By Margaret Yip, GoGlobal Partner
In today’s interconnected world, the concept of work has undergone a significant transformation. Remote and hybrid work arrangements have become the new norm, enabling flexibility and breaking down geographical barriers. Many companies have even implemented digital nomad strategies to accommodate individuals who embrace a location-independent lifestyle.
However, these monumental shifts in the world of work have also brought forth unique challenges to the well-being of employees, such as increasingly blurred lines between personal and work boundaries. With the prevalence of extended work hours from home, employees often struggle to disconnect and may feel a sense of isolation. Consequently, it becomes imperative to prioritize the promotion of wellness and engagement among staff when cultivating a healthy and productive remote working culture.
As organizations around the world observe Global Wellness Day 2023 on June 10, the leadership team at GoGlobal is committed to addressing these challenges and fostering a culture of holistic well-being for remote workers. In this blog post, I will share a few of the strategies and initiatives we are implementing to enhance the well-being of our globally distributed workforce.
Honoring the importance of wellbeing
At GoGlobal, we firmly believe that when we take care of our people, they take care of the company. To build the people-first organization we will always aspire to be, we recognize that well-being must remain a core focus.
A global workforce is naturally diverse, with individuals facing varying personal and professional demands. For example, we currently have team members in Ukraine juggling the demands of their professional roles while caring for their families, communities and country in a time of war.
By fostering a supportive environment that promotes well-being, I believe we are empowering our employees to be the best versions of themselves – both personally and professionally.
Promoting work-life balance in remote work culture
Remote work offers tremendous flexibility and freedom, but it also presents new challenges. It can easily become more demanding than in-person work, especially in a cross-border workplace that virtually runs around the clock due to having a presence in nearly every time zone.
There’s no denying it: the lines between work and personal life are increasingly intertwined for many remote and hybrid workers. However, we have discovered a solution to this challenge. At GoGlobal, we prioritize work-life integration rather than rigid separation. We empower our employees to establish a rhythm that suits them, allowing them to fulfill both personal and professional obligations.
While we still advocate for clear boundaries between work and personal life, we also promote regular breaks and foster open communication. Our employees have the flexibility to tailor their schedules to accommodate their individual circumstances. This enables them to prioritize self-care, spend quality time with their families and advance in their careers simultaneously. We believe this approach profoundly empowers our team members to enhance their productivity.
In addition, we foster an inclusive and collaborative culture where mutual boundaries are respected. A strong support network is in place to promptly assist and support one another whenever the need arises.
Developing employee wellness programs
Employee wellness programs are a cornerstone of our commitment to well-being. We know remote workers may face unique challenges in maintaining their physical and mental health. Therefore, we provide comprehensive wellness programs that cater to their needs. These initiatives include workshops, access to mental health resources and personalized wellness challenges.
We launched our second virtual step challenge at GoGlobal this spring with the goal of walking a collective 2,000,000 steps. Employees record their daily step counts in an app and share pictures of their beautiful surroundings during their walks. Not only did this challenge promote exercise and provide much-needed time off from their busy work schedules, it also helped colleagues to connect and engage with one another through Teams and Yammer as they cheered one another on!
We also recently launched our dedicated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to provide a confidential and secure space for our internal staff members to access professional assistance and valuable resources.
We understand that a healthy and supported workforce is the foundation for a thriving organization. Our commitment to providing comprehensive benefits, including the EAP, reaffirms our dedication to cultivating a workplace culture that values the holistic well-being of our global team members. By investing in our employees’ well-being, we empower them to lead healthier lives and perform at their best.
Committing to wellness
In celebrating Global Wellness Day 2023, GoGlobal recognizes the critical role of well-being in the lives of workers around the world. We remain unwavering in our commitment to help create healthy workplaces where people can thrive – no matter where they are!
While companies can certainly provide support and foster a positive, nurturing environment, it also falls upon each individual to take ownership of their own health and determine what strategies work best for them. I am personally aware of what contributes to my own well-being—how about you?
Contact us to talk with an international HR expert and learn more about how partnering with an EOR can help you promote well-being and create healthy remote workforces around the world.