How Staff Wellbeing At Workplace Can Lead To Business Development

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With rising levels of stress and increasing need for better work-life balance among employees, more and more companies are trying to follow the model for developing creative and fun workplaces like Facebook and Google. Let's take a look...

These are the coolest and most well-designed office spaces in the world http://t.co/GUFxzBM6qV @Ramgarhia1Deep pic.twitter.com/UEk8HYlHLg

— Shaona williams (@Shaonawilliams1) July 31, 2015

Why Staff Welfare Is Important?

Currently, the American Institute of Stress predicts that sickness related to stress costs companies around $300 billion per year. The truth is now businesses simply cannot afford this fact and invest in improving the wellbeing of their employees as it is beneficial for both the companies and their staffs.

In a recent article, Saurav Chopra, CEO and co-founder of UK-based start-ups and small businesses benefits provider Huddlebuy & employee benefits scheme Perkbox , wrote,

“A year ago, Perkbox dived headfirst into the world of ‘team happiness’ with employee rewards. At the same time, our team went from about a dozen people to an office of over 50 strong, so we know first hand that when growth happens, it can happen fast. Keeping everyone happy and managing that same degree of quality of service you had when you first started, can be very tough.”

This is perhaps the reason why the companies who focus on the well-being of their employees get so much media attention. However, there are still only a handful of companies that genuinely and actually care about the happiness of the employees. But it gains a lot of focus from business leaders when it proves effective in developing a strong and highly productive team.

Advent Of A “Caring Revolution”

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Currently, a silent revolution is at play. Companies are now striving hard to build a reputation for themselves as businesses which care. As a result, these firms are truly being regarded as inspiring work destinations and as examples that other need to follow. These companies are able to retain better talent, keep their staff motivated and productive and building a motivated, inspired and loyal workforce.

According to the Harvard Business Review, organisations which care about their staff tend to experience around 31% rise in productivity and about 37% boost in sales. Focusing on the happiness of your employees and treating them well, which was considered illogical and unreasonable previously, is now being considered as one of the factors for success. Chopra further wrote,

 “...it’s this very pool that the so-called happiness pioneers are tapping into.”

What Businesses Can Learn

This now raises some important question, what does it mean by creating employee happiness at work? What can other organisations, irrespective of their size, learn from the business who have pioneered this movement? Chopra added “We looked at some of the world’s top companies and saw something intrinsic: the teams that perform the best all work towards a common goal - they care about the work they do and they understand how their role advances the business.”

Companies need to imbibe the values of empathy, praise, respect & trust so that these will become the core of the work culture. Moreover, employers need to complement this “no-cost offering” further with practical, recreational and creative benefits and incentives. “This symbiotic balance of empathy and physical rewards is important,” he wrote.

The Bottom Line 

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This goes to show the contented and collaborative work environment companies wish to create and exhibits an understanding where employees are considered as “real people with real families and lives” who have an existence beyond work.

What do you think? Add to the discussion by sharing your own views with us. Simply comment below.

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Tech- Dependent University Life

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It amazes me how life has changed in the last 20 years. There are so many things at our disposal which we probably couldn’t even imagine would exist and be used by human beings. When I was in school, I remember carrying a knapsack and a brown paper bag with my lunch inside it. Now I see students coming to school with sophisticated gadgets and I look at the difference in their interests and the profundity of their knowledge. It truly is something that is worth admiring.

As an educator myself, I cherish the introduction and use of gadgets in the teaching- learning scenario. I have hand-picked a few and if you read this article, I am sure you will understand why they are appreciated by all in today’s classrooms.

Connecting With All Campus Wi-Fi

Students who are coming to the campus every day are bringing gadgets like tablets, smart phones and laptops. They need an uninterrupted access to the internet and what else is better than Wi-Fi? If the density and coverage is all encompassing, then it becomes so much easier for students to learn. Sometimes if it gets congested then the connection can be established with the help of wires. 17% are rating these services as very good and 30% of the institutions are adopting the latest Wi-Fi connections.

Using Social Media to Stay Connected

Social media is also being integrated in the social learning environment. The sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are enabling students to interact with people all over the world and they are gaining access to information from various sources. They can virtually meet many people.

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Dreaming of the Digital Badge

In recent times, a college is awarding digital badges to students so that they can be selected by recruiters once they look for jobs. They are slowly replacing degrees and diplomas. Those who are looking for better working places or are seeking higher education are favoring these badges very much. Some are getting special training as well.

Introducing Analytics in Education

Analytics is being introduced into the educational system as well. Learning analytics, decision making based on data driving and predictive analytics is what most people are focusing upon. There is great focus on business intelligence as well. Tools used by physicians for a proper diagnosis happen to be appreciated as well. Campus analytics is also very important since the student’s activities can be checked in the premises of a college or university.

Using Tech- fashion on Campus

There are many new trends in college campuses around the world. Students are using Google Glasses, smart watches, fitness bands, clothes, smart phones and other innovative gadgets that are helping them learn while making a designer statement when they are with friends. They are gaining access to information from anywhere since these gadgets help them find the latest information with a click or a tap. They are lightweight so they can be worn throughout the day in an uninterrupted manner. And it is fun too!

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Drone- in- Dorm 

Researchers are really favoring Drones since they are useful in taking pictures for close examination. These can also be done with the help of digital glasses and phones and it is very useful for students who are trying to perform an experiment in a lab.

Three Dimensional Art

3D painting is being done when students enroll themselves in art, design and engineering classes. This has been integrated in the courses in various colleges. The prices of 3D printers will be such that they can be afforded by students in each campus.

Learning has been revolutionized and been transformed into a brand new world of knowledge that inspires, satisfies the thirst for knowledge and provides new avenues for the spread of information. It is not restricted in classrooms and libraries any longer. Knowledge has become accessible to all who seek it thanks to technology.

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