With the rate of inflation at a 40-year high and still rising in some areas of the world,
businesses everywhere are facing a challenge they may not have faced before – how to best
support employees through the cost-of-living crisis.
52% of therapists report clients experiencing loss of sleep and anxiety due to money
worries. There is a huge knock-on effect when it comes to stress around money - staff are
distracted, productivity waivers, and therefore less profit is being made.
To minimise the stress of inflation in your workplace and for your staff, keep reading to
discover how you can support your employees.
Adopt A Financial Wellbeing Strategy/Policy
Implementing a financial wellbeing policy will show your commitment to protecting your
employees’ financial wellbeing. There are many ways you can do this, it can be as simple as
advising your employees of debt advice and support, or by offering insurance and
incentives.
Group income protection can provide peace of mind around finances, as your staff and their
salaries are protected in the event of illness or injury. These policies can help you to pay a
replacement salary for the employee whilst they are unable to work.
In terms of employee benefits, it may be worth re-evaluating what you offer your staff, from
gym memberships to discounts. Although these changes could be seen as ‘small,’ they are
certainly worth considering as they will help your employees in times of economic
turbulence.
Encourage Communication Around Money And Mental Health
The worry of increased costs could have a detrimental impact on your staff’s mental health.
But by having a plan in place to deal with potential issues, and by promoting the importance
of talking about them, you are supporting your employees’ mental health. Consider offering
access to services such as counselling so your staff can receive help as soon as they need it.
You could also consider having a Mental Health First Aider in the workplace, which is
someone that has completed a course about identifying, understanding, and supporting
somebody in the workplace who might be experiencing a mental health issue. This is usually
the first point of contact for any mental health concern at work. It can be highly beneficial
having an approachable MHFA in your workplace.
Allow Working From Home
With the sharp rise in commuting and travel costs, it could be a good idea to allow your staff
to work remotely. Even if it is only for a day or two each week, it could benefit both the staff member and the employer financially. The staff member will have decreased travel costs, and the employer will save some money on office bills such as electricity and rent.
Show Appreciation To Your Staff
It’s clear that one of the best ways to show appreciation to your staff is to pay them more,
however that isn’t always easy, especially during the current economic state. If you are not
in the position to increase your staff’s pay, have a look at other options you could try. These
could include taking your staff out for a meal, bringing sweet treats into the office, or simply
reminding them how much you appreciate them.
The Bottom Line
Whilst the cost-of-living crisis isn’t new, hyperinflation is a completely new experience for
younger workers. By doing what you can to lessen it’s impact on your employees’, their
well-being will improve, and they will hopefully feel slightly less worried about the cost-of-
living crisis as a whole. They will also likely feel happier at work, and therefore more
productive. Tough times don’t last, but tough people do.
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