calls for new tools and resources to meet new work demands. You need to reinvent and help employees navigate the changing times to optimize productivity. Provide your workers with resources and upskilling opportunities through webinars, online courses, and other channels to help them get ahead with their tasks and goals.
In the context of the pandemic, many workers are just getting into the swing of remote work. These employees need the right resources and technology to make the process easy. Provide information about and access to ergonomic workstations to ensure workers are at their best when working. Working in isolation means that workers may find it difficult to embrace and understand new work tools and technology, but if you walk them through it beforehand, it smoothens workflow and helps employees complete their tasks faster.
Business owners also need to pay attention to the unique needs of their employees. Those that are struggling with work or those struggling with mental health problems, for instance, should be provided with the required, individualized assistance. This is where business leaders can leverage employee assistance programs (EAPs) to provide the needed assistance and help your workers get back on track.
Open Communication Channels
Communication is a crucial factor in the workplace now more than ever. Employees are better engaged and more productive when they feel part of a community. HR leaders need to initiate a feedback loop system where employees’ voices are heard and their needs are met swiftly. Workers are better engaged when they know their voice is recognized and their needs are prioritized.
This requires opening up channels of communication. How easily can your least-paid employee access you? How easily do employees’ concerns get resolved? Who is in charge of ensuring employees’ welfare? How are your employees criticized: constructively or negatively? Are they really doing okay? Answers to these questions may be the reason why your employees are not engaged and productive.
While most of your employees are working in their homes across different corners of the world as the pandemic lingers, it may be easy for them to feel isolated. Rebuild a sense of community among your workforce via interactive break sessions and regular video calls to keep colleagues connected.
Are they Really Okay?
A healthy workforce produces a topnotch business. It’s more like driving a vehicle with a faulty engine; you would only drive a few miles before the vehicle stops working. Running your company on an unhealthy workforce is not only unethical, but it also slowly pushes your business to it limits.
Wellness initiatives are integral to the productivity and wellbeing of your workforce. What wellness initiatives are available and accessible in your organization? What financial wellness offerings do you avail your workers? How much mental health support do you offer your employees?
The Great Resignation has demonstrated the inadequacies of many employers and their neglect for the health and wellbeing of their workers. And in the context of the pandemic, employees are not as healthy as they used to, and they now want an employer that puts their health at the front burner.
Revisit those corporate wellness strategies to keep your workers healthy. Improve access to mental health support, rev up your chronic disease management offerings, and increase healthcare benefits and access to medical services.
Employers may also modify wellness offerings to provide more proactive initiatives, including on-site fitness classes, gym memberships, exercise breaks, tobacco cessation programs, and food wellness programs to help employees reduce their risk of disease.
Use GHA For Business
GHA For Business is one way to demonstrate to your employees that their health and wellbeing is your priority. GHA For Business is a tool created by Global Healthcare Accreditation to help organizations align their employee benefits and wellbeing offerings to what employees need in today’s new world. The accreditation not only validates the company's prioritization of employee safety, health and well-being, but allows companies to share with employees why they have been accredited, and what this means for employees across all their policies. Employees have a lot of options now about where to work, and they want to work for a company that cares and communicates in more transparent ways.
In sum, your workers are the lifeforce of your company: have an ill-equipped, unhealthy, and dissatisfied workforce, and it will begin to reflect on the quality of your organization. Therefore, employers need to revisit this key aspect of their organization, improve their people skills, and re-commit to making their business about improving the quality and welbeing of their human capital