Foster a positive workplace culture:

Creating a meaningful employee experience goes beyond pay or benefits, to include the company's culture. Since the start of the pandemic, 66% of small businesses have reported that their organization has struggled to maintain an open and supportive work culture, even though roughly 3 in 4 acknowledge its unprecedented importance.

For small business owners looking to bolster their workplace culture, they should consider the role of an employee's manager – those who often carry the torch for workplace culture and help lift employees up – and ensure these individuals are receiving the training and resources they might need to be successful. Employees who have a supportive manager report that they're much more likely to feel mentally healthy (73% vs. 43%), socially healthy (74% vs. 46%) and resilient (71% vs. 37%). These disparities highlight the importance of supportive leadership and the positive impact it can make on workplace culture, and in turn, employee wellness.

Create flexible work models:

Over the past few years, the lines between work life and personal life blurred, contributing to an "always-on" work-life mentality. As a result of this trend, flexibility in schedules and work-from-home plans have become increasingly important to all, but especially small business employees. In fact, small business employees who say their employer provides them with the flexibility they need to manage both work and life are significantly more likely to say they feel mentally healthy (77%) than employees who don't receive such flexibility (40%).

Many small business employers are aware that their employees are interested in flexible work schedules. For example, 37% of small business employers say they've implemented flex schedules to retain staff, and 32% say their workplace is very flexible about remote work. Knowing that these employees regard flexibility as a top-three factor for staying at their old job or accepting a new one, employers should consider prioritizing a flexible work environment to attract and retain talent. If flexible work arrangements are not possible, small business owners should consider alternatives such as paid time off or a wider mix of benefits to remain competitive.

Communicate benefit offerings:

Benefits education is a vital piece of supporting employees' wellbeing, which is why small business owners should provide their employees with regular communication updates about their benefits. When small business workers understand what they get beyond pay and why it matters, they're much more likely to feel holistically well (54% vs. 17%) and resilient (71% vs. 41%).

Beyond offering a competitive salary, small business owners can also provide programs that help promote financial wellness, especially as financial concerns are the number one driver of small business employees' poor mental health. What's more, employers should look to provide the education, tools and resources that their employees need to understand their benefit offerings and why they matter.

Read more: Is the deck stacked against small businesses?

While the landscape continues to change in unprecedented ways, small business owners who can focus on the areas within their control – such as culture, flexible work models and benefit offerings – will be well-positioned to support the whole employee.

Cynthia Smith, senior vice president, Regional Business at MetLife

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