Work environments and the food and drink provided have a direct effect on overall employee wellbeing. With 78% of workers agreeing that ‘companies should be implementing programs to support employee wellbeing’¹ this is clearly a significant talking point. The complexity of this topic means employers, especially those who offer food and beverage facilities, can look to offer guidance and support to their employees and take steps towards encouraging healthy lifestyles as the definition of wellbeing will vary between people. A key consideration is how social a workplace is, and how connected employees feel to each other and their employer.
Our parent company, Compass Group, recently conducted a report into the Power of Socialisation¹ after finding profound statistics about how, amongst other factors, socialisation can effect employee wellbeing. Social interaction is critical to overall health and wellness. Numerous research studies over the last 70 years have revealed the profound impact that social connectivity has on mental health, physical health, longevity, cognitive function and quality of life.² Our report found that 27% of current global workers say they feel lonely or isolated at work and 78% agree with the statement that ‘having friends at work is beneficial for my wellbeing’. So, if employers can help increase employee connection, they can directly improve their health and wellbeing. Read on to find out more.
Socialisation at work, whether over a coffee break, at lunch, or at an organised event, is important to workers and a key consideration for employers. Friendships at work generate a sense of belonging, increase employee happiness and job satisfaction, and combats the adverse effects of loneliness. Friendships also offer peer-to-peer support systems that help employees navigate work related stress and pressure.
As an employer, you’re not just facilitating a connected workforce, you’re fostering deep, human connectivity which is highly valued in a world where people understand that loneliness is a reality. This in turn will foster positivity, productivity and advocacy for your company, while improving the wellbeing of your workforce. We will be exploring how you can encourage connectivity in the workplace in further detail over the coming months, so stayed tuned.
– BMC Public Health – The State of Loneliness and Social Isolation Research
Taking breaks is fundamental to productivity, recharging and mental health. Currently, 21% of Australian workers do not have an adequate breakout area at work, with a quarter taking their lunch at their desk or workstation. The reported differences between working from home and in the office also varies significantly with 66% of Australian workers taking more breaks when working from home and most notably, 86% of them agree that they can recharge more efficiently during these breaks.³ During breaks, we found that people tend to:
Breaks allow people to take moments throughout the day away from work stresses, to socialise with their colleagues, and mentally reset. Flexibility and accommodating various workers needs can promote healthy habits, letting employees take charge of their own days whilst keeping productivity high and boosting loyalty and advocacy.
What ‘healthier eating’ means now to people is more complex and takes many different forms. As with mental health management, employers should be looking to support employees to take charge of their own needs. For healthy eating this means providing a variety of options in the workplace, from superfoods to tasty treats, to ensure workers can make the right decisions for themselves and their wellbeing.
Mental health management has become increasingly important in recent years, especially for Gen Z, and means different things to different people. Employer’s support of this directly effects employee opinion, attractiveness to new recruits, and ultimately the wellbeing of workers. So, what can employers do? Feeding into this is what we have discussed above – providing spaces for employees to manage their own mental health by taking regular breaks and having healthy, affordable food options available, and by offering flexibility. A focus on fostering connection and socialisation in the workplace will also directly impact the mental health of employees.
Employers can also facilitate healthy conversations surrounding mental health at work. Providing flyers, brochures and training enables easier access to information. Talking openly about mental health and participating in days such as R U OK? Day will also promote these kind of conversations, encouraging anyone who might be struggling to talk to a someone and breaking down any stigma barriers.
Need some support with your workplace wellbeing initiatives? Eurest are champions of mindful food experiences that encourage connection – find out more.
¹(Compass Group PLC 2024) The Power of Socialisation: How socialisation in the workplace can help combat employer’s biggest challenges, Report
²Harvard Health Publishing & Blue Zones
³Compass Group, Global Eating at Work Survey
