Employee Wellbeing in HRM: Google, Burberry, and Duty of Care Analysis

This essay delves into the critical role of employee wellbeing as a core function of Human Resource Management (HRM). It explores the benefits organizations derive from prioritizing employee wellbeing, examining the positive impacts on organizational effectiveness and employee engagement. The essay investigates the limits of employer interference in employee lifestyles, considering ethical and legal boundaries. Through detailed case studies of Google and Burberry, the analysis provides evidence of their investment in employee wellbeing initiatives, showcasing the effects on their respective organizational successes. The essay also defines employee wellbeing through theoretical frameworks and analyzes the 'Duty of Care' legislation. The content incorporates original thinking, data, quotes, and paraphrased opinions, creating a comprehensive understanding of employee wellbeing in the modern workplace.

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HRM

Contents
Introduction: Employee wellbeing.............................................................................................2
Employee wellbeing at Google..................................................................................................3
Employee wellbeing at Burberry...............................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................8
References..................................................................................................................................9

Introduction: Employee wellbeing
According to Banfield, Kay and Royles, (2018) Employee wellbeing means creating such
environment for the employees that help them in flourishing as well as applying their full
potential. In addition to this, Bratton and Gold, (2017) stated that employee wellbeing means
balancing the employees needs with the organisational needs. Several small organisations
ensured that their employees get the sense of wellbeing at workplace. The concept of good
workplace has involved the different aspects of employees such as physical wellness,
emotional wellness, as well as overall feeling of happiness and engagement that directly
comes from the working in good organisation. It is true that emotionally and mentally fit
employees are more likely to commit themselves in the job. It is because employees start
feeling appreciated and supported by the employers, they will go to extra miles by giving
their efforts in best manner.
Several ways help in keeping the employee wellbeing at the workplace. Among those, the
first most significant element is recognising the milestone of employees. When employees
sale goals, birthdays, anniversaries are recognised, they feel that company care for their
wellbeing. A good workplace is said to be the one where employees are being embraced and
recognised for their unique contribution or job in the organisation. Facebook is also found to
be the crucial part of the employee wellbeing. By providing timely and positive feedback to
the employees, it is possible to achieve great success in the organisation. Giving flexible
options to the employees is also one such measure of employee wellbeing in the organisation.
Customer hours or work from home is significant way to keep the work life balance. Work
life balance is found necessary for the wellness of employees.
For every business, it is necessary to keep the workplace happy and healthy for employees.
This is done by creating a culture that helps in promoting the health. There is no doubt that
giving emphasis on wellbeing and health of employees heavily contributes in the engagement
of employees at workplace. Healthier and happy employees seen to be more productive at the
workplace which further performs well in the organisation. There is trend that good health
always means good business. In the recent time, working environment has changed. Several
factors affect the wellbeing of any employee. It is found that managers are the one who can
directly influence the wellbeing of employees in the organisation. The degree of autonomy
also decides the employee wellbeing root. For employee wellbeing, employees are required to

value themselves for their ability and skills, supportive supervision always has the power to
make employees feel needed in the organisation which further bring self confidence in them.
Every member of the organisation is required to give the equal opportunity to use his or her
skill in effective manner. Employee wellbeing that is centred on right prospects and job
security brings the confidence in people. Employee wellbeing is the importance function of
HRM as it increases the productivity in employee. Employee wellbeing has the capability to
improve the physical and mental health of the workplace. Workplaces that value wellbeing
directly reduce the absence. Therefore, the direct impact of wellbeing will be seen on the
effect of workers morale. Employee wellbeing theories include the Maslow need hierarchy
theory that underline some of the steps that an organisations is required to start. In addition to
this, organisation culture theory also underlines the significance of positive organisation
culture.
Employee wellbeing strategies properly give emphasis on the employees’ health and safety
which further gives opportunity to work by giving their hundred per cent. In this way,
employee wellbeing is considered by several factors at the workplace such as flexibility,
proper medical check-up, health and safety, and positive organisation culture. Positive
organisation culture also defines the wellbeing of employees at workplace because when
environment will be positive, employees will be happy and give their best to bring
productivity at the workplace.
Employee wellbeing at Google
Google is a Multinational Company of Australia founded in 1998 by two students name
Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Google provides the internet related products and services that
further include Hardware, search engine, Software, and online advertising. From the report, it
is founded that it is one of the most search engine in the world. The vision statement of the
company is to provide access to every person in the world (Berwick, 2018).
Google has undertaken the wellness program that gives direct emphasis on happiness, health,
as well as work life balance of the employees. Wellness programme includes the feeling
among employees that is taken care by the company for employees so that they can make
their work healthy, enjoyable as well as creative (CMI, 2018). The main objective of the
Google is to build up ambience where employees get the quick opportunity for developing
their interpersonal relationship. Google also provides the package of several benefits that

helps in encouraging employees for utilising their expertise and skills. It has also effectively
designed its human resource policies. At the same time, Google also offers the packages that
ensure the flexible and friendly environment. Companies such as Google have invested in the
employee satisfaction and employee support. Google has considered several things for the
employee wellbeing. Google found that women were leaving the organisation. It mostly
occurred with the new mothers. The maternity leave plan of Google has extended to 12 weeks
paid leaves. It is seen that Goole warm greeting for the new employees have also made the
positive impact on the employees wellbeing. As per Bock, when greets the new employee,
productivity of those employees tends to increase by 15 per cent (Rassfield, 2013). By
providing them enough perks and benefits, it also keep them motivated. Google is also
concerned about the health of employees. Due to this, it regularly ensures the medical check
up of its employees. Whenever employees find any medical issue, they are given the proper
treatment regarding those diseases so that employees feel safe and return to their work.
Google has also built the culture of innovation that significantly became the part of
employee’s life. Google culture has been made by the hard work of its team that do every
possible thing to make its employee happy at the workplace. Google has the culture that helps
in encouraging the employee motivation and talent management. Due to this, employees of
Google have the passion to bring innovative things as well as transparency at the
organisation. It also rewards employees with the perks and benefits that directly meant to
motivate those employees. By providing intrinsic reward to the employees, it tends to
motivate them by inducing optimal performance. It also has career development programme
that ensures that employees remain innovative and competitive for the long time. Career
development policy at Google is the best way of providing personal and professional growth.
For the wellbeing of employees, Google also provides the flexible working hours that that its
employees can also spend the considerable time for the professional learning and personal
development. This strategy helps in providing Google with high quality work force that are
able to manage change. Besides this, Google also provides the package of several benefits
that helps in encouraging employees for utilising their expertise and skills. For bringing the
well being in employees, it also offers the world-class facilities such as gym, car wash,
laundry, salons, dining as well as child care centres. It also gives them credit that is deserved
by them and acknowledge their value (Cook, 2012).
In addition to this, Google campus tends to offer the wellness program by featuring the health
services including physical therapy, massage services, as well as access to the classes, fitness

centres and community. It can also pick up the professional and personal skills by taking
coding degree program, cooking classes as well as guitar lessons. It also tends to offer the
financial wellness resources to the workers such as financial planning services and access to
the financial advisor. In order to increase the professional development of employees in the
organisation-working environment, Google has find out some different way of encouraging
employees. Google also provide easy assistance to the employees in knowing different roles
in details. This engages the employees in finding those roles for which they might want to
move into the future. By keeping the learning environment, employees learn about different
job roles in the environment to which they can be promoted. By keeping this in mind,
employees work hard for increasing the productivity so that they can be move to higher
position. For increasing the wellbeing of employees, Google has also started expanding 20
per cent perquisites. By doing this, it is also asking its employees to share some of their time
in the diversity projects. This assist the employees in increasing their engagement toward
different social program which further increase the competitive advantage of the organisation
through better productivity. Google take effective participation in wellbeing that directly
reduces the chances of turnover (Foot, Hook and Jenkins, 2016). It is because employees
started feeling secure about their job and role. Google is also assured of its care about the
safety and health of employees. Google believe that when it comes to wellbeing, it is
necessary to lead by example. Google has therefore created the guidance related to wellbeing
and implemented the right practices at workplace. For the health of employees, it also has
gym facility. Google uses the employee feedback and industry data to inform its approach to
ensure the wellbeing and health. The data collection is done every year by taking the survey
of Google staff. Google also provide easy assistance to the employees in knowing different
roles in details. This engages the employees in finding those roles for which they might want
to move into the future (Medina and Coelho, 2016).
Google uses a variety of support network groups, such as members of this network who all
war blue pin badge for highlight the employees that they can talk to them privately in relation
any health issues, concerns or worries. Online resources also provide things accessible so that
people are easily able to get access. Google has therefore created the guidance related to
wellbeing and implemented the right practices at workplace. For the health of employees, it
also has gym facility (Brewster, Sparrow, Vernon, and Houldsworth, 2011).

Employee wellbeing at Burberry
Burberry is the marketer and manufacturer of women’s, men’s, accessories as well as apparel
for children’s. Burberry has it’s headquarter in London by giving emphasis on the outdoor
attire development. Burberry is listed on the “London Stock Exchange.” Burberry also
ensures the safe working environment by promoting the employee well being and health
(Cheng, Jepsen and Wang, 2018). A It is committed to inspire the sustainable action for
making the meaningful improvements in the workplace conditions. Burberry gives the huge
importance on the welfare, customer safety, respect through the better engagement
experience. Burberry understood that it is quite necessary to provide the security and safety to
employees by caring for their wellbeing and stress level. Burberry also has global safety and
healthy team that keep the regular visit in every location across the world around three times
in a year for providing assistance, advice, and support (Laschinger and Read, 2017). At the
same time, these visits occupational safety and health compliance is also audited in every five
years annually in its corporate offices, distribution and manufacturing sites as well as recent
flagship stores (Carberry and Cross, 2015).
Burberry also ensures the top priority in order to make sure that its employee in each level
knows that they care for the well being of employees. By ensuring this, it tends to decrease
the stress among employees (Ojala et al, 2019). In order to ensure the wellbeing of employees
at workplace, it tends offer the range of employee benefits such as eye care voucher,
healthcare, as well as confidential helpline. The confidential helpline of Burberry is offering
the support to well being of employees including their well-being. Burberry also offers the
complimentary lunches, group classes such as Pilates and yoga, additional off for holiday,
third party discount, as well as half day on Friday especially during summer. In wellbeing of
employees, Burberry has done the wonderful job for caring its employees and providing them
some additional advantages to bring improvement in the well being and thereby reducing the
level of stress of its employees (Thompson, 2017).
Burberry has also pledged to give the mandatory training to its employee by providing them
support. By increasing the understanding, it gives the further raining to the employees.
Burberry tends to promote the inclusion and diversity by assisting the people during crisis. At
Burberry, it has also built the open, diverse and inclusive working environment where
perspective of every employee is valued (Hardy, 2017). It value as well as respect every
person regardless of their nationalities, cultures, religions, race or ethnicity. Burberry
Foundation has also supported the scholarships at the RCA enabling EU as well as UK

students to each their dreams irrespective of their financial situations. The scholarship
program designed by Burberry is for supporting several scholars. It has also done the
partnership with RCA in order to establish the “Burberry material future research group.”
Under this program, it will combine the radical design with science for inventing the new
sustainability material as well as some advance process of manufacturing in the fashion
industry. It is doing for talented people who will enter in the industry and bring sustainable
innovation. Burberry also support students from every background for reaching to their full
potential (Gomes and Yarime, 2017).
For keeping the employees wellbeing, Burberry only keep those models who are able to
present the correct medical certificate that is provided by the agencies. At the same time, it
also provides the access to helpline for their psychological support. The entire models who
are engaged in the Burberry working are given the health refreshments when working hours
of those models increase from 4 hours per day. From the annual report of the Burberry, it is
found that “Global Icon Award” has been provided to the employee who brings best to their
behaviour daily (Khan, Khan and Rasheed, 2019). The behaviour of those employees
includes being bold, putting customer first as well as bringing new ideas. In order to ensure
the compliance with its responsible principles of business, the ethical trading programme of
Burberry covers the entire subcontractors, vendors of finished goods as well as suppliers of
raw material. In order to keep the wellbeing of employees, the ethical trading team of
Burberry tends to visit the partners of its supply chain regularly by engaging both workers
and management. It is also supporting the Global living Wage initiative in order to increase
the interest in this approach and addressing the poverty across different sectors. In this way,
employees of Burberry depicts the commitment, satisfaction and trust by reducing the level of
turnover through employee wellbeing (Bhutkar et al, 2019).
Health and safety is the major part of employee wellbeing that is included by Burberry. For
this, it has made the health and safety policy that is found in each operation activity of
Burberry (Walia, 2018). Strategic direction in relation to health and safety is being provided
by the senior manager which is supported by the global team. It also decides the objectives
and goals related to health and safety every year for analysing the support and performance a
process for regular improvement. Burberry is able to keep the work life balance inside as well
as outside of the organisation. Interaction among the encouraging employees helps in creating
the friendly working environment. Burberry also effectively uses the several social media

platforms such as social networks and messengers. This helps in creating the online space for
employees to interact as well as build their informal and formal networks.

Conclusion
In the limelight of above discussion, it can be concluded that a good working environment is
necessary for ensuring the employee wellbeing. Google has also realised the significance of
positive working environment that ensures that employees are happy at workplace through
perks, befits, career development, as well as people management. It can also be stated that the
flexible working hours helps the employees in engaging them in other productive work when
they are free. From the discussion, it is found that Companies such as Google have invested
in the employee satisfaction and employee support. Google has considered several things for
the employee wellbeing. Google found that women were leaving the organisation. Similarly,
Blueberry also ensures the employee wellbeing by regularly visiting the occupational safety
and health annually in its corporate offices, distribution and manufacturing sites as well as
recent flagship stores. At the same time, it is also seen that Blueberry is offering several
scholarships for the wellbeing. Blueberry is also providing positive working environment and
value that supports the employees physically and mentally. Implementation of the powerful
employee wellbeing and health scheme at the workforce is also helping Blueberry in ensuring
the less turnover.
It can be therefore said that adding value to the employees comes from the engagement in the
company. It is also said that positive wellbeing directly helps in maintaining the healthier
habits. Due to the proper investment in the employee wellbeing programmes, Google and
Blueberry are able to keep the most happier and healthier employee.

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