Employees are the backbone of every organisation. Managers should prioritise the well-being of their employees in all circumstances including unfortunate occurrences such as the COVID-19 outbreak.
In unprecedented situations like these, Human Resource Managers must highly prioritise the safety and security of their employee. In this blog, we consider why employee health and safety are important in the workplace, along with efficient ways to handle it.
Why is Employee Health and Safety Important?
The health and safety of the employees are important contributors to the overall growth of an organisation. Here are some of the reasons why it is important:
1. Inspire Behavioural Changes
A safe and healthy work environment gives employees ample benefits, from a healthy lifestyle to better mental well-being.
Organising mental well-being programs in institutions keeps employees happy and satisfied in the workplace.
Also, employees are more likely to adopt good habits when employers support them in doing so.
2. Boost Employees Engagement
When the employees are healthy and feel that the managers of the company are supporting them, they will be motivated to do their best. Also, if they are satisfied with the job, they refer it to their network – friends as well as relatives.
3. Lower Absenteeism
By providing a healthy working environment for employees, managers reduce absenteeism. They will feel secure and more motivated to work. Having proper health and well-being leads to fewer leaves and absences, which significantly benefits the output of a business.
4. Retain Employees
A better working environment attracts more employees. If the workplace is healthy and safe, then workers are more likely to continue there and do their best. It also saves the firm time and money; otherwise, they have to train new employees, which costs a lot more.
5. Social Responsibility
Prioritising workplace health and safety enhances an organisation’s public image and makes its relationship with the community stronger. A firm’s commitment to safety shows respect and gratefulness for the well-being of its workforce. This leads to long-term success and sustainability while benefiting both society and the organisation.
Tips for Efficient Health and Safety Management of Employees
Leverage AI and Automation
According to a survey, 89% of employees experience better work satisfaction after the use of automation tools. One of the most notable benefits of automation is that employees don’t need to stress about daily repetitive tasks that AI can easily do. This saves valuable time for employees and allows them to focus on other important tasks.
When it comes to safety, AI has special equipment for monitoring employees’ regular health metrics, such as heart rate and blood pressure, alerting both employees and managers to potential health threats. This continuous monitoring ensures the safety and better well-being of the employees.
Be More Empathetic
Managers should have to be more empathetic toward the well-being of employees; sometimes, for some reason, employees are not in their best mental health. They might get distracted easily because of long working hours or continuous night shifts.
When employees are going through tough times, managers have to understand their pain points and develop solutions to help employees in the best way possible.
Encourage Work-life Balance
When work interferes with other aspects of life, the workers become more stressed and thus lose interest in what they are doing. Managers can assist employees by encouraging work-life balance by giving time-off policy, flexible working hours, and recognizing employees’ boundaries.
Wrapping Up
Managers are charged with the responsibility of ensuring that the employees of their organisation are healthy. You are liable for coordinating with health clinics and insurance companies to make sure that employees get access to the best possible health care benefits.
You can also organise mental health programs from time to time to boost employees’ morale and awareness, to ensure that every employee is getting all the health care benefits. Finally, monitor employees’ participation and success of these programs over time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. What do you mean by employees’ health and safety?
Employee health and safety refers to providing a safe and healthy working place for the employees to work at their best potential with peace of mind. It is done by incorporating safety equipment, being empathetic to employees’ problems, and supporting them to the fullest.
2. How do you maintain employee health and safety?
Maintaining the safety and health of employees is essential for both the firm and employees. Here are some of the methods you can incorporate:
● Be more empathetic towards them.
● Use automation to reduce their workload.
● Reduce workplace stress.
● Give regular breaks.
● Organise a mental health seminar.
3. What is the significance of the health and safety of employees in the workplace?
A healthy and safe workplace shields the worker from any form of injury or sickness. It also reduces injury costs and increases the productivity of employees. Additionally, it boosts their morale and help them perform better in the workplace.
