How Wellbeing Can Elevate the Aviation Workplace

I may be just a little biased, but to me, aviation is the most exciting and dynamic industry on the planet! On the one hand, it combines the most sophisticated engineering and technological advances, and on the other, it harnesses the power of abundant creativity and imagination… A truly inspiring industry to be part of. And often, (it must be said) quite a stressful one. A small price to pay for the dynamism and excitement, however, stress is toxic for our health and wellbeing, as well as for organizations’ productivity and performance.

High stress means low well-being and it leads to low engagement, and this is when productivity begins to suffer. Currently, globally and across industries, employee engagement and well-being are both at low levels. Employee burnout is leading to mass resignations, unexplained absenteeism and presenteeism, high turnovers, and poor performance. This has a major impact on industrial productivity because the unwell and unmotivated have no shared sense of purpose— something crucial to achieving objectives and ultimate success.

The most effective solutions to this crisis empower organizations to think about the whole person, and not just the worker. This is why well-being needs to be on every executive dashboard. Leaders need to take responsibility for the well-being of their employees and do that part to help create thriving individuals, families, and communities.  Adopting wellbeing programs contribute to the overall success of an organization. Why? Because they improve employee health and engagement as well as motivation and morale, increase productivity, provides a shared purpose, and—finally and most importantly for aviators— reduces stress levels and the chances of employee burnout.

Any investment in organizational wellness is money well spent. VOI (value on investment) is a measure of all the benefits conferred by employee health and wellness programs. VOI does not mean that there are no financial returns to be had from wellness programs. Indeed, VOI benefits go beyond health care expenses and include metrics such as productivity, engagement, employee morale, retention, and satisfaction, all of which impact an organization’s bottom line. Think of it in this context, according to the European Federal Institute for Occupational Safety, the average cost of an employee’s absence for an organization is $364 USD per day. Imagine if you could irradicate absenteeism through better health and wellness? Not only is your organization now far more productive but you’re also saving money by keeping employees in full attendance.

So, in the fast-paced and pressurized world of aviation, where deadlines are constant, expectations are sky-high, and standards are optimal, organizational wellness strategies can help employees better cope with whatever the job (or life) throws at them.

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