Quality of Work Life: a luxury or a necessity?

Quality of Work Life (QWL) is a concept that aims to improve both physical and mental well-being at work by promoting a healthy working environment that enables people to do their jobs effectively and be their best selves at work.

For over 20 years, the French ANACT-ARACT network (National and Regional Agencies for the Improvement of Working Conditions) has been organizing a week of events every year in June to promote the quality of life and working conditions.

Why is it important to raise awareness about Quality of Work Life?

Three years after the Great Resignation or Great Reshuffle phenomenon, the concept of quality of work life (QWL) has evolved dramatically. It's no longer just about improving physical and mental well-being: QWL now integrates the challenges of artificial intelligence, widespread hybrid work, and new generational expectations.

Employees are no longer just looking for a job, but for a professional experience aligned with their values. This generation, shaped by economic and climate instability, prioritizes balance, autonomy, and the positive impact of their work. Quality of work life (QWL) is a key element in employee engagement and retention. It has been proven that taking QWL measures improves employee productivity, reduces absenteeism, turnover, and stress levels in the workplace.

How can companies improve the quality of working life?

In today’s workplace, employee health and well-being are more important than ever before. And while each company has its own unique challenges, there are some common themes that arise when it comes to improving the quality of working life at your company.

There is no set model that fits the needs of every company, however, keeping people at the center of the discussion and improving the quality of life at work will help leaders to enhance productivity and collaboration in the workplace.

• Conduct surveys with your employees to understand what makes them happy at work and what can be improved upon.
• Give employees a voice. This means allowing them to be part of the decision-making process and providing opportunities for them to provide feedback on their working environment. If you want your employees to feel engaged and happy at work, they need a voice.
• Facilitate hybrid work. Hybrid working has become the new normal – and every organization must find its own path toward new ways of working and offering flexible working arrangements to employees. It is a must!
• Elevate workplace experience. The classic workplace that we knew pre-covid isn’t enough to attract and retain employees. People’s expectations of the workplace have evolved tremendously. It is about technologically advanced workplace experience, the added perks, and value propositions that make all the difference today.
• Send out newsletters or organize workshops about topics such as office wellness to educate employees.
• Guarantee the right to disconnect. In light of the increasing prevalence of hybrid working arrangements, the distinction between professional and personal domains has become increasingly indistinct. It is essential that companies implement concrete measures to ensure the effective management of meeting-free time slots, protected weekends, and work time management tools.

What activities should you plan during the QWL week?

Here are some suggestions for a great week dedicated to quality of life at work:

Kickstart the week with an introduction to what QWL is all about and its importance in the workplace. To be able to improve your employees’ quality of work life, it is imperative to first understand their problems. Launched an anonymous survey with a few questions aiming at understanding the health and well-being of your employees.

On Tuesday, discuss the “nutrition” topic with some insights into what to feed the brain to make it work the best way possible every day! For this day, you can order a basket full of fresh and organic fruits.

On Wednesday, dive into the topic “gratitude”. Even though it might seem unrelated to the quality of life at work, it is important to express gratitude towards colleagues and of course to yourself as well, to reduce overall stress and strengthen the team spirit!

As a highlight of the week, gather on Thursday evening for a cozy after-work event of playing board games and lightening the mood in general.

On Thursday, focus on one of the QWL topics many of your employees are already familiar with: exercise! Discuss some tips and tricks on how to integrate a bit of exercise every day, and share some resources that are easily accessible.

And even after the end of the official week of QWL, the process of improving the health and well-being of employees at work shall continue!

Toward sustainable and evolving quality of life at work

QWL must become a permanent mindset. The highest-performing companies are those that measure well-being as much as they measure productivity.

This evolution requires constant dialogue between leadership, managers, and employees, monitoring of new practices, and continuous adaptation to technological and societal changes.

Because ultimately, in a world where AI is taking on more and more tasks, what makes the difference is humans' ability to collaborate, innovate, and thrive together. And that's exactly what tomorrow's QWL aims to achieve.

Developing a new strategy for employee well-being in the workplace cannot be done without providing the appropriate tools for this purpose. Are you looking for an all-in-one solution to optimize your workspace, organize hybrid work, and reimagine the employee experience? At Witco, we can help you!