Written by Kate Sheppard
Adopting a caring economy lens in the workplace is transformative, especially for women, and should be valued as an important part of doing business well. In this article we will discuss how embracing a caring economy lens can benefit employers as they seek to nurture a healthy work environment that fosters long-term success for everyone.
What is a Caring Economy?
A caring economy supports the well-being of its workers. Whether through the provision of flexible working hours, mental health support, onsite childcare support, or workplace counselling (to name a few).
Having a caring economy lens means employee wellness is prioritised. Dr. Malasri Chaudhery-Malgeri, Senior Director of Content at Recovery.com shares, “Employee wellness means more than good job performance. It means you are well as a mother, father, child, spouse – as a person. Employee wellness focuses on your mental health, your physical health, and your work satisfaction.”
Viewing your company through a caring economy lens means your employees are supported in all the ways they need in order to thrive professionally and personally. It ensures employees from all backgrounds, situations, and responsibilities are able to pursue their professional goals without being forced to choose between sacrificing their career or their family commitments in pursuit of the other.
The Benefits of Adopting a Caring Economy Lens
Many articles focus on the benefits the caring economy lens offers employees. However, we’d like to discuss the benefits it offers employers.
Meaningful Relationships
Adopting a caring economy lens means you can approach the unique challenges of your employees and provide valuable solutions tailored to their individual needs. This is particularly impactful for the women who struggle to find a healthy work/life balance after having children and often don’t receive enough support to develop further in their careers upon returning to work.
For example, one employee might prefer flexible hours so they can pick up their kids from school, another might need work-from-home days while easing back into work after maternity leave, and someone else could benefit from onsite childcare or financial support towards private childcare.
Adopting a caring economy lens allows you to really understand the people who work for you and make proactive company changes that serve them well. These changes allow many employees to progress further in their careers than would have otherwise been possible. So, it’s truly invaluable.
Higher Staff Productivity
When you prioritise caring for your employees as individuals, you will see an increase in their wellbeing and productivity.
Employees who are looked after feel valued. This is important because it shows that you care about them and that you value their contributions to your company. We all want to feel valued. It provides a sense of belonging. It means we matter. And it makes life a whole lot brighter.
Feeling valued professionally is particularly important for women returning to work after maternity leave. “No matter what we choose [work or stay-at-home mum], we will feel the constant sting of external disapproval from multiple sources. We cannot escape the acute challenges of either lifestyle or the inner tension of our own hearts pulling us in multiple directions,” shares Ellie Hughes on The Good Trade.
Many women are fearful about re-entering the world of work after being away for so long. While this is normal, it’s important to do everything you can to help these women regain their confidence and self-esteem as professionals. And providing the support they need to do so is vital.
Open Communication
Investing in a caring economy lens creates a culture of openness that benefits everyone. When you establish a caring work culture, you nurture a community of people who feel safe to have open, honest conversations that are mutually respectful and productive.
When you establish a culture of open communication, you can learn a lot about your business and how it functions, according to your employees. This is invaluable and is vital for making improvements that positively impact your employees’ lives.
When done right, open communication at work allows you to build a company that serves your employees well Forbes said it best when they shared, “a culture of caring creates an environment of trust, and a culture optimised for success. When employees trust that you care about their experiences, they’ll more freely share their insights, leading to better plans for change.”
Build a Culture of Success
One of the biggest benefits a caring economy lens offers employers is the chance to build a culture of success. A caring workplace culture establishes an environment of trust. This leads to open communication, which leads to productive change, which leads to employees who are engaged, productive, and bought into your company vision.
It’s important that today’s employers don’t focus so much on building great business empires, but rather on the ways they can take care of their employees. After all, when you focus your business objectives towards caring, the business success will come.
Final Words
If you haven’t already, now is the time to view your company through a caring economy lens. What are some changes you’d like to make? How can you look after your employees better? Caring matters and certainly in the workplace can change peoples’ lives and your business for the better.
Kate Sheppard
Parenting Writer
https://twitter.com/KateSheppard90
