Research has found that workers are twice as motivated and productive if they also exhibit characteristics of resilience.
A new report by Aon, a global professional services firms, shows the importance of resilience amongst employees as workers report being twice as motivated and productive at work if they display resilience.
The report states that resilience in the workforce is shown through three main indicators –
1) A fundamental sense of security at work
2) A strong sense of belonging with the employer
3) The adaptability and motivation that is needed to reach one’s full potential
The importance of a resilient workforce is blatant as organisations that take steps to create resilience in their employees often outperform companies who do not in terms of productivity, quality of work, talent acquisition, talent retention and happier employees overall.
In the UK, resilience increases employees’ enthusiasm by 47 per cent, energy levels by 46 per cent and concentration by 31 per cent. In addition, the concentration levels of workers rise by 33 per cent and job satisfaction by almost half (47 per cent).
It is particularly worrying then that the latest research shows that only three out 10 employees report being resilient (30 per cent). Moreover, 42 per cent state that they do not feel secure in their job, whilst over half (52 and 55 per cent respectively) feel they do not have a sense of belonging and will not reach their full potential.
The research explains that a fundamental way that organisations can improve resilience is through the type of support offered to employees. Just under half of all employees reported resilience in companies (45 per cent) which provided a broad health and wellbeing programme, encompassing support for employees’ physical, social, emotional, financial and professional needs. This is a threefold increase of resilience in comparison to companies which do not offer any wellbeing and health initiatives.
Aon has also outlined other factors that contribute to building workforce resilience including encouraging health-positive behaviours, protecting employees’ physical health, delivering clarity and purpose to employees, operating with compassion, supporting mental health, fostering adaptable skills and understanding and managing employees’ expectations.
Geoffrey Kuhn, senior vice president and actuary, Health Solutions at Aon, said:
Developing resilient employees is complex. It requires balancing many different factors, and the recipe for how to do it well is evolving just as employees do. Yet smart, strategic investment is more than good housekeeping; it is part of what makes a business thrive.
As the World Health Organisation sets out in its Health 2020(1) policy framework, resilience ‘is shaped by the availability of supportive environments,’ which ‘are essential for people to increase control over the determinants of their health.’ At work, businesses need to step up and create an environment for resilience to thrive. This means understanding the context and content for delivering effective health and wellbeing programmes and initiatives, along with the 10 factors – among them encouraging positive health behaviours, supporting mental health, sharing responsibility and control as well as developing financial security – that are currently affecting and influencing workforces today.
Avneet Kaur, principal, Health Solutions, EMEA, Aon, explained:
To varying degrees, organisations are compelled to invest in, and care about, the health and wellbeing of their staff. At the most basic level, health initiatives are prescribed by proxy through government legislation. However, sometimes the attitudes of the workforce, the competition for talent, and visionary leadership drive businesses to go beyond what is simply required and think creatively about what their people need, what they want, and what will help.
If you are interested in learning more from Aon regarding how to empower your workforce for 2021 and beyond, you can register to watch HRreview‘s free upcoming webinar here.
*This research was taken from Aon’s November Report ‘The Rising Resilient’ which surveyed 500 employees in five countries (with a total of 2500 employees – 20 per cent of whom were senior leaders whilst the remaining 80 per cent were employees). This research was carried out in March 2020 amidst COVID-19 in France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK.
Monica Sharma is an English Literature graduate from the University of Warwick. As Editor for HRreview, her particular interests in HR include issues concerning diversity, employment law and wellbeing in the workplace. Alongside this, she has written for student publications in both England and Canada. Monica has also presented her academic work concerning the relationship between legal systems, sexual harassment and racism at a university conference at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
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