Can sustainable business practices benefit employee well-being?

More candidates look for sustainability when applying to companies and expect their employers to consider the environment in their decision-making. According to a report by Gartner, 67% of employees say sustainability is highly important, but only 16% say their organization has the knowledge and mindset to embrace sustainable practices.

There are multiple ways to invest in sustainable business practices and show your employees that you care about your environmental impact. You can work with your local municipality to get a recycling dumpster, plant native shrubs and flowers that support the bees, or invest in software-designed solar solutions. You could opt for ground-mounted solar panels if you have a big campus or roof-mounted panels if your offices are located in the city.

Several possible benefits come with making your business practices more sustainable, including financial savings and help for the environment. However, these changes can also affect the well-being of your employees. Here are a few ways your sustainability efforts can impact your staff and improve your company culture.

Ethical practice

At least 64% of Americans say they are somewhat worried about climate change. Some people are seriously worried about the impact of humans on the environment and develop eco-anxiety, which is a sense of dread or stress when thinking about the future. As more people worry about the environment, they may turn to companies to step up and protect the planet. Consumers want to buy from sustainable companies and work for eco-minded employers.

Investing in sustainability can make your employees feel good about where they work and their environmental impact. This can improve their well-being by soothing their eco-anxiety. You might not be able to completely help them overcome this source of stress, but you can make your staff feel good about what they do.

Pride in company operations

If an employee feels like they work for a sustainable company, they could take more pride in where they work. Proud employees have a significant impact on a company’s profitability. These team members are twice as likely to stay at the company and six times more likely to endorse their workplace to others. This helps the company save money with reduced turnover costs while also attracting top talent to fill open positions quickly.

Employees may also feel assured that their employer cares for the environment, which could alleviate their eco-anxiety and lead to better well-being. This in turn could lead to higher rates of engagement as the employees participate to see the company thrive.

Sense of innovation

When your company invests in sustainable practices, it signals to employees that you are willing to consider new ideas that will help the company grow in the long run. Your team members could feel more comfortable voicing their opinions and pitching new ideas for the business.

A commitment to sustainability also demonstrates that your company is cutting-edge and willing to make forward-thinking changes. This can contribute to an innovative work culture which can make your company stand out amongst the competition and encourage employees to continue evolving professionally.

Transparency

When companies invest in sustainable practices, they can become more transparent about their business operations. Transparency builds trust. Employees know that their employer isn’t hiding poor or unethical business practices that place profit over the environment.

Employees with transparent leaders are more likely to stay with those companies, lowering turnover rates. This creates more stability in the workforce and it can also result in employees feeling like they have more control in the workplace.

Adaptability

Business leaders across countless fields are highlighting the importance of adaptability. Throughout the pandemic, teams needed to be adaptable when facing office closures, supply chain issues and countless other threats to their operations. While the pandemic has long since passed, there could be a new challenge just around the corner.

Sustainability makes companies more adaptable as it can provide alternative ways for companies to do business. This can reduce the anxiety levels of employees who are faced with stressful situations.

For example, if a particular region is in the path of severe weather, other companies might worry about power outages closing down their operations. A sustainable company with solar panels and backup generators can feel confident in its ability if the power goes out.

Flexibility

Adaptability and flexibility are similar, but they are two different concepts. Adaptability refers to changing behavior as a direct result of a new situation — like taking a detour when there is an accident on the highway. Flexibility refers to embracing multiple solutions in a given situation and choosing the best one at the moment.

Sustainable practices can increase flexibility in the workplace. For example, your company might authorize teams to work remotely. This means that your team members do not have to spend money on, or use, gas to get to work. It also means that your company is using less electricity. This decision also gives your employees greater flexibility and improves their quality of life. A parent can clock in early, take a break to walk their child to the school bus and then clock back in before their morning meetings.

Job stability

Sustainable companies are forward-thinking, which can help employees feel better about their job security. When your business is looking a year, five years, or even a decade into the future, it means that it has stable operations now. When the economy becomes uncertain, your team members can feel safe that their jobs are secure.

Not only does this improve the emotional well-being of your staff, but it can also help your company grow. Your team members might be more likely to take calculated risks that could lead to greater profits or new revenue channels in the future.

Physical health

While sustainable investments can help the mental health of employees, they can also support their physical health. Here are just a few ways your investments can support your staff:

• ​Improving indoor air quality can reduce asthma and allergy symptoms.
• ​Switching to safer chemicals for the environment can also limit employee exposure to toxins that can harm the body.
• ​Installing bike racks can encourage employees to get a cardio workout on the way to work while reducing their gas consumption.
• ​Planting flowers and shrubs can clear the air and make it more pleasant to breathe.

Improving physical health also has mental health benefits. When your body feels good, your mind is more likely to be clear and ready to work.

Taking sustainable steps like installing solar panels can reduce your electricity bill and improve the environment, but these steps can also have secondary benefits. You can improve the physical, mental and emotional health of your employees, who can then give back to your organization.