For employee well-being, it all starts with leaders
Research indicates that top execs have the greatest impact on worker satisfaction and health, from modeling a healthy work/life balance to prioritizing employee health in the workplace.
If you have a workplace wellness issue, you have a leadership issue.
That’s the takeaway from a series of studies including a Department of Defense project known as the Oregon Military Employee Sleep & Health (MESH) Study. In reviewing the impact of stress and sleep-related health issues for full-time National Guard members, the study analyzed the relationship between leaders and their subordinates and the impact that dynamic had on individual health.
The study found that “supervisor support is critical to improving overall sleep health amongst employees,” as well as identifying key behaviors that supported employee sleep health: family-supportive supervisor leadership and sleep leadership.
In laymen’s terms, leaders that encouraged subordinates to catch up on missed sleep, clock out and maintain a healthy work schedule, and support flexibility to meet family obligations, were more likely to see healthy sleep behaviors in their workers.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today
Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.
