Workplace stress and burnout are quietly destroying your team’s productivity and morale. Once full of energy, your best employees are now struggling to keep up, drained by constant pressure and external challenges like economic instability and global crises. This isn’t just a rough patch—it’s a serious problem that could worsen.
So, how do you turn it around? How can you help your employees bounce back and stay strong? The answer lies in building a culture of resilience and wellbeing. And that’s where hubPass comes in.
HubPass is a powerful workplace wellbeing initiative designed to improve employee health, helping them to cope and thrive in everyday life. It’s time to take action before workplace stress and burnout permanently impact your team.
Why Resilience Matters More Than Ever
Resilience isn’t just about surviving tough times; it’s about thriving despite them. In the workplace, resilience can lead to:
Increased Productivity: Resilient employees can handle stress better, leading to sustained productivity even during challenging times.
Lower Turnover Rates: Employees who feel supported and valued are more likely to stay with an organisation long-term.
Enhanced Innovation: A resilient workforce is likelier to take risks, think creatively, and drive innovation.
Improved Mental Health: Employers can help reduce the risk of burnout, anxiety, and other mental health issues by fostering resilience.
Building Blocks of a Resilient Workforce
Creating workplace resilience doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a strategic approach that encompasses various aspects of workplace culture. Here’s how you can start:
1. Promote Open Communication
Bottling up stress and challenges at work doesn’t do anyone any favours. Encouraging your team to speak up when they’re struggling is important. Here’s how to make open communication a natural part of your workplace culture:
Create a Safe Space
Make it clear that your door (or virtual door) is always open. Let your team know they can come to you with anything, whether it’s a work issue or something more personal. No judgment, just support.
Check-In Regularly
Don’t wait for annual reviews to see how your team is doing. Schedule regular check-ins where you can honestly chat about what’s going well and what’s not. This keeps the lines of communication open and helps you catch issues before they escalate.
Feedback Goes Both Ways
Make feedback a two-way street. Encourage your team to share their thoughts on projects, processes, and leadership. Show that you’re listening by addressing their suggestions and concerns.
Respond Quickly
When someone brings up an issue, don’t let it simmer. Address it as soon as possible so your team knows their voices are heard and valued. This builds trust and makes them more likely to speak up in the future.
Creating a culture where open communication is the norm isn’t just about talking more—it’s about listening better. When your team feels safe to share, they’re more engaged, productive, and resilient.
2. Provide Resources for Mental and Physical Wellbeing
Taking care of your team’s mental and physical health is a must-do. If you want your crew to be on top of their game, you’ve got to give them the tools to stay healthy, both in body and mind. Here’s how to do it:
Mental Health Support
Life can get heavy, and sometimes your team needs more than just a chat. Make sure they have easy access to mental health services like counselling or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs). Whether they’re dealing with stress or anxiety or just need someone to talk to, having that support can make all the difference.
Tap into hubPass Wellbeing Program
Don’t leave your team hanging when it comes to health and wellness. With the hubPass corporate health program, they can access a whole menu of services tailored to their needs—think unlimited telehealth consultations, discounted prescriptions, and annual digital health checks—all in one easy-to-use platform. It’s like having a wellness centre in their pocket.
Get Moving
Encourage your team to keep active by offering on-site gyms, wellness programs, or fitness challenges. Whether it’s a lunchtime yoga session or a steps challenge, keeping things fun and flexible makes staying fit something they’ll look forward to.
Work-life Balance
Healthy employees are happy employees, and nothing says healthy like a good work-life balance. Promote flexible working arrangements that let your team juggle work with life’s other demands. Whether it’s remote work options or flexible hours, giving them the freedom to balance their lives shows you’ve got their back.
Providing these resources is about creating a resilient workplace where your team feels mentally and physically supported. When they know you’re investing in their wellbeing, they’ll be more invested in their work, too.
3. Develop Leadership that Models Resilience
If you want your team to be resilient, it must start at the top. Leaders who walk the walk, not just talk the talk, set the tone for everyone else. Here’s how to make sure your leadership is leading by example:
Resilience and Empathy Training
It’s not enough for leaders to just keep calm and carry on. They must be trained to handle the ups and downs with resilience and empathy. Think of it like teaching them to be tough and tender—handling stress while still being in tune with their team’s needs. When leaders show they can bounce back from setbacks, the rest of the team will follow suit.
Open Door Policy, For Real
Leaders should be more than just figureheads—they should be the kind of people you can talk to. Make sure your management is approachable and open to feedback. If your team feels they can’t speak up or their concerns will just get brushed off, they won’t stick around. Leaders should be the ones who listen first and act fast.
Keep It Real
Encourage your leaders to share their struggles and how they’ve powered through them. No one wants to hear from someone who seems perfect and untouchable—that just feels fake. When leaders open up about their challenges, it makes them more relatable and shows the team it’s okay to face obstacles. It’s all about being authentic and showing that resilience isn’t flawless; it’s about getting back up after a fall.
By developing leaders who truly model resilience, you’re creating a ripple effect throughout your entire organisation. When your team sees their leaders as resilient, empathetic, and open, they’ll feel more supported and empowered to do the same.
4. Encourage Continuous Learning and Development
If you want to build resilient teams, you have to make learning a regular thing. Continuous development helps employees gain new skills and stay prepared to take on whatever comes their way. Here’s how to keep that momentum going:
Skills on Tap
Give your team the chance to pick up new skills whenever possible. Whether it’s online courses, workshops, or even cross-training in different roles, make sure there are plenty of opportunities for them to learn and grow. The more tools they have in their toolbox, the better they’ll tackle challenges head-on.
Growth Mindset
Push the idea that every challenge is just another chance to learn something new. Promote a growth mindset where employees see roadblocks as opportunities, not dead ends. When your team starts seeing challenges as puzzles to solve rather than problems to avoid, you’re setting them up for success.
Resilience Training, But Make It Cool
Offer workshops or seminars that focus on how to build resilience but keep them engaging. No one wants to sit through a boring lecture. Make the sessions interactive, bring in speakers who’ve been through the wringer and come out stronger, or even do hands-on activities that teach coping strategies. The key is making resilience training something they’ll look forward to, not just another checkbox.
Encouraging continuous learning and development is all about keeping your team sharp, adaptable, and ready for whatever comes next. When you invest in their growth, you’re building a workforce that’s resilient, innovative, and always up for the next challenge.
5. Recognise and Reward Resilience
When your team digs deep and pushes through tough times, that deserves more than just a pat on the back. Recognising and rewarding resilience is a powerful way to keep the positive energy going and show your team that you see and appreciate their hard work. Here’s how to do it right:
Shout It from the Rooftops
When someone on your team handles a challenging situation, don’t let it go unnoticed. Celebrate those wins, big or small. Make sure everyone knows about it, whether it’s a shoutout in a team meeting, a feature in the company newsletter, or even a casual mention on your Slack channel.
Spotlight Stories of Perseverance
Set up a recognition program highlighting stories of resilience. Maybe it’s a monthly award for the person who best embodies perseverance or a special feature where employees can share their stories of overcoming challenges. By spotlighting these moments, you’re giving credit where it’s due and inspiring others to push through when times get tough.
Incentives with Impact
Don’t just stop at recognition—give your team tangible rewards for their resilience. Whether it’s extra time off, a wellness package, or a special bonus, these incentives can go a long way in encouraging continued resilience.
When your team knows their resilience won’t go unnoticed, they’re more likely to keep pushing through the challenges and staying strong. And that’s a win-win for everyone.
The Role of Wellbeing in Building Resilience
Wellbeing and resilience go hand in hand. Focusing on employee wellbeing helps prevent burnout and strengthens an employee’s ability to handle stress and bounce back from difficulties, like poor mental health. To foster a culture of wellbeing, consider:
Create a Positive Work Environment
Make sure the workspace isn’t just functional but also a place where people want to be. Think about the lighting, the layout, and even the colours on the walls—everything should contribute to an environment that promotes productivity and mental wellbeing.
Implement Mindfulness Practices
Stress happens, but how your team deals with it is key. Encourage activities like meditation, deep breathing exercises, or short mindfulness breaks throughout the day. These self regulation practices can help your team stay centred, focused, and better equipped to handle whatever comes their way.
Provide Access to Nutritional Support
What your team eats has a huge impact on how they feel and perform. Offer healthy food options in the office, or better yet, educate your employees on the importance of good nutrition for mental and physical health. Fueling their bodies with the right food makes them more likely to stay energised and focused.
Encourage Regular Physical Activity
Don’t let your team sit at their desks all day—encourage movement. Whether setting up standing desks, organising lunchtime walks, or offering yoga classes, physical activity is a game-changer for physical and mental resilience. When your team stays active, they’re more likely to stay sharp and handle stress and mental health conditions better.
Support Work-Life Balance
Wellbeing isn’t just about what happens in the office. Promote a healthy work-life balance by supporting flexible hours and remote work options and encouraging your team to use their annual leave.
How to Get Started
Developing resilience and employee wellbeing in the workplace doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small:
Assess Your Current Culture: Take a close look at your workplace and pinpoint where resilience and wellbeing could use a boost. Are there areas where stress is high? Are employees feeling supported, or is burnout creeping in? Identifying these pain points is the first step in creating a more resilient work environment.
Engage Employees in the Process: Your team knows what they need better than anyone else. Get their input through surveys, focus groups, or even casual conversations. Ask them what would help them feel more supported and resilient. This gives you valuable insights and shows your employees that their voices matter.
Implement Targeted Initiatives: Don’t try to do everything at once. Start with a few key programs that can make a big impact, like resilience training workshops or enhanced mental health support. By focusing on a few targeted initiatives, you can build momentum and see results faster.
Book a Demo with hubPass: If you’re looking for an all-in-one healthcare solution, hubPass has you covered. Book a demo to see how this corporate health program can help streamline your efforts and provide comprehensive support for your employees’ wellbeing.
Create a Resilience Task Force: Consider setting up a small team dedicated to championing resilience and wellbeing initiatives. This task force can help keep the momentum, gather ongoing feedback, and implement new programs effectively. It also gives employees a direct line to influence how resilience is built into your workplace culture.
Measure and Adjust: Once your initiatives are in place, don’t just set and forget. Regularly measure the impact of your efforts—whether through employee surveys, productivity metrics, or wellbeing assessments—and be ready to make adjustments as needed. Resilience is a journey, not a destination, so keep refining your approach to meet your team’s evolving needs.
