Change is vital in business. The markets are constantly changing and all businesses –particularly SMEs– must address this challenge in order to adapt and remain at the forefront. But have you considered what the impact of this transformation process will be on your employees’ Whole Health and the measures you can implement? At Cigna, we have the answers to these questions.
The business world is changing rapidly and in order to remain at the forefront and competitive, SMEs must face this reality and accept that transformation processes are the reality. And once underway, the priority must be looking after employees’ overall well-being, as the success of these processes will depend, to a large extent, on this. Why? Simply because professionals must deal with and accept these changes that occur, which will be much easier if they feel that the company cares about their well-being now more than ever.
It is, in this sense, important to remember that transformation processes create uncertainty and distrust, which is the ideal breeding ground for anxiety or stress. So, during transformation processes, integrating employees into the new organisational culture is not enough. It is necessary to implement a wellness plan that offers a solution that meets their needs, by taking into account the many aspects that affect their Whole Health: from their physical and mental health to their family, support network and financial health.
All these areas are what make up each employee’s world and they are strongly interconnected with each other, as they influence how people think and feel at any given time. It is therefore crucial that SMEs are aware that their workers’ lives are complicated, and that problems such as stress can affect their resilience, which has a knock-on effect on other areas of their everyday lives.
As an expert in health plans for SMEs, Cigna can help you look after your employees’ health if your business is considering embarking on a transformation process. In addition to developing solutions and services for SMEs in keeping with the highest quality parameters and tailored to all needs and budgets (if you would like more information on this topic, click on this link), we can help them to develop their own Whole Health plans.
This is because, contrary to what may be believed, implementing a plan of this kind, which has been specifically designed for managing times of organisational change, does not require huge financial outlays, money or resources. It is actually possible to achieve great results with ideas like the ones listed below.
- Analyse the effect that the transformation process is having on employees’ overall health and well-being. Assessing and knowing the impact that the transformation process may have on the workforce, particularly on their level of stress or adaptability, is essential. To this end, health and well-being assessments may be carried out in the form of questionnaires. They can be used to understand the main areas of improvement, which is why we use these types of tools at Cigna. Leave us your contact number here and we will call you to tell you more with no obligation!
- Introduce change management initiatives. Knowing how to face new work and social challenges that the future holds in a context of uncertainty may require specific training. That is why online coaching programmes are particularly useful, since they help employees to set specific objectives and assist them as they try to achieve them. And, of course, offering access to Global Telehealth solutions that include psychological counselling is also an excellent idea.
- Make employees’ emotional health the top priority. Transformation processes and everything that comes with them (uncertainty, stress, change of routines, etc.) can trigger short- or medium-term psychological distress. So implementing ad-hoc stress or anxiety management programmes will improve the employee experience and help them face this new challenge. This also applies to other initiatives that have a direct impact on employees’ emotional well-being, such as those relating to work/life balance, professional development and recognition.
- Promote a healthy lifestyle. Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the starting point for feeling happy in the workplace. That is why, in times of change, it is more important than ever to encourage your employees to adopt these habits, as this has a direct impact on their mood and job satisfaction.
And one last piece of advice is that there is nothing better than setting an example. If you are the manager of a SME or have employees under you, this is the perfect opportunity to invest in your well-being. Try to get the right number of hours sleep for your age and stage of life, follow a balanced diet, stay active and take care of your emotional health. Your team will thank you for it!
Would you like to know more about how we at Cigna can help you? Now it is easier than ever. Simply send us your contact details using this link and we will call you to start designing your made-to-measure plan together. Remember that we can help you look after your team’s health and well-being during any transformation process, by accompanying you on the road to success. We’re here to help!