Employee Well-being: A Leading Workplace Occupational Health and Safety Risk Indicator  

In an  Impairment Environmental Scan survey conducted by the National Safety Council, over half of responding employers reported links between certain states of well-being experienced by employees and increases in health and safety exposure risks. Contributing factors in work-related accidents, injuries, and fatalities included fatigue and sleep disorders, mental distress, alcohol and drug use, incidents of workplace violence, and a lack of psychological safety at work.  

Why Well-being Matters to Employers and Their Employees 

Well-being is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes having good physical and mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to cope with stress. Each of these attributes contributes to a healthy and safe workplace environment. 

Physical Health 

An active lifestyle helps control weight gain and prevent chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure as employees age. Exercise releases endorphins, serotonin, and other brain chemicals that help lift mood, decrease anxiety and depression, and promote a positive mindset – conditions that affect job performance. When employers support employees’ physical fitness goals and provide resources for the prevention and management of chronic conditions, they reduce the risk for work-related injuries, prolonged absences, high medical costs, productivity disruptions, and diminished quality of life. 

Mental Health 

Mental well-being is how people respond to life’s ups and downs. It includes the way people think and behave, and how they handle difficult emotions. Employees can be encouraged to engage in activities outside of work that help support mental well-being, volunteering in the community, pursuing a hobby, spending time in nature, doing yoga, practicing meditation, or playing games.  

Social Connections 

Feeling connected to co-workers, friends, and family members is another important aspect of well-being. Social connections help employees feel confident, valued, and supported. Employers can help employees nurture social connections by inviting them to join workplace special-interest groups that involve healthy lifestyle choices, such as walking competitions, nutrition classes, sports teams, or gardening clubs. 

Work-life Balance 

Work-life balance is a phrase that is used to describe an ideal situation in which an employee effectively allocates time and energy to work and other important aspects of their life. Awareness about priorities provides useful insights. As feasible, employers can help employees maintain a reasonable degree of balance by offering flexible work schedules, remote work options, childcare assistance, and other resources. Education on appropriate boundary-setting is another way employees can learn to manage multiple demands on their time and energy. 

Final Thought 

Everyone benefits when employers foster a strong sense of employee well-being in the workplace by: 

• Investing in occupational health and safety programs with a wellness component 
• Routinely modeling healthy and safe behaviors 
• Recognizing employees when they achieve well-being milestones 
• Creating opportunities for employees to collaborate and socialize 

Looking for More? 

Check out these resources: 

• White Paper: From Safety to Wellness: A Strategic Shift for Workforce Health and Organizational Resilience – Learn how integrated workforce strategies for occupational health, workplace safety, and employee wellness can reduce injuries, improve productivity, and deliver results. 

• From Safety to Wellness: Creating a Holistic Workplace – a WorkCare webinar in which our experts explain the benefits of using inter-disciplinary teams to integrate workforce well-being strategies with occupational health and safety interventions for optimal outcomes. 

• Blog: WorkCare’s Holistic Approach to Occupational Health, Safety, and Employee Wellness Breaks Down Silos – The timing is right for employers to adopt holistic approaches to occupational health, workplace safety, and employee wellness to meet employees’ needs, foster resilience, and help ensure business sustainability.