Wellbeing Increases Employee Productivity

LOS ANGELES—Positive employee wellbeing can help to boost productivity and employee engagement. At the recent CoreNet Global Summit, a three-day summit exploring innovation in the commercial real estate sector, JLL hosted a morning yoga class to promote the idea of employee wellbeing. After the class, Bernice Boucher, managing director and lead of the global workplace strategy group in the Americas at JLL, sat down with us for an exclusive interview to discuss the importance of wellbeing in the workplace and how classes like this play a role in boosting wellbeing. 

GlobeSt.com: Why is workplace wellbeing important in an office?

Bernice Boucher: The direct link between integrated wellbeing factors and higher employee engagement is real. Wellbeing refers to how the employee feels—mentally and physically—in the workplace. The concept includes everything from giving employees choices about where and when to work to creating an appealing environment and providing the right tools for the job. So, it is a combination of tangible and intangible factors that affect how an employee feels about being at the workplace, and therefore how well they perform.

Improving employee wellbeing means making thoughtful decisions about the nature of the workplace environment. Today's workplace is so much more than a physical structure where work happens. It can be a strategic asset that will actually influence 'how' work happens.

GlobeSt.com: Do group or onsite yoga classes like this help?

Boucher: Onsite fitness classes and wellness programs are in important tactic for employees with regard to health and convenience, and boosting energy levels for the participants. These programs can also help build a sense of camaraderie. However, wellness activities are only the beginning of creating a sense of wellbeing in the office. These activities should be included in a well-being program but are only one aspect of the bigger picture. 

GlobeSt.com: What can employers do to boost workplace productivity?

Boucher: You should take a holistic look at the workplace environment to see what is interfering with employee focus and productivity. Sometimes, when you can't measure productivity, you measure what gets in the way of productivity. Something as basic as room temperature can be a distraction—when employees are too hot or too cold, the workplace is not an enjoyable place to be. Another common 'crime against productivity' is noise, so can you carve out some private, quiet workspaces for heads-down work? Or, your office may not provide enough access to natural light, which research shows can improve employee mood and productivity. Can you reconfigure your facilities to make more windows available to everyone?

Workplace design features are a good place to start because those are things that employees complain about and that can create a drag on productivity. Just adding plants to the environment can help, because people feel a very natural and calming connection to plants. You can take a number of steps to improve the physical environment to enhance wellbeing and productivity. Then, you can take your efforts a step further with strategic programs that give employees a sense of purpose and connect their daily work to the organization's larger strategy.