In a rapidly changing work landscape, wellness practitioners have called upon organisations to abandon outdated practices and prioritise employee wellbeing as a fundamental component of workplace culture.
The push for change comes as more organisations are beginning to recognize the business case for employee wellness.
Recent studies show that over 70% of employees report feeling burned out, with many attributing their struggles to rigid workplace expectations and a lack of support for mental health.
Speaking at a two-day Annual Wellness Conference running under the theme Reimagining and shaping the practice of wellness in the workspace in Penhalonga last week, Renew It Trust programmes manager Mathias Rusere said organisations should not only focus on physical aspect of wellness of their employees.
“Organisations are not justifying their employees, there are wellness dimensions which need to be followed as it goes beyond exercising only and these are financial, occupational, intellectual, environmental and spiritual aspects of wellness,” he said.
Corporate 24 founder and CEO Mike Joka said organisations were still using a borrowed concept of taking work traditional.
“There are a few companies with mental structures within their organisations to ensure that their work force is mentally healthy,” he said.
“There are no structures and mechanisms to ensure that the wellbeing of employees is safe.”
Joka also urged organisations and employees that to maintain a healthy work place there is need of collective effort from the employer to the employees.
Proficiency Consulting Group director Request Machimbira said placing employee wellbeing at the forefront was no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
“As we move further into the 21st century, organisations that resist traditional practices in favour of innovative wellness strategies will not only survive, but thrive in the competitive marketplace,” he said.
While Wellness Institute of Zimbabwe director general Solomon Chikanda emphasised the importance of offering financial trainings within organisations.
According to reports organisations have no access to mental health resources such as counselling services and employee assistance programs which are important in reducing stress and promoting a healthier workplace culture.
The conference was organised by Wellness Institute of Zimbabwe a resource hub for matters pertaining to wellness.