It says FTSE companies that track wellbeing outperform others by 10%.
This is one of the key social trends identified by Sodexo’s workplace trends report released today titled ‘How Britain works: Key Trends in a Workplace Environment’.
Debbie White, chief executive of Sodexo UK and Ireland, said the other factors affecting the workplace were people trends and space trends.
“As an employer of 35,000 and a provider of services at workplaces across UK and Ireland, it is crucial that we understand how the workplace is changing and what is important to employees so that we can work towards improving the quality of life where we operate.”
The report highlights that there are more baby boomers working in the UK than ever before; mixed-gender boards improve a company’s productivity; and badly designed open plan offices can reduce happiness and productivity.
As well as greater demand for health and nutrition, social trends mean the composition of the workforce is changing. While there are more baby boomers in the workplace, the demands and technology of younger employees have a significant influence on how organisations operate.
At the same time, more women are occupying senior management roles, with positive results on productivity.
Companies with women on boards were found to outperform those without, with 42% higher return in sales, 66% return on invested capital and 53% higher return on equity.
Physical activity has shown to have a direct impact on the workforce, with physically healthy employees 20% more productive and twice as likely not to be ill.
People trends mean more employees view their work and life as one – more of a work-life flow than a work-life balance. Companies supporting employees with flexible working patterns and technology to work anywhere anytime can see a happier, more productive workforce, particularly if allowed to manage their personal lives during traditional office hours.
Space trends mean organisations offering well-designed, shared workspaces and practices which encourage employees to communicate more, will attract and retain talent better.