Why Employee Wellbeing Should Be at the Heart of Any Onboarding Strategy

Your onboarding strategy is the beginning of an ongoing relationship. It’s the point at which first impressions are made, and new employees find their feet. Getting the employee experience right is crucial to building healthier, happier teams. The answer? Wellbeing in the workplace. 

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Through various initiatives, leaders can support people in building better lives - a high priority for most people in the workplace. Take a look below at some of the ways in which a robust wellbeing strategy can complement your onboarding efforts. 

💪 Demonstrate Your Commitment to Healthy Employees

Let’s start by talking about first impressions and what a solid wellbeing package says about your company. When new employees join, they begin to piece together the puzzle that is your culture. In those initial weeks, having a set of wellbeing initiatives demonstrates a clear message to new starters… 

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“We care about the health and happiness of our employees, and understand that by supporting them they are able to work at their best.”

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To achieve this, leaders must not only provide a range of incentives but also instil a culture of wellbeing into the workplace. New starters need to see that your business values relationships, openness and trust. 

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Evidence of wellbeing in your workplace is the best way to ensure new joiners begin on the right foot. In the onboarding phase, introduce them to all the ways in which you take wellbeing seriously. 

🧱 The Foundation of a Successful Team and Business

When we look at the most successful businesses, we can’t ignore their unorthodox way of doing things. From onboarding to incentives and general culture, the biggest in business should be a shining example. 

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For instance, Microsoft goes to great lengths to take care of its people. Most employees are able to access medical, dental and vision benefits with the company. That’s not all, on-campus clinics are also a reality for most employees. The company also emphasises company-wide events that help employees build stronger relationships with each other.

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While larger businesses also have larger pockets to invest in health and wellbeing, it doesn’t have to break the bank. There are a number of wellbeing initiatives that are cost-effective and can help you develop a foundation for success. 

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With onboarding, you want to give your employees the best opportunity to work to their full potential - and it is with a robust wellbeing strategy that this foundation can be built. 

📈 Boost Retention and Job Satisfaction From the Beginning

It isn’t just about showcasing your long list of wellbeing initiatives - a solid wellbeing strategy for employee health and happiness achieves much more than that. When you take wellbeing seriously in the workplace, you also help enhance employee retention and job satisfaction from the get-go. 

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Times are proving hard for many employers in the current “Great Resignation” climate. People are moving quicker than ever, and job openings are appearing like never before. In a world where nearly 16.5% of employees have left a job in the first week, it’s so important that leaders get retention right. 

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By taking extra caution around the health and happiness of new starters, employers can prevent first-week or first-month leavers. People need to feel valued in the workplace, starting a new position is a nervous and confusing process. If anything is certain, it’s that your new employees may feel more stressed than existing team members.

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Be active with your listening, give consideration to how you would feel in their position, and ensure they have everything needed to get started with their job. 

🤝 Ways to Boost Employee Wellbeing

We couldn’t leave you without a range of employee wellbeing ideas. Take a look at the list below and consider the various ways in which you can boost the wellbeing of your team. Remember, this list is by no means exhaustive, and should be more of a starting point to a much larger strategy. 

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1. Use an employee wellbeing platform
2. Organise wellbeing meetings with your employees
3. Consider flexible working options (it really does boost employee happiness!)
4. Build an employee benefits package around your team’s needs
5. Be an active listener, and train managers to do the same
6. Always encourage a healthier lifestyle outside of work
7. Rethink your office environment (they can promote a toxic atmosphere)
8. Organise social activities, such as Zavvy's Connection Program, to strengthen team relationships
9. Lead by example (join in on all wellbeing activities with your team)
10. Understand that employee wellbeing isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach

😊 Conclusion

There you have it, three ways in which employee wellbeing can complement your onboarding strategy. These reasons should see leaders realise the true power of healthier, happier employees. 

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In the aftermath of COVID-19, mental health initiatives and wellbeing practices were much needed in the workplace. A surge of employers did adopt tactics to boost wellbeing in the workplace, and many more have since followed. 

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These organisations realise that It’s their duty as leaders to support employees in any way possible. More than ever, employees are looking to the workplace for financial wellbeing support, mental health, holistic health and many other key areas. 

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Ultimately, to neglect employee wellbeing is to fall behind in the modern workplace. What will you do to stay ahead of the game?