What would you love your office to provide to improve your wellbeing?

[NotPennysBoat]

I've got an interview next week where I'll be asked about my ideas for initiatives to implement to improve employee wellbeing, and although I've got a few ideas they all seem pretty standard offerings.

It's a large office-based environment, and obviously only hypothetical at this stage so no restrictions and budget no object (but nothing too silly - weekly visits from Cillian Murphy wouldn't fly!).

I'd love to hear of any amazing things your companies do, or what you wish they'd do!

Also agree that free Sanpro is a fantastic idea and agree with pp at the surprise at how thoughtful and helpful it felt to discover at new company

@ELCismyspiritnana I really love donating to colleagues fundraising efforts! Would be sad if this was banned. But agree there should never be any guilt around it!

Employee Assistance Programmes are supposed to save companies money in the long term.

Does your company currently subscribe to one? How aware are employees that it is a benefit that is available to them and their families? Is it a good one? Can you evaluate how effective it is?

Your biggest actual gains in wellbeing could be through a good EAP.

In reality:

• flexible working


• clear pay and progression structure


• no micromanagement


• 'work to get the job done not to a strict 9-5' attitude


• good pension contribution


• good maternity/paternity pay


• good IT infrastructure and hardware that isn't slow and terrible


• regular socials OF VARYING TYPES (not just all getting shitfaced in a city somewhere, mixing it up for everyone to enjoy)


• regular free lunch/coffee orders


• actual mental health understanding/support


• being (lovingly!) strict about people not working over their hours/lunch


• good space in the office building for people to relax at lunch - ours has comfy sofas, bluetooth speaker, TV, coffee machine, etc

I’d just appreciate toilet roll in the loos!

Things that I think would genuinely contribute to better wellbeing:, in no particular order:

• lots of natural light in the office
• chilled and boiling water dispensers
• fridge space, microwaves and toasters
• plates, cutlery and glasses to use with your own food
• showers, changing rooms and decent-sized lockers so you can cycle to work or nip out for a run. Towels so you don’t have to carry one
• meetings within set times only- say 9-12 and 1-4
• outdoor space would be great. Even better if the wifi covered it
• encourage people to take time out for exercise
• embed a culture of not bringing viruses into the office
• embed a “maximum meeting” culture- it is expected that no more than 75% of your time should be spent in meetings
• no sanpro cupboards- treat people with respect and give them autonomy to run out to a shop, or home to change if needed without having to explain themselves

I would like an office cat.

I think this thread shows that we all want different things from our employers... my idea of absolute hell would be a workplace that allows dogs in (assistance dogs excepted of course ... although at my very first job one of my colleagues had an assistance dog who was occasionally sick next to my desk and the colleague was unable to clear it up herself ....).

The one thing that would make my work better would be proper IT support ... not just the assumption that 'everyone' understands how IT works. .

We're abroad but DH's company pays for childcare.

They can also do flexible start/end times as long as they are there for core hours. It makes a big difference.

They have a breakfast bar with fresh fruit, museli, yoghurt and bread rolls. Paid for lunches at a canteen as well.

Things like private health insurance and voucher schemes are fantastic, but aren't they taxable benefits? So not necessarily straightforward. And sometimes things that keep malcontented and under-performing employees from leaving an otherwise unpleasant place of work.

Same here

Thought of one I heard of other companies doing. Schedule all meetings for 50 minutes instead of 60 so people who end up booked solid have time to take care of personal needs or do a quick email check in between.

Interesting

A tracker for one of the most recent team additions. No one knows where they are half the time, and we're all a bit bewildered as to what they actually do. They're a genius though, apparently, with a whole host of academic certificates....

Oh, and fewer meetings.

Some tea bags for once and oooh possibly milk would be absolutely great...

You could for your interview use lots of buzz words and research the company and find a way of brining their philosophy into your answer 😉 building moral and team activities such as table tennis doubles tournament 🤓

My husband once worked for a company that had help yourself cans of fizzy in the fridge! A dream I'd love that

Mine provide free sanitary products in all the wash rooms, have regular wellbeing days where staff get an extra paid day off to do something mindful, and pay for counselling if anyone is really struggling.

A 'social club fund'. We had this in my first proper job, larger branches had a physical social club smaller ones got money and the staff decided on how to spend it.

I was only there 2 years, it paid for a retirement 'do' and a weekend where we went to the coast (including partners) to a hotel where we had a dinner dance on the Saturday, breakfast and Sunday lunch the following day.

Well it was the 1980s.

But a fund that could buy portable air con for a hot summer (if the office has no A/C) or fruit or even fund evening classes or a hobby, wellbeing isn't all about the office environment.

A concierge service : someone to receive your personal deliveries, get prescriptions filled, organise dry cleaning etc . My dd’s company has this and she tells me it’s brilliant, saves staff wasting time on personal errands , increased productivity as a result too .Othrr perks are healthy high quality lunches, an “ under age 30 feedback group “ to senior management (bi weekly meetings), personal admin days off if moving accommodation.

We have hot chocolate Fridays where we all troop off to Costa for a treat. It's a nice end to the week.

"Culture eats strategy for breakfast” (Peter Drucker)

I think the number one thing is to genuinely listen to staff. Not push crap on them in order to tick a box.

@Jalapinot

Ok I am going to work with you!!!

@Deathraystare

Dress down Friday: boy I loved that.