Wellbeing and productivity are two concepts that historically, in the world of work, have been considered in antithesis to each other. It was thought (and unfortunately we often still think!) that to be more productive you had to sacrifice your well-being , working more hours a day and reducing your time for yourself.
However, this mentality, which perhaps could have made sense in a Taylorist vision of work, today, in the era of knowledge workers, is counterproductive.
The value produced by workers is in fact directly proportional to the quality and goodness of their ideas, not to the number of hours worked.
Benefits of Corporate Wellbeing on productivity
Let's dispel false myths: working more does not allow you to produce more. Instead, it can lead to physical and mental exhaustion which, in the long run, can have a negative impact on your productivity and business.
According to researchers at Stanford University , the productivity curve declines sharply when 50 hours of work per week are exceeded , and it drops completely to zero beyond 55 hours.
The result is that those who work up to 70 hours a week achieve the same results as those who "only" reach 50. This means that dedicating extra hours to work is completely useless, as well as harmful to physical and mental health.
The secret of productivity is therefore not linked to the number of hours dedicated to work but to the ability to disconnect, diversify activities and interests, plan and, above all, knowing how to rest through regenerating moments of break.
Furthermore, according to the Harvard Business Review, planning healthy breaks allows you to increase creativity and develop complex problem solving skills, fundamental skills in today's world of work.
At Trainect we have identified 5 areas of wellbeing (emotional, social, financial, mental and physical): read our blog on the holistic approach .
Through our APP it is possible to plan quality breaks, alone or with your colleagues, to regenerate yourself through videos, podcasts and courses on topics of interest.
Meditating, stretching, breathing to reduce stress, exercising concentration to prepare for an important meeting, are some of the activities we offer to people in the company to increase their well-being and be more productive.
But what collaboration is there between corporate well-being and productivity?
There is a strong correlation between corporate well-being and productivity. Studies show that when employees feel valued, appreciated and supported in the workplace their motivation increases and they become more engaged in their work resulting in positive effects on productivity.
Furthermore, a positive and healthy work environment can help reduce stress, improve the physical and mental health of employees, and increase their sense of belonging to the company. All this can lead to greater engagement, greater job satisfaction and high employee retention, resulting in reductions in the turnover rate and an improvement in corporate reputation , which is strategic for employer branding and talent attraction. Furthermore, well-being is closely related to the state of flow, with consequent beneficial effects on productivity.
What is the connection between productivity and state of flow?
Flow is the maximum expression of what we can give to work and is experienced when there are contextual conditions that avoid anxiety, pressure and fears... which only happens in healthy organizational contexts.
There is therefore a strong correlation between corporate well-being and the flow state of employees.
The state of flow, or "flow", occurs when a person is completely immersed in an activity and feels extremely focused and engaged. This state is often described as a highly rewarding experience and can lead to a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.
When employees feel appreciated, supported and challenged in the workplace, they are more likely to experience the state of flow. Studies show that corporate well-being, such as a positive and healthy work environment, work flexibility, opportunities for professional development and the reward of a job well done, can increase employees' sense of confidence and competence, promoting the possibility of experiencing the state of flow.
Furthermore, the state of flow can lead to an increase in productivity, as when a person is immersed in an activity, his concentration and attention are maximum, leading to greater commitment and performance.
What happens to workers if there is a lack of well-being in the company?
Working in a state of unease negatively impacts productivity and, as a result, the business. In general, working in a climate of widespread discomfort can generate anxiety and stress which spreads and negatively impacts productivity : the sense of priority and the clarity of understanding what really makes the difference are lost. The value produced by people decreases because the person invests energy in managing their anxiety and discomfort.
Sometimes the "compulsive" rush to chase productivity at all costs has a boomerang effect: the anxiety and frenzy of "doing at all costs" lead to disorganization, poor efficiency and burn out. On the contrary, planning wellness breaks is an apparent slowdown and then actually going faster.
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