Role of Health and Wellbeing in Employee Engagement
Labour market ‘squeeze’
The post-pandemic year of 2022 has resulted in a number of sectors experiencing significant staff shortages. A trend which is expected to continue throughout 2022 and into 2023. The unemployment rate for May 2022 was 4.7%, a 0.6pp decrease to the start of the year and down 2.2pp versus the same period last year. Coupled with increased job postings, demand for talent and a tightening of the labour market is evident.
As employers compete for talent, employee engagement has never been more important.
For retention, employers must ensure employees are happy and it will be crucial to listen and act. Businesses should be speaking with employees to understand how they feel about their job, the culture of the business and learn what would make the most positive impact in their working and personal lives.
Research study
Towards the end of 2021, Core Research spoke to 2,045 workers in the Republic of Ireland and asked them about a range of topics; including their overall job satisfaction, their long-term intentions, and how their employer performs on staff health and well-being.
Key research findings:
62% of the workforce are satisfied with their current job.
52% believe “My organisation continuously tries to support a healthy lifestyle among its staff.”
55% say “My organisation promotes a positive work/life balance.”
26% believe their organisation does not show an interest in staff health and wellbeing.
A proactive approach
A positive organisational approach to health and wellbeing can be a core enabler of employee engagement and organisational performance.
Opening channels for honest feedback shows you value their needs and invites staff to play a role in the company’s direction. Combine this with actions that address any staff pain points or concerns, and you are showing staff that you value their views.
