Trends and changes in taking care of employee wellbeing

According to the results of the “Wellbeing of Poles” survey conducted by Benefit Systems and infuture.institute under the supervision of Natalia Hatalska, low and very low wellbeing level is most often experienced by people aged 35-44, who constitute the core of the workforce in Poland (according to data from the Central Statistical Office, the average age of employees is now just over 42). These are alarming results, especially since the wellbeing of employees is one of the key conditions that translate into their potential. In turn, insufficient wellbeing level is a growing social and employee problem today, which resonates in various areas, affecting organisations' business results and their competitiveness. The approach to wellbeing itself, as well as the needs related to it, are still evolving. Following trends and listening to expert opinions is helpful in building an effective employee wellbeing strategy. This will be possible on 2 October this year as part of the open Wellbeing Summit conference. Online participation in the event is free and registration can be done on the event website.

We live and work longer and longer. According to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) data, in 2017 there were over 689,000 working pensioners in Poland, and in 2023 – already 854,000. The number of working people of pre-retirement age is also higher. The reasons why so-called “silvers” decide to stay active in the workforce for longer are different, but maintaining fitness for longer remains important for all employees, regardless of their age. Good habits related to nutrition, physical activity and care for the broadly understood comfort of life, which translate into better brain function and greater energy resources necessary to take on professional challenges, become particularly important. A sense of wellbeing also plays a role in the face of upskilling and reskilling – phenomena that are becoming increasingly common due to staff shortages and widespread automation. The pace and ubiquity of these changes make it possible to develop human capital not through point actions (i.e. one-off training courses), but through lifelong learning. Acquiring new personal and professional competences is an important element of building wellbeing. It also supports the inextricably linked resilience, which is the sum of diverse skills responsible for coping with difficult and unpredictable situations more easily. Resilience also translates into the flexibility of the psyche and mind, which makes it easier to function in a dynamically changing world.

In addition to soft skills, HR departments are increasingly expected to have competencies related to data analytics and the use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence. They are useful not only in streamlining processes, but also in assessing the effectiveness of HR specialists. Measured by objective indicators, they become necessary in the face of the strategic role of HR departments in organisations and the pressure to generate savings. Wellbeing support tools, which technology is already an integral part of, are keeping pace with these changes – platforms and applications provide a range of diverse possibilities, and their intuitive interfaces ensure flexible selection. However, smart digital solutions, including those based on artificial intelligence, offer many more possibilities. For employers, this includes monitoring the level of employee wellbeing and measuring the effectiveness of implemented solutions. Employees, in turn, can use a digital assistant who will define health and development goals, suggest how to achieve them and share knowledge in areas of interest to a given user.

– To help HR professionals create effective strategies, we have developed the Wellbeing Score algorithm, which enables employee needs recognition and analytics. We have also changed the product strategy of the Benefit Systems tool ecosystem so that they complement each other in supporting employee wellbeing. Our offer includes the MultiSport Programme, the MyBenefit cafeteria and the latest product in our portfolio, the MultiLife platform, which focuses on supporting the health and building healthy habits of users on the one hand, and on developing their personal and professional competences on the other hand – says Emilia Rogalewicz, Management Board Member at Benefit Systems.

– Wanting to share over 20 years of experience in creating tools that shape wellbeing, we are organising an open event that broadly addresses this topic – both at the individual and company level – for the second time. Wellbeing Summit is a meeting of experts from the world of science, medicine and business, a presentation of research results and an overview of the latest trends. Since leaders play a key role in implementing corporate wellbeing strategies, the conference will feature presentations focused on sustainable, supportive and effective leadership based on values – says Emilia Rogalewicz.                                                                             

The conference speakers will include Dr. Ewa Hartman, MBA trainer and lecturer, Joanna Malinowska-Parzydło, an opinion leader in the world of management, who helps manage communication, trust and commitment, and build a positive influence of leaders on themselves and on the healthy development of their companies, Jowita Michalska, digital educator, Dr. Bartosz Żukowski, professor at the University of Łódź, specialist in philosophy and cognitive science (predictive models of the mind, consequences of AI development), Paweł Kornosz, managing director of cafeteria platforms and Piotr Szostak, managing director of strategy and product development at Benefit Systems. The special guest of the conference will be Mateusz Kusznierewicz – Olympic sailor and team leader. The event will be hosted by Jarosław Kuźniar. The full list of speakers is available on the event website.