When we think of digital signage, we think of fancy LED advertising screens in retail stores and self-service kiosks in fast-food restaurant chains, but in reality – digital signage can be utilised in many different ways, including for employee wellbeing. Simple yet effective, commercial displays are now being used for much more than just advertising as employers are recognising the importance of reducing stress and bridging that communication gap between management and employees within the office.
But how exactly does digital signage positively impact employee wellbeing?
Well, let’s take a look!
Stress Reducing Content
It’s universally acknowledged that integrating little hints of nature into your office space is known to reduce stress, fatigue and anxiety in employees. Though, if your office space is windowless or you’re incapable of keeping a house plant alive (don’t worry, we are too!), then incorporating elements of the outdoors might not seem like a simple solution to boost employee wellbeing. With digital signage screens however, you can embrace virtual worlds and bring the outdoors in with simply a touch of a button.
Whether you want to show recommendations for soothing woodland explorations or employee photographs of their weekend dog walks – digital signage screens can be used to transport employees out of the mundane world of overhead fluorescent lighting and into a serene, naturalistic atmosphere while they momentarily daze off and regather their thoughts.
Reinforce Healthy Habits
Sitting slumped at a desk for eight hours a day, five days a week isn’t healthy for anyone – especially when employees are embroiled in a project and typically lose track of time. This can often lead to dehydration and a lack of movement or improper posture, resulting in joint pain, muscle tension and even illness that results in time off work. To avoid this, digital signage screens can be used as a tool to encourage regular breaks, movement or ergonomic solutions to proper posture while sitting – or standing – at a desk.
It is important to ensure this content isn’t condescending in any way but perhaps humorous and/or lightly informative, ensuring employees are engaged enough to remember to take breaks, stay hydrated and move around during the day. This will not only benefit employee health in the long run, but will make your staff feel like their physical wellbeing is a top priority.
Access to Wellbeing Resources
When employees are truly happy, your business will thrive. And this doesn’t just relate to their mental and physical wellbeing within the office, but in their personal lives too. If something isn’t going right in an employee’s world outside of work, this can have a knock on effect – impacting their performance at work. Whether it’s relationship struggles, financial issues or health concerns, personal complications have a tendency to spill into the professional sphere leading to a lack of productivity, reduced concentration and even presenteeism. This is why a healthy work-life balance is more important than it ever has been before!
Digital signage can be used in a communal space within your office environment to offer confidential resources for employees. This could link to mental health self-help book recommendations, debt advice helplines or even somebody within the business who is trained to listen and advise employees on their personal issues. This gives employees access to help that they may feel uncomfortable asking for and will encourage them to accept the reality that everyone falls on hard times, they just need the right support to get out of it – and as a business that prioritises employee wellbeing, you’re there to help them every step of the way.
Give Clear Internal Updates
Digital signage is regularly used as notice boards within communal business areas, such as reception spaces and canteens. These commercial notice boards can be used to give necessary internal information that an employee may glaze over or simply forget about if sent out via email. These updates could include routine maintenance, bank holiday opening hours, or even information about fire drills.
Keeping employees informed allows them to plan ahead and feel less stressed when they have to step outside of their everyday routines. For example, if an elevator requires necessary repairs and is going to be out of order on a particular day but your employee is a wheelchair user, they can plan ahead and arrange to work from home or find a hot desk on the ground floor in advance of the work being carried out, therefore reducing stress and anxiety as a plan is already in place.
Employee Recognition
Digital signage displays can be a great way to recognise employee achievements, share big team wins and welcome new people to your team. You can share photographs and reels of employees accepting prestigious awards or simply share quotes from your company director about an employee’s outstanding achievements. For new starters, you can share a photograph, their name and a peculiar fact about them which breaks the ice and gives seasoned employees a conversation starter – making your new starter feel welcomed and empowered in their new working environment.
Conclusion
With work-life pressures becoming more profound than ever, it is critical that the workplace thrives to empower employees and nurture their physical and mental wellbeing. Incorporating digital signage displays around your office environment allows you to do this with ease. With the right content and a burst of creativity, you can reach your employees in ways that you have never been able to before; granting you the ability to give them valuable information about health and safety, routine maintenance and team expansions while also providing invaluable personal resources and celebrating their achievements.
Want to know more about how you can utilise digital signage to boost employee wellbeing? Contact our friendly and specialist team today who will be happy to discuss your options and their wider impact on your workplace.