When a new year starts, people often talk of making resolutions, which often revolve around health, fitness and wellbeing. But have you thought about business resolutions? With such a growing focus on wellbeing, all organisations would do well to make this a goal for 2019.
Here are our top four suggestions for key areas of focus to help you make your new year business resolutions.
Flexible Working business resolutions
Here at Eventus, we are lucky to work for a forward-thinking MD in Siobhan Courtney who genuinely believes work-life balance is imperative. All of her employees work from home and have flexible hours and some working a four-day week. The days of working 9-5 every day are increasingly being questioned with forward-thinking organisations developing a four-day week, to allow for employees to have time to relax and recharge, which also benefits employers who benefit from increased productivity and less absenteeism.
Email free time off
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) carried out a survey with 2,000 employees and found that two-fifths said they checked their emails at least five times a day, outside of working hours.
It’s not a surprise that working long hours is linked to health issues including anxiety, depression, emotional exhaustion, stress and work burnout. In 2018, Lidl supermarket introduced a stipulation that staff should not send emails between 6pm and 7am, as an attempt to support the reduction of stress and pressure on staff.
Standing desks raise productivity
There are some concerning statistics about the amount of time office workers sit, without moving. This sedentary work style is reported to have considerable negative impact on our health, both physically and mentally, including depression and obesity. Research carried out by the Huffington Post reported office workers spend the equivalent of five years sat at their desks during their working career.
To counteract this, many organisations have switched to standing desks that allow staff to switch between sitting and standing throughout the working day. Research carried out by Leicester and Loughborough University found that employees using standing desks, reported they were more engaged in their work and also felt less tired.
If a standing desk is not option as part of your business resolutions, encourage ways for your employees to stand throughout the day, such as when on the phone or use portable devices to allow some standing time, for example, whilst reading emails.
Wearable tech
Wearable tech can also support employees’ health and wellbeing whilst they are at work. Many devices now prompt employees to move and stretch each hour and can monitor stress levels. Wearable technology provides a useful insight into how to be move healthy and active throughout our day. Identifying signs of stress and anxiety can help make changes to reduce the issues.