Reading time: 4 min.
Below you'll find a brief summary of our conversation with Ann De Bisschop. You can listen to the full episode via Spotify, SoundCloud & Apple Podcasts.
About Ann De Bisschop
Ann is a wellbeing consultant and keynote speaker both at home and abroad. She's also the author of two books: 'Aftellen naar maandag' ('Countdown to Monday') and 'Well-being = winst' ('Wellbeing = Profit'). From her very first job, she ended up in media and helped launch Qmusic. During her management roles at Medialaan, Ann was already deeply invested in employee wellbeing. Over the last three years, she became wellbeing director for the entire media group.
Wellbeing = Profit
'Aftellen naar maandag', Ann's first book, is packed with tips on how employees can start the new work week with more energy and enthusiasm. The drive to write a second book quickly followed. This time, she convinces managers and business leaders that investing in wellbeing isn't a luxury, but a necessity for an organisation to be successful and future-proof.
The book answers the question: what can you do to have healthier, happier, motivated and engaged employees?
Employee wellbeing
What exactly is employee wellbeing? Employee wellbeing is about caring for the wellbeing of everyone in the organisation, today and tomorrow, both during and outside working hours. It's a broad concept that includes things like employee satisfaction (enjoying where you work), empathetic leadership, autonomy, opportunities to learn... and of course a healthier lifestyle.
Employee wellbeing during Covid
In mid-March, the world turned upside down and working from home became the norm. People got more time and suddenly started reflecting much more on their own lifestyle. Bike sales skyrocketed, more people than ever went out walking — it was remarkable. A positive side to the virus that affected us all.
During that same period, many companies struggled, and many went bankrupt. Pressure on employees grew, as more work had to get done with fewer people, making it even more important now to take care of your employees.
Employee wellbeing vs employee engagement
In our previous podcast, we had Inge Van Belle as a guest. She shared incredibly valuable insights on employee engagement.
We asked Ann how we can position employee wellbeing and employee engagement in relation to each other. "Very simple," she said. Employee engagement is the outcome an organisation strives for: a strong sense of connection with the company you work for. Employee wellbeing is a means that leads to a higher level of engagement.
Engagement is essential, and a wellbeing policy is one of the ways to encourage it. A company with a strong wellbeing policy sees less turnover and higher retention.
Healthier breaks
Healthier breaks and healthier snacks also contribute to a policy where wellbeing takes centre stage. Make sure less nutritious food stays out of sight, and make more nutritious food easy to reach. That way, you motivate employees towards a healthier lifestyle.
A break moment is of course about more than just food. Ann recommends her clients offer a break box containing tools that encourage taking breaks: skipping ropes, badminton rackets, and so on. This way, you send a powerful signal that says "it's okay to take a break."
Because employees who take regular breaks aren't just more productive — they also feel better and more connected to their colleagues.
Tips to encourage employee wellbeing
- Take a close look at the organisation's culture and values: do they also reflect employee wellbeing, and are they embraced by everyone?
- Re-evaluate the workplace: choose a hybrid model as a company, combining working from home with office moments.
- Organise your work environment with wellbeing in mind: for example, make sure there's plenty of vegetables, fruit and other more nutritious snack and meal options.
- Organise lunch & learn sessions where you teach employees how to get the best out of themselves, for example through food: which foods keep your energy levels steady, how to read labels, and so on.
- Set aside sufficient budget for the wellbeing policy.
- Discuss with your employees what they'd like to see in the policy: after all, it's all about them. Create ambassadors who help carry wellbeing initiatives forward.
Conclusion
The title of the book doesn't lie: 'Well-being = winst' ('Wellbeing = Profit'). Especially in times of Covid, it's incredibly important to care about your employees' wellbeing. You can do this, for example, by offering more nutritious snacks, but also by contributing to their mental balance. Motivate your employees to take breaks, and make sure they know it's more than okay to do so. The first step? Look at your company's culture and make sure wellbeing is among your organisation's top priorities.
Good luck!