Why Leaders Must Put Workplace Wellness at the Top of Their Priorities
In a previous blog post, I explained Why Workplace Wellness is a Global Societal Issue. I also shared some data showing why workplace wellness, particularly how to manage workplace stress and employee burnout better, is increasingly becoming a major concern for organizations across the globe.
In my presentation next week at the Global Workplace Wellness Summit, I will showcase the business case for workplace wellness. Here is some of the data I will be sharing with this global audience: 
- The global economy loses about US$1 trillion per year in productivity due to depression and anxiety, according to a report earlier this year from the World Health Organization (WHO).
- The International Labor Organization and WHO released a report asserting that 745,000 people died last year from overwork that resulted in stroke or heart disease. That same report said over 488 million people globally are exposed to the risks of working long hours.
- Prior to the pandemic, the American Institute of Stress estimated that work stress costs US businesses over $300 billion annually. I cannot even imagine how much higher this figure will be during and after the pandemic.
With such a significant impact on productivity and profitability, unhealthy workplace environments need to become a thing of the past (like child labor and unsafe mining practices).
Of course, that is stating the obvious. But how does a healthy workplace environment benefit businesses and organizations? Here’s some more data I will be sharing at the Global Workplace Wellness Summit:
- According to an article in Harvard Business Review, workplace wellbeing leads to a 46% higher job satisfaction level and a 32% increase in committed and engaged staff.
- And a World Economic Forum study concluded that leadership wellbeing enhances managerial and leadership performance. That report cited a 50% increase in creativity and innovation and a 40% increase in employee engagement from workplace wellness programs.
- Additionally, numerous research studies have shown that productivity declines significantly after 55 hours of work in a week. Any hours working past this point are virtually pointless. They also lead to an increase in mistakes, errors, and unsafe working practices.
As I wrote in the previous blog on workplace wellness, leaders have an opportunity to display a stronger level of emotional intelligence toward their employees, including empathy, adaptability, and flexibility. They also have an obligation to provide an enhanced workplace wellness environment that focuses on physical, mental, and emotional wellness.
Please join me at next week’s Global Workplace Wellness Summit (Nov 8-10). You can register for free to attend this three-day virtual event at: https://globalworkplacewellnesssummit.com/membership/
For more information, the Summit Agenda is at: https://globalworkplacewellnesssummit.com/2021-summit/
The next blog post will highlight why organizations should start their workplace wellness focus on workplace stress. I will also share some tips on the actions you can take to manage and reduce workplace stress.
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