Maximizing Well-Being: Sustainable Growth for Employees - Essay Sample

Introduction

The concept of well-being is one that has been in existence in many organizations but frequently revised and consulted as many industries continue to grow. The constant growth of newly arising challenges has necessitated the meaningfulness of well-being to be prioritized. According to The Chattered Institute of Personnel and Development, the concept of good growth is defined as the creation of a sustainable environment that ensures the well-being and potential of the employees are upheld (Dodge et al., 2012). Creating such an environment not only has benefits for the employee as well but also the goals and target of the organizations are increased. Many companies have opted to adopt various ways of employee's well-being to reap such benefits. In creating an enjoyable workplace. As mentioned above, the employee can achieve their utmost potential and always feel motivated. The motivation of employees increases their productivity at work and any chances of collision between the employer and the employee. The concept of well-being addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of the environment (Dodge et al., 2012). The physical aspect entails the working environment, the health of employees, the temperature, and lighting control. The psychological aspect is created by creating informal communication among the employees and issuing short breaks for them to relax.

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However, this concept has also been faced with its limitations in its implementation. For instance, many startup companies find it hard to uphold this concept fully. This is because they deem it expensive to materialize and sustain this concept. Creating a sustainable well-being environment comes with the cost of issuing insurance or medical covers for the employees, using up to date technology for ease of work for the employees, among others. However, it is essential to understand that neglecting an employee's well-being in the workplace may be costly in the long run (Campbell, 2016). Dealing with sick or rebelling employees due to the poor state of the working environment may be expensive to handle and possess other threats to the company.

Therefore, we shall look at some of the various ways and activities organizations are using to implement the concept of well-being. Furthermore, we shall address the limitations that come with the interference of the employer in the employees' life, among others.

Various Ways of Organization's Investment in Well Being

As pointed out earlier, many companies are quickly adopting the concept of well-being to create a suitable environment for the good of both the employees and the company. Some several ways and activities have been initiated to ensure that well-being is upheld. To begin with, one of the significant methods used is the payment of employees during days/time off. Unlike in the olden days in which cases of taking a leave to attend to an emergency or private matters with no pay were rampant, this has no longer been the trend. Many organizations are paying employees during their time off as they either relax or cater for other things. The most recent implementation of this move transpired in California. In July 2015, the state of California officially passed a bill issuing all private and public sectors to provide three paid sick days every year, a bill pioneered and signed by Governor Jerry Brown (Lyubomirsky and Layous 2013, pg. 58).

Additionally, most organizations are also setting aside break rooms within the organization. These break rooms provide and relaxing and breathing environment for employees to 'charge their batteries.' Research has shown that issuing breaks from work promotes innovativeness and the ability to cope with work stress for employees (Lyubomirsky and Layous 2013, pg. 57). Such break rooms have been equipped with microwaves and toasters and snacks that aid in the refreshment of employees. These break rooms also provide a chatting environment and borrowing of ideas. Such ideas from other colleagues may help in providing useful tips in working various work requirements around the organization. In this way, the relationship between the employees is improved, thus promoting team unity, an essential aspect of production. Some senior staff in managerial positions have also gone a step further in using these breaks and sharing with their employees in simple matters aside from work. This creates a flexible environment and improves the relationship between the junior and the senior staff (Lyubomirsky and Layous 2013, pg. 60).

In some top companies like Google, employees are provided with full medical cover for themselves and their families. Seminars are also conducted on matters concerning health and various ways of prevention. Aged employees are given special attention regarding health and their performance in work to maintain the proper output required of them.

Regulations on Employer-Employee Personal Interference

Various regulations have been put in place and enforced to ensure the right to privacy of employees is upheld, especially in the private sector. Many states in the United States have a typical constitution of the right to privacy. This prohibits the employer from looking into the private life of the employee, especially when off duty. In California, the law stipulates that an employer cannot take work-related action on any cases of misconduct from the employee outside the job (Skinner and Pocock 2011, pg. 70).

In states where there are no laws about privacy, it is generally illegal for an employer to intrude on the expected privacy of the employee off work premises (Skinner and Pocock 2011, pg. 75). No employer is allowed access without consent into the employee's home. Questioning an employee's private life is also prohibited in instances like indulging in their personal sex life. Such occurrences should be reported to the Human Resource Department for further actions.

Legal Framework of 'Duty of Care'

The 'Duty of care' pertains to taking the responsibility, by the employer, on the employees' health and well-being. In the United States, Duty of Care is enforced by the Department of Labor under the branch Occupational safety and Health Administration (Johnstone, 2011, pg. 100). This ensures that the welfare of the employees is upheld within the law. As a manager, the law stipulates that the managerial department is tasked with several responsibilities in maintaining well-being including; the task of providing a safe physical working environment for the employees, utmost compliance with safety regulations, allocating sufficient time of rest and flexible working hours, issuing protection and a 'safe space' against bullying or racism, creating a conducive environment for complaints and suggestions and issuing the employees with proper training in new and upcoming projects in the company.

Several top companies in the world have prioritized the importance of well-being in various ways. We shall, therefore, single out the two most significant companies in the world and explore their multiple ways of well-being-Microsoft and Google.

Microsoft

At Microsoft, the concept of well-being is one that is implemented with utmost strictness and efficiency. The company, headed by the World Richest Man, Bill gates, holds an annual well-being week (Kanak, 2020). The company prioritizes its four foundations of well-being, namely; social, financial, physical and emotional. In these annual forums, the company discusses with all its employees on various aspects concerning health issues. Microsoft conducts many activities about improving all roundedness well-being.

Some of these activities include; mediation, health affairs, running, sleeping coaches and clinics, financial clinics, group activities, singing classes, among others.

At the end of the financial year, Microsoft gives top-performing employees awards and payment bonuses as a form of motivation. According to Claire Hallmey, the well-being manager at Microsoft, the primary purpose of the well-being week is challenging the employees to be shy aware from the desk and enjoy outdoor recreational events (Kanak, 2020). This ultimately leads to employee satisfaction and more significant input and output.

Google

Google has very similar well-being activities to Microsoft, as both companies mainly major in technology. It is in observing these well-being forums that Google has created a culture of successful employees. It all begins with its outward appearance and office outlook. Google Company does not adopt the typical office layout. Its layout has a typical 'adult playground 'with cozy and attractive features with up to date technological devices (Neil, 2020). Employees have confessed that the layout brings out a sense of homeliness rather than the traditional strict office aura.

Working at Google comes with unbelievable packages. For instance, they offer free meals throughout the day, access to gyms and swimming pools, free haircuts, free health, and dental covers and even death benefits, among others. Although these packages come at a high cost, Google asserts that having dissatisfied employees comes at an even higher cost. Google does not even require break rooms, as every room is fitted with either bean bags, sofas ping pong tables, and screens that create both working and relaxing environment simultaneously (Neil, 2020). Google also holds annual well-being weeks for retreats and games that lead to improving team unity among its employees. In the event of an employee's death, their families continue to receive part of their monthly salaries, while the kid's schools and health expenses are catered for until they reach 18 years. Bonuses and awards are always frequent, as Google mainly encourages employees who think outside the box. All these features are what comprise of Google. It is on this culture that forms the foundation of Google, creating a conducive environment for workers to thrive in and explore their potential further.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the concept of well-being is one that should be practiced with the utmost keenness. As seen above, many benefits are associated with employee wellness. It may be expensive to sustain certain well-being activities, but the cost of having unsatisfied employees is even higher. It is, therefore, paramount for every company to adopt at least one activity or several to ensure well-being is maintained within its working environment.

References

Campbell, S.M., 2016. The concept of well-being. guy fletcher. The Routledge.

Dodge, R., Daly, A.P., Huyton, J. and Sanders, L.D., 2012. The challenge of defining well-being. International journal of well-being, 2(3).

Lyubomirsky, S. and Layous, K., 2013. How do simple positive activities increase well-being?. Current directions in psychological science, 22(1), pp.57-62.

Skinner, N. and Pocock, B., 2011. Flexibility and work-life interference in Australia. Journal of Industrial Relations, 53(1), pp.65-82.

Johnstone, R., 2011. Dismantling worker categories: the primary duty of care, and worker consultation, participation and representation, in the model Work Health and Safety Bill 2009. Policy and Practice in Health and Safety, 9(2), pp.91-108.

Meyer, J.P. and Maltin, E.R., 2010. Employee commitment and well-being: A critical review, theoretical framework and research agenda. Journal of vocational behavior, 77(2), pp.323-337.

Kanak, K. (2020). How does Microsoft motivate its employees?. [Online] Available at: https://prezi.com/t-xyxbh1wpzd/how-does-microsoft-motivate-its-employees/ [Accessed 10 Feb. 2020].

Neil, P. (2020). Inside Google's Culture of Success and Employee Happiness. [Online] Available at: https://neilpatel.com/blog/googles-culture-of-success/ [Accessed 10 Feb. 2020].