May 9, 2023 | Veronica Bocian

A new approach to wellbeing 

Deloitte’s research, “The rise of employee wellbeing: A new imperative for employers,” highlights the growing importance of prioritizing employee wellbeing in today’s business landscape.  

The research begins by pointing out that the traditional approach to employee wellness programs has been limited to physical health initiatives such as gym memberships or annual checkups. However, this approach is no longer sufficient, says Deloitte, as employees face a multitude of stressors and challenges in their personal and professional lives post-pandemic. 

The authors argue that employers must take a more holistic approach—one that considers the employee’s mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. 

Anyone who has responsibility for others—including those in early supervisory roles all the way up to C-suite positions—may be the stewards of well-being. Their behaviors and interactions with their teams can set the tone for the team and the workplace culture
– DELOITTE

Empathy and psychological safety 

Deloitte points out that understanding and creating a secure and supportive environment for team members can establish trust and is a crucial element for successful teams.  

With the pandemic prompting many workplaces to shift to a hybrid setting, emotional intelligence and empathy have gained greater significance. Experts identified a manager’s emotional intelligence and empathy as the most crucial factors in cultivating more effective work methods in a hybrid environment. 

Ultimately, the insights provide employers with a comprehensive framework for designing and implementing a successful wellbeing program—consisting of four pillars: physical, emotional, financial, and social wellbeing. Each pillar, in their own way, takes into account what the research showed: employers may have an opportunity to address the evolving nature of work and move toward a model that better supports human sustainability.

Addressing the work determinants of well-being has the potential to catalyze a substantial shift in well-being across organizations, evolving from a traditional model centered on the individual to one that supports human sustainability by promoting the collective long-term well-being of workers, organizations, and society.
– DELOITTE

Read the full article to learn more