EDITORIAL - Workplace wellness key to productivity

Wellness and productivity go hand in hand in the workplace. As such, management must invest in people to ensure their well-being and productivity.

Some may suggest, however, that managers are often preoccupied with outputs that are essentially measuring profitability. Nonetheless, it must be recognised that in order to lower incidences of absenteeism (where the worker is absent from work); and presenteeism (where the worker turns up for work, but does not function in an efficient manner), and increase productivity, employee wellness must not be overlooked.

Recent reports suggesting that a Wellness Policy is in the works is certainly great news for Barbados. According to Minister of Labour and Social Security, Dr. Esther Byer Suckoo, such a policy will encourage more business places to adopt wellness programmes.

Indeed, workplace health promotion has gained prominence in the past few years, and studies in developed countries have reported up to a 20% increase in productivity, fewer sick days being taken, lower medical costs and improvement in staff morale and corporate image, as outcomes of workplace wellness initiatives. And via these type of programmes, employees learn how to be healthy and have opportunities for practising healthier lifestyles. However, the success of these initiatives is dependent upon the commitment of both management and workers to improving their health and well-being, and therefore a joint effort must be made to have successful wellness activities in the workplace.

Now we can all agree that if a worker is not well, this may result in him or her taking some sick leave. Of late, there has been great concern expressed about the amount of sick leave taken by some workers, and the fact that some persons even use sick leave as vacation. Whilst we may need to drill down to find out the root causes of such, it can be acknowledged that a lot of employees suffer a great deal of stress in the workplace. As such, stress management must factor into these workplace wellness programmes and companies must ensure that a depressurised environment is established and sustained, as this is important to employees’ health and has a direct link to overall productivity as well. This does not take the onus away from employees in terms of doing their part to manage stress, but it does show that employers care enough about their workers to address all their concerns.

Employers must alsobe cognisant of the work load of employees and the employee’s ability to cope, or else sick leave may be the result. Employees on the other hand must understand that their employer may not be fully aware of their challenges, and should seek to have an open discussion with the powers that be whenever a problem arises. This should be done in the strictest confidence as well.

Given the rise in chronic non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease and some cancers – which are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among Barbadians – and the increase in workers’ stress levels, we can without a doubt see the need for more workplace wellness programmes.

Recognising that a healthier workplace fosters a successful and profitable business, and wellness programmes can help to get us there, more places of business should be willing to facilitate them.