ENGAGED EMPLOYEES WORK FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENTLY, BOOSTING PRODUCTIVITY
The impact of poor mental health Poor mental health has a significant and undeniable impact on the workplace. When employees are mentally drained, their productivity declines. They take longer to complete tasks, achieve less throughout the day and are more prone to making costly mistakes.
Absenteeism also rises, with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reporting2
that
approximately 50% of all work absences are linked to mental health challenges. This means that nearly half of all missed workdays stem from issues related to poor mental well-being. High levels of stress can also lead to increased staff turnover. When employees leave due to workplace stress, recruitment and training costs soar, often amounting to thousands per new hire.
Furthermore, customer service suffers in workplaces where burnout is prevalent. Pharmacies experiencing high rates of burnout often see a rise in customer complaints due to errors and diminished service quality.
Perhaps most critically, patient safety is at risk. Employees experiencing burnout are more
likely to make dispensing errors or suffer lapses in attention, which could lead to serious consequences.
Flipping the script: Why investing in happiness pays off. The flipside? Placing wellbeing at the heart of your business strategy transforms everything.
Engaged employees work faster and more efficiently, boosting productivity. Lower absenteeism and turnover reduce costs, saving thousands in recruitment and lost revenue.
A happy, motivated team enhances customer service, increasing satisfaction and loyalty. With better support, staff make fewer costly errors, improving overall performance.
Most importantly, prioritising employee wellbeing drives profitability—research3
shows highly
engaged businesses are 21% more profitable. Investing in your team is good practice and is essential for long-term success.
So, how do you create a happier, healthier pharmacy team?
The HAPPINESS Model:
A blueprint for thriving pharmacies The key to a more productive and profitable workplace lies in HAPPINESS. An actionable framework to boost team morale and wellbeing: • Health – Make mental and physical wellbeing part of your pharmacy’s culture. Offer wellness workshops, encourage breaks and create a psychologically safe work environment.
• Autonomy – Empower your team. Let them take ownership of their roles, contribute ideas and feel heard.
• Purpose – Connect daily tasks to the broader mission of the pharmacy, reinforcing why their role matters.
• Play – A little fun goes a long way. Small moments of levity reduce stress and improve morale.
• Integrity – Foster a culture of trust, fairness and respect. Teams that feel valued are more engaged.
• Nature – Bringing in greenery, encouraging outdoor breaks, or allowing more natural light can boost mood and focus.
• Empathy – A caring workplace fosters stronger teamwork and a better customer experience.
• Simplicity – Reduce unnecessary complexity in workflows to cut stress and increase efficiency.
• Smile – A culture of positivity is contagious. A happy team creates a better working environment and a more welcoming space for customers.
Putting it into practice: The power of wellness action plans One simple but powerful way to support your team is by introducing Wellness Action Plans.
These personalised plans help staff: ✔ Identify their biggest workplace stress ✔ Outline strategies to manage stress before it escalates
✔ Communicate with managers and their colleagues about the support they need ✔ Take ownership of staff mental wellbeing
Wellness Action Plans can help you prevent burnout before it starts, improving retention, productivity and workplace satisfaction.
The Bottom Line: Happy Teams = Thriving Pharmacies rioritising your team's happiness is good for morale and is a finanical must. A pharmacy that invests in wellbeing is a nicer place to work and is a more productive, profitable and resilient business.
References: {1}
https://www.forbes.com/sites/karadennison/2024/07/16/ gallup-says-88-trillion-is-the-true-cost-of-low-employee- engagement/ {2}
https://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/mental-health-overview.htm {3}
https://peopleinsight.co.uk/employee-engagement-statistics/
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