Caring for the Health Care Workforce: Three Keys to Employee Wellness

Health care professionals dedicate their lives to caring for others, but who takes care of them? A thriving workforce, whether in health care or other industries, depends on more than just individual resilience; it requires strategic support at every level of the organization. Beth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM, part-time associate professor at Harvard Medical School (HMS), emphasizes that effective employee wellness programs focus on three critical areas: a supportive organizational culture, workflow efficiency, and employee resilience.

To effectively implement a plan for employee wellness, a culture that values wellness must be evident in leadership behaviors, organizational policies, and daily operations.

"Leaders who model well-being, by respecting work-life boundaries, engaging in healthy behaviors, and prioritizing balance, set a powerful precedent for their employees," Dr. Frates asserts.

Creating a Culture that Supports Well-Being

Implementing structured wellness strategies can provide tangible benefits to both employees and the organization, ensuring that well-being initiatives are effectively integrated into daily operations.

Dr. Frates offers strategies for building a wellness-focused workplace, such as:

• Physical Environment: Provide access to natural light and consider workplace plants to improve the workplace surroundings.
• Schedule Management: For environments with established work hours, honor those set times, for example by implementing "schedule send" for emails outside working hours.
• Nutrition Support: "What we eat impacts our mood," Dr. Frates notes. She recommends helping employees have access to healthy food and water throughout the day.
• Movement Integration: "When people move for 20 minutes versus sit for 20 minutes, they're more creative. Stanford studies showed their divergent thinking goes up 60%," shares Dr. Frates. Consider creating walking meeting opportunities or treadmill desks for more desk-focused workers.

Optimize Workflow Efficiency Through Structured Learning

Another fundamental component of workplace wellness is the efficiency of workflow processes. When employees feel overwhelmed by inefficiencies in their daily tasks, stress levels rise, and overall well-being declines. To address this, Frates suggests leaders should conduct structured listening sessions, a practice that has proven effective in health care institutions.

Dr. Frates recommends using three key questions when conducting structured listening sessions:

• What's working well?
• What are areas for growth?
• What's one small step that could make a difference?

"You need to know your employee," Dr. Frates emphasizes. These sessions provide valuable insights into workflow inefficiencies and potential solutions while empowering employees to contribute to organizational improvement.

Creating Flow States for Enhanced Productivity

Aligning employees with tasks suited to their skill sets enhances engagement and reduces workplace anxiety. Frates emphasizes the importance of "placing employees in a ‘flow state,’ where their skill level meets the challenges they face, promoting both productivity and satisfaction." Encouraging periodic check-ins where employees can self-report their well-being on a scale of zero to ten allows leaders to proactively address emerging concerns.

Leaders should carefully consider task allocation and timelines. When assignments exceed skill levels or resources, anxiety can impair performance. Dr. Frates advises empowering employees to communicate when they need additional time or support to deliver optimal results.

Build Organizational Resilience, Not Just Individual Grit

Resilience is often viewed as an individual responsibility, yet leaders can actively foster it. Encouraging structured breaks that include physical activities, such as short walks or stretching, enhances both mental clarity and productivity. Providing access to mindfulness sessions, yoga, or Tai Chi after work hours offers additional tools for stress management.

Sleep quality is another crucial factor in resilience. "Employees who do not get enough sleep are more likely to experience emotional distress and cognitive impairment," notes Dr. Frates. Leaders can utilize insights from Matthew Walker’s sleep research by promoting good sleep habits and reducing late-night work communications.

Social connection is also vital. "Employees who feel connected to at least one person at work are more likely to stay engaged and productive," Dr. Frates states. Leaders can encourage connection by incorporating activities like gratitude-sharing exercises at the start of meetings or by organizing team-building activities.

How Can Leaders Take Employee Wellness Even Further?

The integration of wellness principles into leadership is not optional—it is necessary. Health care professionals face unique occupational stressors, and leaders must create supportive environments.

"When leaders take proactive steps to support wellness, the ripple effect benefits not only employees but the patients they serve," Dr. Frates concludes.

Dr. Frates is the faculty lead for three Harvard Medical School programs focused on lifestyle medicine and sustainable wellness initiatives that drive both individual and organizational success. Exploring upcoming dates for Health and Wellness: Designing a Sustainable Nutrition Plan, Lifestyle and Wellness Coaching, and Nutrition and Wellness Coaching.