Employee wellness isn’t just a box to tick; it’s a key factor in ensuring employees feel supported, engaged, and productive. Research from Gallup shows that organisations that prioritise wellbeing benefit from higher engagement, lower absenteeism, and improved overall performance.
Yet despite these benefits, employee wellness is often overlooked, especially in high-pressure roles. In this article, we explore practical ways businesses can foster wellbeing and highlight strategies used by one legal team to support their employees’ health and happiness.
Creating a Culture of Wellbeing: Practical Steps from a Legal Team
Stress, long hours, and personal challenges can all affect performance, which is why it’s essential to create supportive environments that care for both mental and physical health. Simple, practical measures can help staff:
- Manage stress
- Feel valued
- Stay focused and productive
Looking at Jones Whyte Solicitors as an example: Initiatives like Wellbeing Days offer yoga, massages, and creative or sports activities, giving employees time to relax and recharge. Mental health support, including counselling services, is readily available to all staff.
Flexible working arrangements, such as hybrid and remote options, help staff balance professional and personal responsibilities; something especially important for employees with dependants. Listening to employee feedback ensures initiatives continue to meet real needs.
In addition, Jones Whyte takes a thoughtful approach to employee growth, making it clear how people can develop in their careers. With regular feedback, goal setting, and check-ins, employees tend to feel more supported, motivated, and confident in their roles.
Turning Employee Wellness into Everyday Practice
It’s one thing to know that other companies are prioritising employee wellness, but how can your business actually implement effective practices without disrupting operations, creating excessive costs, or overlooking the diverse needs of your staff? Here’s a practical guide to making it work.
Understand Employee Needs
According to ADP research, 55% of employees rank pay among their top three job priorities. At the same time, The Times reports that 85% of employees have experienced symptoms of burnout.
These findings highlight that while compensation is important, mental health and overall wellbeing are equally critical to employee engagement and productivity. Businesses that actively support their employees are far more likely to retain staff and boost overall satisfaction.
Offer Wellness Activities and Mental Health Support
Providing opportunities for employees to unwind and manage stress is essential for wellbeing. Activities that encourage relaxation, creativity, or social connection can help staff recharge and maintain focus.
As mentioned earlier, Jones Whyte integrates these principles into everyday practice, offering a mix of wellness activities and accessible mental health resources. The result? A happier workforce.
Have a tight budget? Keep things simple. Even small gestures like quiet spaces, short mindfulness sessions, or occasional team walks can make a meaningful difference. The key is consistency and ensuring employees feel supported and valued.
Promote Flexibility in Working Arrangements
According to the Stanford Report, employees who work from home two days a week not only maintain productivity and career advancement opportunities but also experience significantly lower resignation rates. This demonstrates that even partial remote working can have a measurable impact on both employee performance and retention.
In addition, a UK-based study highlighted by The Guardian indicates that hybrid workers report lower stress levels and better sleep quality. The flexibility offered by hybrid arrangements contributes to improved work-life balance.
The benefits of a hybrid or remote model are undeniable. But the challenge for businesses lies in implementing it effectively and creating a system that supports productivity, maintains team cohesion, and ensures employees feel engaged and supported without disruption. Here’s a few things you can do:
- Set clear expectations
Define core hours, availability, and deliverables so employees know what’s expected. - Communicate regularly
Maintain team connection with regular check-ins, video calls, and updates to ensure everyone stays aligned. - Encourage boundaries
Encourage boundaries between work and personal life. - Provide the right tools
Ensure staff have the technology and software needed to work efficiently from home.
Embed Wellbeing into Daily Practices
Wellbeing shouldn’t be a one-off initiative; it works best when integrated into everyday work life. As mentioned earlier, simple actions make a big difference. Encourage regular breaks, promote open conversations about stress, and check in on workloads; a supported workforce is a productive one.
Building a Healthier, Happier Workforce
Creating a healthier, happier workforce doesn’t happen overnight; it requires consistent planning and execution. As demonstrated by Jones Whyte, employee wellness practices can thrive within a productive and efficient organisation when thoughtfully implemented and supported at every level.
By prioritising wellbeing, businesses can:
- Foster engagement
- Reduce stress
- Build a resilient, high-performing workforce
Even small steps can make a meaningful difference; start today and embed wellness into your workplace culture.
Joshua Julien Brouard works in the marketing department at Jones Whyte Solicitors, where he supports the firm's marketing strategy by enhancing online visibility for key services. He holds a BCom in Law and a Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing Management, combining legal knowledge with digital marketing expertise.
Joshua began his career across marketing agencies and later at a US IP firm's content department, gaining hands-on experience in the legal sector. With a strong focus on content strategy, SEO, and digital marketing, he holds multiple professional certifications and enjoys solving complex challenges that require strategic thinking and attention to detail.