Three Employee New Year’s Resolutions
By Rachel DeGrand, Manager of Marketing Operations
It is hard to believe that 2022 has drawn to a close and a new year is upon us! The workplace continues to change at a rapid pace, and many employees are setting both professional and personal resolutions for the new year. As an employer, you may be able to help them achieve their new goals while also benefitting your entire workforce and company.
Here are a few examples of goals with mutually beneficial outcomes:
- Goal 1: Better Work-Life Balance – The pandemic and subsequent hybrid workplace has been a wake-up call to many employees who now realize a better work-life balance is attainable. Employers are in a unique position to help their employees manage this. Allowing employees to have flexible workdays or hours is a critical way to encourage a healthy work-life balance. As such, many employers are shifting their perspective of hybrid work from a novelty to the new standard.
Making small accommodations can help employees balance their professional and personal lives. Additionally, having such offerings makes your company more attractive to a wider array of potential employees, including working parents, younger generations, and qualified candidates outside of your local area.
- Goal 2: Improved Mental Health – Many employees are looking for ways to boost their mood and support their mental health in the new year. According to APA’s 2022 Stress in America poll close to two thirds of adults (63%) said their life has been forever changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many reported worse mental health, lower physical activity, disturbed sleep, and increased reliance on unhealthy habits—all of which impact their health and well-being, the workplace, and productivity.
One way to address employee mental health is by ensuring mental health is an essential part of overall health care offerings. Additionally, employers may expand telehealth and employee assistance program (EAPs), as well as increase the use of mental health apps. Offering trainings such as Mental Health First Aid to your leadership and front-line managers can help them identify and support employee mental health issues as well as create a supportive culture that removes any stigmas surrounding mental health.
Employers who are invested in their employees’ mental health often yield healthy employees who contribute to positive workplace culture and are more productive.
- Goal 3: Financial Wellness: Money is often a top stressor for employees. According to the 2022 PwC Employee Financial Wellness Survey 34% of employees say that financial stress/money worries in the past year have had a severe or major impact on their mental health. In addition, 18% say it affects their productivity at work and 15% say it affects their attendance at work. In turn, many employees may be making goals to increase their savings or pay off debt in the new year. Employers can help reduce employee financial stress by exploring financial wellness resources and support options and offering attractive programs for current and prospective employees. Financial wellness is a critical component of well-being and can be a competitive offering in today’s labor market.
Outside of these three goals, there may be other ways you can help your employees with their new year’s resolutions. Do they want to improve their physical health? Maybe you could build a workout room, start a walking club, or help supplement a gym membership. Do they want to continue their education? Consider offering educational opportunities that will help them succeed in their roles. The options are almost endless, and it will help create a stronger workplace for both employees and employers as we venture into 2023.
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