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Below you will find a concise summary of our conversation with Ann De Bisschop. The full episode can be listened to via Spotify, SoundCloud & Apple Podcasts.
About Ann De Bisschop
Ann is a well-being consultant and keynote speaker both nationally and internationally. She is also the author of two books: ‘Counting Down to Monday’ and ‘Well-being = Profit’. From her first job, she ended up in the media and was involved in the founding of Qmusic. During her executive roles at Medialaan, Ann was already deeply concerned with employee well-being. In the last three years, she became the well-being director for the entire media group.
Well-being = Profit
‘Counting Down to Monday’, Ann’s first book, is packed with tips on how employees can start the new workweek with more energy and enthusiasm. The motivation to write a second book came quickly. This time, she convinces managers and business leaders that investing in well-being is not a luxury but a necessity to be successful and future-proof as an organization.
The book answers the question: what can you do to have healthy, happy, motivated, and engaged employees.
Employee well-being
What exactly is employee well-being? Employee well-being is about caring for the welfare of all people in the organization, today and tomorrow, both during and outside working hours. It is a broad concept and includes, among other things, employee satisfaction (enjoying working somewhere), empathetic leadership, autonomy, the opportunity to learn... and of course a healthy lifestyle.
Employee well-being during Corona
In mid-March, the world turned upside down and working from home became the norm. People had more time and suddenly paid much more attention to their own lifestyle. More bikes were sold than ever before, more people went for walks—it was remarkable. A positive side to the virus that affected us all.
During the same period, many companies struggled, and many went bankrupt. The pressure on employees increased; more work had to be done with fewer people, making it even more important now to take care of your employees.
Employee well-being vs employee engagement
In our previous podcast, we hosted Inge Van Belle. She provided very valuable information about employee engagement.
We asked Ann how we can position employee well-being and employee engagement in relation to each other. “Very simple,” she said. Employee engagement is the result an organization strives for: a high level of involvement with the company one works for. Employee well-being is a means that results in a higher degree of engagement.
Engagement is essential, and a well-being policy is one of the ways to promote it. A company with a good well-being policy has less turnover and higher retention.
Healthy breaks
Healthy breaks and healthy snacks also contribute to a policy where well-being is central. Make sure unhealthy food is out of sight and healthy food is easily accessible. This way, you motivate employees toward a healthy lifestyle.
A break moment is, of course, about more than just food. Ann recommends her clients a break box containing tools that encourage breaks: jump ropes, badminton rackets, etc. This sends a strong signal that says “it’s okay to take a break.”
Because employees who take regular breaks are not only more productive, they also feel better and more connected with colleagues.
Tips to promote employee well-being
- Examine the culture and values of the organization: do these also focus on employee well-being and are they supported by everyone?
- Reevaluate the workplace: as a company, choose a hybrid model that combines working from home and office moments.
- Organize your work environment with well-being in mind: for example, provide enough vegetables, fruit, and other healthy snack and meal options.
- Organize lunch & learn sessions where you teach employees how to get the best out of themselves through, for example, nutrition: which foods maintain energy levels, how to read labels, etc.
- Provide sufficient budget for the well-being policy.
- Discuss with your employees what they would like to see in the policy: after all, it’s about them. Create ambassadors who help support well-being initiatives.
Conclusion
The book’s title does not lie: ‘Well-being = Profit’. Especially in times of Corona, it is extremely important to care about the well-being of your employees. You can do this, for example, by offering healthy snacks but also by contributing to mental balance. Motivate your employees to take breaks and make sure they know it’s more than okay to take a break. The first step? Look at the company culture and ensure well-being is among your company’s top priorities.
Good luck!