For many businesses, your workforce is your greatest resource. It’s important to take this a step further, however: a happy and healthy workforce is your greatest resource. Workplace wellbeing has been steadily growing in importance in recent years. The recognition of the connection between organisational success and employee wellbeing has entrenched this priority into the values and cultures of many businesses.

Technology is a key driver for effecting changes that integrate wellbeing processes at an operational level. Real-time data insights from IoT smart building technologies are being used to guide business owners and managers when it comes to workplace wellness. In 2024, these are some of the predicted trends around smart technologies and workplace wellness.

Why your employees are your most important asset

Studies have revealed a link between wellness, wellbeing, and productivity in the workplace. Particularly in a post-Covid world, these considerations have become entrenched priorities for businesses. Adaptive workplaces that are concentrated on wellness factors are also important for new generations of workers.

It is an area that has become a strategic imperative. With major players in business implementing tech-driven wellness strategies to great success, it is natural that businesses of all sizes will follow suit.

Apart from bolstered productivity and its effect on profitability, there are other factors on this front that have a bearing on costs. The cost of absenteeism is one. UK absenteeism rates are the highest they have been in ten years. HSE statistics show that over a million workers are injured or made ill in Britain every year – and the total cost to the country was around £20.7 billion in 2021/2.

Additionally, this impacts employee turnover. The cost of vacant posts, the resources used for training, and the effect on morale could all come into play. On a greater scale, the cost and disruption caused by industrial action is another consideration. While much industrial action can be attributed to wage disputes, poor treatment and workplace conditions have the potential to come at tremendous cost to employers.

The smart building solutions guiding workplace wellness in 2024

Smart buildings for safety and comfort

Smart buildings have a range of features that create pleasant work environments – and so improve comfort and productivity and reduce stress and distraction. By monitoring the data around ambient temperature in real time, adjustments can be made for consistent comfort of workers. Automations allow for heating and cooling to be set according to times or occupancy.

A simultaneous benefit is boosted energy efficiency and sustainable practices. A recent survey revealed that 88% of workers say their job is more fulfilling when they have an opportunity to positively impact social and environmental initiatives – and this, in turn, drives employee engagement and satisfaction.

Indoor air quality is another important focal point for employee comfort. It is also the subject of new regulations. As the UK’s greatest environmental health threat, air quality monitoring prioritises the wellbeing of workers, with the potential to reduce health risks – especially from those with pre-existing health conditions.

Access control and smart security processes, fire safety protocols, and compliance practices (like automated legionella monitoring technologies) are also an investment in employee safety.

Adaptive workspaces

By monitoring things like lighting and occupancy, business owners and managers are afforded tools to ensure worker comfort. These data insights have the potential to be used in myriad ways. Lighting adjustments, for example, can reduce eye strain and fatigue. Occupancy monitoring can guide work-life balance and healthy working habits. Through smart supply chain and inventory management, workers can also enjoy optimised workflows, with the potential for reduced stress.

Create personalised workspaces and employee-centric environments

Intuitive, responsive workplaces create employee-centric environments. With IoT smart technologies guiding optimised management and overall operations, data-inspired changes are geared to transform our buildings, businesses, and the daily lives of the people who work in them.