Building Blocks of Well-Being Culture
Alaina Charette | June 27, 2023
Richard Safeer, MD, the Chief Medical Director of Employee Health & Well-Being at Johns Hopkins Medicine presents at the 2023 College and University Work-Life-Family Association (CUWFA) Conference.
Well-being Prescription
I was thrilled to attend the College and University Work-Life-Family Association (CUWFA) Conference this year as a new member and new to the WorkLife team here at Michigan State University. It was an amazing opportunity to learn more about healthy work environments, mental health well-being, culture change and to connect with peers from across the country.
Our keynote speaker was Richard Safeer, MD, the Chief Medical Director of Employee Health & Well-Being at Johns Hopkins Medicine. Dr. Safeer’s presentation centered on his newly released book titled “A Cure for the Common Company: A Well-being Prescription for a Happier, Healthier, and More Resilient Workplace”. He discussed the step-by-step roadmap he had developed for creating a well-being culture that integrates science with practical solutions and how higher education work-life and well-being practitioners can bring this roadmap to their institutions.
The Six Building Blocks of a Well-Being Culture are:
- Shared Values:
Organizations have shared values, often articulated through mission and vision statements, business, and strategic objectives - Social Climate:
The social cohesiveness and morale of a group are determinants of health - Norms:
The collective behaviors of a group - Culture Connection Points:
Any form of interaction between the organization and the employee which has the potential to influence their well-being - Peer Support:
Co-workers and friends play a major role in the choices we make and how we feel about ourselves - Leadership Engagement:
Organizational leaders play an important role in fostering a workplace well-being culture
Dr. Safeer highlighted a study that looked at the impact of relationships on employee mental health. He asked: “Every year employees spend on average 2000+ hours at work and 20 minutes with their doctor. Who is going to have the most impact on your mental health?” Participants indicated that their spouse and their manager have the highest level of impact on their mental health, more than their health provider (chart below).
Throughout his presentation, Dr. Safeer provided a wide range of ideas and suggestions for building and sustaining well-being culture. He noted the best place for managers to start would be to put well-being on the team agenda. This could be 10-15 minutes during a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly standing meeting. Many leaders may be uncomfortable discussing well-being and that it can be challenging to create new practices. These practices can help to build relationships, trust, and a more positive workplace culture. Dr. Safeer acknowledged that it may take weeks or months before you start seeing changes and as employees feel more comfortable sharing.
“The best place for managers to start is to put well-being on the team agenda.”
Ideas for well-being activities:
- Sharing personal stories
- Breathing exercises, stretches or meditation
- Invite a well-being speaker
- Sharing gratitude
- Positive affirmations
Dr. Safeer was kind enough to provide attendees with a complimentary signed copy of his book. The WorkLife Office team plans to read this book together as our own little book club. Stay tuned for more information!
Please feel free to reach out to the WorkLife Office at worklife@msu.edu for what to add to your agenda.
