A new survey from insurance firm Aon in partnership with IPSOS indicates there is a close link to wellbeing and company performance.
The 2021 Global Wellbeing Survey shows that if employee wellbeing is improved, customer satisfaction and retention also improves. However, while overall wellbeing performance is connected to focused strategies within the company, a series of standalone initiatives are not as impactful.
The survey found that 82% of companies found employee wellbeing to be important, with 87% stating they have at least one initiative in place. However, only 24% said they fully integrate wellbeing into their business and talent strategies.
In EMEA, Ireland, the Czech Republic and South Africa are the most likely to have an initiative, while Portugal, South Africa and Switzerland are most likely to have a full strategy in place.
The survey also suggests that company culture plays a significant role in integrating wellbeing into every day operations. But aside from financial investment, employee engagement and interest is the most challenging part of executing wellbeing initiatives.
“Cultures are the seedbeds that determine whether employee wellbeing programmes flourish or die, so companies should assess if their organisational culture is helping or hindering them in their wellbeing and resilience efforts,” said Dr. Avneet Kaur, EMEA Wellbeing Solutions Leader at Aon. “Leadership support and buy-in are critical factors in creating a culture and a wellbeing strategy that can positively impact workforce resilience and overall company performance.”