The document discusses workplace wellbeing and how creating and sustaining employee wellbeing can benefit organizations. It covers six dimensions of wellbeing: mindfulness, authenticity, belonging, optimism, meaning, and vitality. The document argues that wellbeing should be a priority for organizations as it leads to engaged employees, reduced health costs, and improved business performance.

1. WORKPLACE WELLBEING
Kevin Butler, MS, CPE
Senior Ergonomist
Wellbeing Consultant

2. WHY SPACE?

3. How can a workplace create
and sustain wellbeing?

4. Is it actually possible to leave
your workplace healthier than
when you arrived?

8. GALLUP

35. The wealth of business
depends on
the health of workers.
“More people than
ever are being paid to
think, instead of just
doing routine tasks.”
AUTHOR DAVID ROCK,
YOUR BRAIN AT WORK
IBM CEO SURVEY 2013
“Leadership traits
most needed today:
collaborative,
communicative,
creative, flexible.”

36. GALLUP RESEARCHER AND AUTHOR TOM RATH
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY WELLBEING?
“The most successful organizations are now turning their attention to employee wellbeing as a way to gain emotional, financial and competitive advantage.”

37. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?
WORKPLACE
WELLBEING

38. PHYSICAL WELLBEING = ergonomics and encouraging movement in the workplace
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

39. ISSUE: Work/Life Imbalance
Leverage time at work: access to natural light, healthy food, outdoor spaces
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

40. A Typical Day
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

41. COGNITIVE WELLBEING =
body/mind connection
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

42. ISSUE: Workplace Noise
Reduced alertness, reduced memory, irritation
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

44. ISSUE: Information at a Faster and Faster Pace
Cognitive overload, diminished creativity, increased stress
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

45. “Workers everywhere
are experiencing
an epidemic of
overwhelm.”
GALLUP RESEARCHER AND
AUTHOR TOM RATH

46. EMOTIONAL WELLBEING =
creative, engaged and innovative workforce
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

47. ISSUE:
Increasingly Distributed Teams
Presence disparity, reduced social capital
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?

48. GALLUP RESEARCHER AND AUTHOR TOM RATH
“Research shows there is only
one experience in life that
increases happiness over a long
time. It’s not money, above a
base survival amount, nor
marriage or having kids.
The one thing that makes people
happy is the quality + quantity
of their social connections.”

49. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?
WORKPLACE
WELLBEING

50. DESIGNING FOR WELLBEING

51. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | DESIGNING FOR WELLBEING
HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN

56. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | DESIGNING FOR WELLBEING
Workplace Wellbeing Goal
Creating and sustaining a healthy physical and mental state over time in a supportive physical and social environment

57. PALETTE OF
POSTURE
A range of solutions that encourages people to sit, stand and move, with support for whatever technology they choose to use
PALETTE OF PRESENCE
A range of physical and virtual experiences within the workplace, each designed to augment human interaction
PALETTE OF
PLACE
An ecosystem of interrelated zones and settings that provides a range of spaces for various modes of work
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | DESIGNING FOR WELLBEING
WHAT IS VALUED?
Choice + Control: the new status symbol

58. THOUGHT STARTERS

59. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THOUGHT STARTERS
HOLISTIC APPROACH

60. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THOUGHT STARTERS
RESIDENT NEIGHBORHOOD

61. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THOUGHT STARTERS
NOMADIC CAMP

62. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THOUGHT STARTERS
ENCLAVES

63. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THOUGHT STARTERS
INNOVATION SUITE

64. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THOUGHT STARTERS
PATIO

65. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | WHY STEELCASE?
WORKPLACE
WELLBEING

66. THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING

67. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING
Mindfulness
FULLY ENGAGED
•Being focused and immersed in the present
•Inhibiting external and internal distractions

68. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING
Authenticity
REALLY YOURSELF
•Building friendships and trusting relationships with co-workers
•Being able to express your ideas and values
•Seeing situations through your own and others’ eyes

69. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING
Belonging
CONNECTED TO OTHERS
•Having social connections with co-workers
•Feeling connected to the organization’s purpose, brand, culture
•Enjoying a sense of community

70. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING
•Being on a quest for discovery
•Exploring new ideas
•Seeing the big picture
•Engaging others
•Taking risks
•Open to change
Optimism
FOSTERING CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION

71. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING
Meaning A SENSE OF PURPOSE
•Understand how you contribute to the organization
•See your impact
•Align with others on goals and strategies
•Apply your strengths

72. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | THE SIX DIMENSIONS OF WELLBEING
Vitality GET UP AND GO
•Moving often during the workday
•Changing postures
•Eating healthy
•Accessing daylight and fresh air
•Choosing places to work that “feel good”
•Exercising

73. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | CONCLUSION
“Creating places that provide for the wellbeing of people at work is critical for success. It’s that simple. And that powerful.”
JIM HACKETT, FORMER CEO, STEELCASE INC.

74. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | CONCLUSION
Wellbeing: It’s a bottom line issue

75. References:
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Crabtree, S. Worldwide, 13% of Employees Are Engaged at Work (8. Oct. 2013) Gallup Word.
Gary, B., Boer, N.T., Smith, C.B. & Heath, G.W. (2008) Health-Related Factors Associated With the Healthcare Costs of Office
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Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Work Organization and Stress Related Disorders. (2011). Retrieved from
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/programs/workorg/risks.html
Kruse, K. Why Employee Engagement? (These 28 Research Studies Prove the Benefits). (4 Sept. 2012) Retrieved from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2012/09/04/why-employee-engagement/
Steelcase.com (2014). Wellbeing A Bottom Line Issue – How Feeling Good at Work Drives Business Performance. Retrieved
from http://360.steelcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/360Magazine-Issue67.pdf
Steelcase.com (2014). Wellbeing A Bottom Line Issue – How Feeling Good at Work Drives Business PerformancE. Retrieved
from http://360.steelcase.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/360Magazine-Issue67.pdf
WORKPLACE WELLBEING | CONCLUSION

76. WORKPLACE WELLBEING | CONCLUSION
World Health Organization. (2009) Unhealthy Diets & Physical Inactivity. Retrieved from
http://www.who.int/nmh/publications/fact_sheet_diet_en.pdf
Henson, J., Yates, T., Biddle S.J.H., Edwardson, C.L., K., Khuntu et al. (2013) Associations of objectively measured sedentary behavior
and physical activity with markers of cardio metabolic health. DOI 10.1007/s00125-013-2845-9
Moskowitz, C. Mind’s Limit Found: 4 Things at Once (27 April 2008) Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/2493-mind-limit-
4.html
American Psychological Association Multitasking: Switching Costs (20 March 2006). Retrieved from
http://www.apa.org/research/action/multitask.aspx
Worldcurnch. Workplace Stress: Western Social Ill Spreads to Developing World Retried from http://www.worldcrunch.com/culture-society/
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Achor, S (2010). The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work .
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Banbury, S. & Berry, D.C. (2011) Disruption of office-related tasks by speech and office noise. British Journal of Psychology 89(3). 499-
517