The Impact of COVID-19
According to a Gallup Survey released earlier this month, the COVID-19 pandemic has had an extraordinarily negative impact on wellbeing among U.S. adults. Research is showing that employees overall life evaluation, daily stress and daily worry are worsening in unprecedented ways. Gallup keeps track of these elements by measuring “life ratings.” In their surveys, respondents rate their current and future lives on a ladder scale with steps numbered from zero to 10 and then they are classified as “thriving,” “struggling” or “suffering.”
In March and April of this year, the percentage of U.S. adults who could be classified as thriving plummeted nearly 10 percentage points to 46.4%. This matches the previous historic low last measured in November 2008 amid the Great Recession.
The Solution
While the above insights may not be the most positive, there was a highlight! As stated by Gallup, research is showing that organizations who prioritize employee engagement and wellbeing can greatly help insulate workers from the pandemic’s potentially damaging effects on life ratings. The survey found that:
- Of the 66% of workers who report not feeling enraged at work, 52% are considered thriving in their overall life evaluation.
- Of the 22% of workers who report being engaged at work but have suboptimal well-being, 65% are thriving.
- For the 12% of workers who are both engaged at work and have optimal wellbeing, 92% are considered to be thriving.
The data is clear, employee engagement and wellbeing have an incredible link. They are both highly reciprocal and additive. Each influences the future state of the other to a similar degree and high wellbeing enhances the benefits of engagement, lifting employee performance to levels not reached through engagement alone.
As we continue to move through the course of the pandemic, the solution for employers is to focus on employee engagement and holistic wellbeing. For more survey insights and to learn how to create an engaged, healthy and resilient workforce, click here!
