A Guide to the Fifth Element of Employee Engagement: Caring About Employee Well-Being

The fifth of Gallup’s Element of Employee Engagement states:

  • “My supervisor, or someone at work, seems to care about me as a person.”

If you’ve been in business for a while, we’d wager that you’ve thought, “How can I encourage my employees to show up for their job because they enjoy the work and the environment, instead of just completing their tasks?”

In a world where stress levels are sky-high, and burnout impacts approximately 57% of workers, the importance of feeling cared for at work can’t be overstated. Often, it’s the difference between existing in a role and thriving in it, as it’s the element that shifts away from productivity alone to the holistic well-being of your team. 

For leaders who are ready to move beyond lip service and create workplaces in which showing each other you care is a daily practice, we’ve created a guide to help you build the foundation for a more genuinely engaging workplace. 

Defining the Fifth Element: What Caring About Employee Well-being Means

At its core, caring about employee well-being is about recognizing the person behind the professional beyond simply checking in on someone’s progress or asking, “How are you?” in passing. Genuine care is about understanding that your employees bring their whole selves to work– their histories, larger life goals, hardships they’re facing at home, concerns about their loved ones– and addressing that whole self with authentic concern.

Clearing Up the Misconceptions

You shouldn’t confuse employee well-being as synonymous with perks like wellness programs or extra vacation days. While these are certainly part of the larger puzzle that helps you keep employees engaged, genuine care is reflected in how you interact with your team daily and whether you consider how all of your decisions will impact the people who see you as their leader. 

Another misconception is that showing care shows weakness or undermines authority. On the contrary, leaders who demonstrate empathy and concern for their employees often build stronger, more resilient teams. In contrast, cold aloofness renders your team hesitant to provide honest feedback or reach out when they need support. 

The Positive Impact of Caring 

While kindness is its own reward, your willingness to kindle a caring culture will also pay off in other ways.

More Investment in Their Role

Employers prioritizing caring about employee well-being create a team that is more invested in their role, to the tune of being 3.4 times more engaged. This creates a seemingly infinite fount of innovative team members who are more productive and willing to go the extra mile. 

Improved Mental Health

With the modern high-pressure work culture, the lines between work and personal life often blur, resulting in an occupational phenomenon known as burnout. According to the World Health Organization:

“Burnout… is caused by chronic workplace stress… and characterized by three dimensions:

  • feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion;
  • increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job, and
  • reduced professional efficacy.”

Taking measures to help your team manage stress, such as offering flexibility for remote work or adding a mental health stipend to your benefits package, helps keep your team happier and healthier. 

Better Retention

Everyone wants their job to pay their bills, but it’s not a paycheck that earns loyalty. It’s feeling valued as an individual and knowing that the part they play in the organization is vital to its ongoing success. When the work that they’re doing matters, your employees are far more likely to stick around instead of striking out for greener pastures. 

A Positive Reputation That Attracts Top Talent

When considering a position, 73% of a Wiley Workplace Intelligence survey respondents said that having a positive work culture is more important than having a bigger salary. Once word gets out about how well your organization supports and values its employees, that positive perception will entice top talents in your field to join your team. 

Practical & Professional Ways to Show You Care

When you weave empathy and support into everyday interactions, there’s no need to come up with grand gestures to prove that you care about your employees. Instead, consider implementing these practices into the way you approach your leadership role:

Day-to-Day Interactions

  • Schedule consistent one-on-ones to discuss challenges your team might face, any needed resources, or feedback they’d like to share. 
  • During meetings or even casual conversations, practice active listening, giving them your full attention, and asking follow-up questions. 
  • Recognize their milestones, even if it’s something as simple as a hand-written card. 
  • Be mindful of your tone and language in all communications to convey mutual respect. 

Promoting Work-Life Balance

  • Accommodate employees’ personal responsibilities with flexible work hours or remote working options
  • Encourage your employees to take advantage of the vacation days guilt-free.
  • Establish and enforce clear boundaries about communication outside of work hours to allow employees the chance to unplug. 

Professional Development

  • Work with your employees to create personalized career growth plans that align with each individual’s long-term goals. 
  • Provide regular, constructive feedback and deliver it with empathy. Remember that it’s a tool for growth, not an excuse to tear down or criticize the people you rely on to keep your business running. 
  • Set aside funds each year for professional development and training programs. 

Handling Conflict

  • During times of personal or organizational crisis, lead with compassion. Offer support, whether it’s through flexible arrangements, additional resources, or simply being available to listen.
  • When there is interoffice conflict, make sure that all parties feel heard and that the resolution supports the well-being of everyone involved. 
  • If your employee is going through a tough personal hardship, be flexible. No one can leave their stress at the door, no matter how hard they try, but your willingness to lend an open ear or helping hand makes all the difference. 

Prioritize Employee Well-Being With the Help of a Leadership Coach

Caring about employee well-being doesn’t look the same for every organization, nor can it be implemented the exact same way with every employee. What matters is that you put the time and resources into caring for employee well-being. 

The first step is often the hardest, but it doesn’t have to be when an expert in employee engagement and organizational development guides the way. With more than 35 years of experience as a business owner and her ability to facilitate organic, meaningful discussions, Lori Moen offers business owners the opportunity to work on their business instead of just in their business. 

Reach out via the contact form, email [email protected], or reach out at 612-759-1000 to learn more about how Lori can help you design and implement strategies that put people at the heart of your business.

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