The importance of employee wellness in the events industry
How the Events Industry provides wellness
Anyone who works in the event industry can attest to the excitement and buzz event planning brings, from the initial meetings right through to delivering each world-class event for clients.
However, the fast-paced nature of the industry can result in added stress, tight deadlines and high expectations. In fact, the events industry is consistently voted one of the most stressful industries to work in.
Due to this, it’s vital that event organisations put employee wellness high on the agenda and invest in wellbeing. According to CIPD’s 2022 Health and wellbeing at work survey, focusing on employee wellbeing will introduce a healthier and more inclusive culture, better work-life balance and better employee morale and engagement.
At ICC Belfast, we have introduced a number of initiatives and activities to support employee wellness including:
Employee counselling services: We provide Occupational Health Services for our team including access to employee counselling services.
Wellness month: A month dedicated to wellness with tips, activities and health-focused initiatives.
Joyful Hour: Staff are given an hour every other Thursday to do something for their wellbeing.
Wellness initiatives: These include workplace de-stress massages and facilitated breathwork sessions.
Take 5: Staff are encouraged to take time to enjoy fresh fruit and snacks provided in staff breakroom each day.
There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to employee wellness, however, here are three areas we have found to be important when providing support and encouraging staff to look after their health and wellbeing, mentally and physically:
Regular check-ins with your team and colleagues
It’s important to take the time to check in with your team and colleagues, particularly during busy periods. This will provide the opportunity to understand workloads and assess if additional support is needed, while also giving staff the chance to share any positive or negative feedback.
Encourage self-care
During busy periods, it’s especially important to take time to look after ourselves. This may be in the form of practising mindfulness and breathing techniques, exercising and eating healthily, spending time with others or simply making time for yourself during a busy day.
Employee-led initiatives
While you may think you know what wellness activities your staff want, have you ever taken a step back and asked your team this question? At ICC Belfast, our employee-led wellness committee has provided the team with the opportunity to put forward and implement their own ideas, resulting in a higher number of employees engaging in the activities and initiatives.
Ultimately, promoting wellbeing at work can help create a positive working environment through improving employee engagement, reducing stress levels and making individuals feel valued for the value they add to your organisation as people, not just for the work they do. It is important to treat wellness as an ongoing project that can constantly be tweaked and improved upon, as this will ensure you are offering the right initiatives that will allow your team to flourish whilst meeting and exceeding expectations.