Firstup, a pioneer in intelligent communication platforms for the workforce, has released results from its Workplace Communication & Wellbeing Survey. The survey sheds light on workplace stress and reveals a wellbeing crisis, with significant implications for both employee wellness and communication strategies.
Survey Highlights and Key Findings
- Workplace Stress is Prevalent:
Over 60% of respondents consider their jobs a major source of stress, which severely impacts their well-being and work performance.- 55% report stress leading to burnout.
- 48% say it diminishes motivation.
- 37% cite stress as affecting work performance negatively.
- Wellness Programs are Underutilized:
A disconnect exists between wellness program availability and utilization:- 33% of respondents claim their employer doesn’t offer wellness programs.
- Only 28% of those with access to programs actually use them.
- 23% say they are unlikely to use wellness resources, suggesting a perception gap regarding the value of these programs.
- Communication Gaps in Wellness Programs:
One-quarter (25%) of employees are unaware of where to find wellness information, and 15% don’t even know if their company offers wellness benefits. This highlights communication failures around promoting wellness resources. - Ineffective Communication Channels:
Many employers rely on email (48%) to communicate wellness benefits, but this approach fails for the 54% of deskless workers who lack consistent email access. Other methods, like intranets (15%) and collaboration tools (10%), are also insufficient in closing this gap.
Expert Insights and Recommendations
Nicole Alvino, CEO of Firstup, emphasized that employee wellness should be a priority for organizations:
“As leaders, we can no longer ignore the employee wellness crisis. We need to deliver wellness information through the right channels to support every employee, deskless or not.”
Opportunities for Improvement
- Better Access to Wellness Information:
32% of employees would be more likely to use wellness benefits if the information were easier to find, and 25% would participate if they knew more about the options.- Organizations need to leverage intelligent communication platforms to deliver timely wellness information.
- Tailored Communication for Deskless Workers:
With 80% of the global workforce being deskless, employers must ensure wellness programs are communicated effectively across mobile, web, and collaboration tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
The survey results indicate a significant opportunity for companies to improve both communication and delivery of wellness resources. Organizations must focus on better, targeted communication to help employees access the support they need to thrive.
