The idea of an employee investment program or employee development strategy may bring up a lot of questions. How does pouring resources into training and learning programs translate to better employee retention? And how does the cost of educational means and materials stack up against typical employee turnover costs? Moreover, how does a negative work environment contribute to “quiet quitting” — and what are the steps for improving work culture as an employee retention strategy?
Discovery Health Services is here to help. We’ll illustrate how a sustained focus on both physical and mental employee wellness can deliver myriad benefits for your business, including a healthier bottom line.
The Impact of a Bad Work Environment
Let’s start with what constitutes a “bad” work environment. It may seem obvious, but anything that puts workers at risk of physical danger creates a negative work environment. From poor lighting and ventilation to a lack of safety equipment to office layouts that hinder movement, poor physical conditions affect an employee’s physical well-being.
Less obvious are elements that create a mentally toxic workplace, though these are prone to the lowest levels of employee retention. Bullying, unrealistic yet rigid quotas, a lack of boundaries around personal privacy and mandatory overtime are examples of poor mental working conditions that can lead to high employee turnover costs.
The effects of poor mental and physical employee wellness in a negative work environment include:
Loss of Employee Engagement
It’s recently been dubbed “quiet quitting” when an employee does the barest minimum of their job description, but we’ve always just called it burnout. When employees feel undervalued and overworked, they stop going above and beyond because it’s just not worth it in their eyes. This is often a reaction to a bad work environment and the root cause of employee turnover costs.
Higher Turnover Rates
Those disengaged employees are definitely looking for better opportunities elsewhere. If they feel like your company has no interest in investing in employees’ development or well-being, they’ll not even consider staying loyal.
Higher Healthcare Costs
Unhappy workers tend to be less physically healthy than those who feel valued and appreciated. Though it sounds counter-intuitive, investing in employees with an inclusive wellness program will save money in the long run with lower healthcare costs. Getting to know the ROI on your employee wellness program brings the value of improving work culture into clear focus.
Unstable Workplace Culture
Employees with negative attitudes tend to spread the misery around the workplace. Whether it’s in the form of poor customer service or overall low morale, a negative work environment puts your business at risk.
Difficulty Recruiting Talent
No one seeks out a bad work environment. Any potential hires who do their homework will notice disengaged workers and a lack of employee investment programs. This will make it harder to fill open positions and only exacerbate the high employee turnover costs caused by unhappy workers leaving.
Increasing Retention With Employee Wellness
An effective employee retention strategy is necessary to help your business achieve both short- and long-term success. How much does employee turnover cost? More than a focused employee wellness strategy — and more than the cost of going out of business. In fact, the mere act of promoting employee wellness programs that suit your team’s specific needs can reignite engagement and begin improving work culture in tangible ways. When current and potential workers see that you’re investing in employees through educational, enriching and health-related initiatives, they tend to return the favor with enthusiasm and loyalty.
Build Your Custom Wellness Program
Ready to build the employee retention program that supports your team’s physical and mental wellness? Discovery Health Services brings over 20 years of experience to your corporate wellness needs. We have a deep understanding of how to personalize wellness programs, and the benefits of working with us include a measurable data-driven approach that’s inclusive, equitable and thorough.