Workplace safety has become more critical than ever. Employees believe companies have a moral and legal obligation to protect them from unnecessary risks at work. And this is true – every organisation should have a solid safety culture in place and prioritise employees’ well-being above all. Workplace safety is very powerful in attracting and retaining top talent in your company; therefore, this should be a primary focus in your HR practices.
It’s not surprising that competitive wages, ample opportunities and good benefits play a significant role in employee retention. But for most employers, it is paramount to feel safe in a work environment, which is a crucial factor when considering whether they should take a job or not. They look for companies with solid values, offer safety training, and do their best to prevent disruptive events.
Safety and employee retention go hand in hand
A solid safety culture impacts employee retention significantly. There are some evident reasons for this: supposing employees suffer a work-related accident, they may sustain injuries that prevent them from working. Emphasising safety helps protect employees from such incidents and ensures workers stay at your company for a long time. In fact, surveys show that eliminating work-related injuries equals 103,000,000 days of productivity for your employers. This is the equivalent of retaining around 394,636 employers.
But safety doesn’t only increase retention by preventing injuries. It also impacts employee engagement and morale, as well as job satisfaction. All these factors affect employee retention. Besides, a safe workplace helps you attract top talent in the future. Plus, prioritising employees’ safety also helps keep your company operations running smoothly. According to Accident Claims Advice experts, workers can claim compensation supposing they end up injured due to a hazardous work environment. No employer would ever want to be involved in a legal process since it can affect your company’s reputation and, thus, decrease your chances of attracting great talent in the future. The solution is to build a solid safety culture that promotes wellness.
Let’s take an in-depth look at how safety influences employee retention.
Safety and recruiting
Company culture is the first reason candidates choose a particular job instead of another. While this wasn’t an essential factor for older generations, today’s workers place a significant emphasis on a company’s culture.
In other words, creating a solid workplace culture is paramount, as it gives you a competitive advantage over other companies. You can’t expect to attract top talent unless you invest in making your company appealing to workers. This means implementing effective practices and showing employees that you prioritise their well-being.
Safety and employee engagement
Safety plays a role in boosting employee motivation and engagement. If employers perceive a company prioritises their well-being, they are likely to be more motivated and enthusiastic at work.
This influences their attitude towards your company and your job. Moreover, it’s a significant factor that will impact their decision of whether they should stay at your organisation for a long time.
Safety and morale
Workplace safety also impacts employee morale. If you care more about productivity than safety, employees are likely to notice this and consequently become disengaged and discouraged. On the contrary, if you prioritise their safety, your team members will feel better about their work.
According to this study, employers consider companies who prioritise safety the best out of all. This clearly portrays how safety and employee morale relate to each other.
Safety and job satisfaction
Workplace safety also impacts job satisfaction – or lack of it. This doesn’t only apply to traditional work environments but also remote ones where workers don’t have many chances to interact with supervisors.
A positive and safe work environment means increased job satisfaction and engagement. When employees are fulfilled at work, they are more likely to work for your company in the long term. On the contrary, employees’ negative outlook on an organisation’s safety climate leads to frequent turnover.
Improving employee retention by focusing on wellness
As you can see, workplace safety influences many areas of your company. Therefore, implementing practices that support employees’ well-being is of the utmost importance. First and foremost, employers should take the necessary steps to reduce hazards that could risk workers’ health. You should ensure the work area is clean and perform regular inspections to check whether the sites at your company are safe and employees can perform their tasks effectively.
Safety training is also crucial, as employees should learn about the potential risks and how to prevent them.
Wellness doesn’t only involve physical health – mental health is also a part of it. Thus, you should focus on this aspect too. The first step is understanding the role mental health plays in impacting your employees’ performance. It’s essential to learn the signs of emotional distress and be supportive of your team members. If possible, you may consider using an employee assistance program that’s designed to help workers with personal issues that affect their work performance.
Wellness programs make a significant difference in employee retention. They can involve stress management programs, team building programs, clubs and social activities, etc. These programs should touch on physical health, mental health, and financial and social well-being, as they are all essential areas in workers’ lives. If something doesn’t work well in any area, they can’t perform at their fullest potential.
You can’t just preach about valuing employees – it’s important to back your words with action. This means implementing concrete wellness programs that are oriented toward results. Such programs are an excellent resource for employees because it lets them know their well-being matters, and thus, they reciprocate with commitment and loyalty.
Wellness programs are designed to promote a healthy lifestyle. Having such a program in place helps increase your employees’ physical and mental health by reducing potential risks that could have long-term consequences. Employees who feel depressed or weak may not have another choice but to leave a company because of such limitations that prevent them from performing at full capacity. Workers perform their best in an environment conducive to their growth and well-being.
Final thoughts
Undoubtedly, employees are a company’s most valuable asset. Therefore, taking care of their well-being is paramount to ensure they won’t leave your company for a better environment. Safety is a crucial factor that employees consider when thinking about whether a job suits them. Therefore, you should focus on implementing practices that support workers’ physical and mental health. Employees and their well-being should always come first, as your company’s success depends on their performance
