Head of People Services & PMO at Wind Tre

Fausto Sabbatelli

What is well-being?

Well-being is a magical word because it evokes concepts such as happiness, pleasure, satisfaction, etc., states of mind that, in work environments, manifest in the quality of relationships, engagement, freedom of opinion, a sense of belonging, fulfilment, and positivity. In other words, well-being is a condition of harmony that allows individuals to be themselves, express their full potential, and make conscious choices towards a happier and more successful existence. Too often in our environment, there is a tendency to simplify the concept of well-being, which is intricate, complex, and rich in facets. The renowned sociologist Zygmunt Bauman argued that happiness does not consist of a life without problems but in the perpetual pursuit of the best solutions to overcome them. HR professionals have a significant responsibility: to ensure that this ground is always fertile, creating the best conditions for everyone to shine and providing individuals with the right tools to solve their problems and make choices at every moment of their lives.

Importance of Focusing on the Well-Being of People at Work

Neuroscience, through numerous studies, has demonstrated a direct relationship between individual well-being and some of the most relevant workplace skills, such as flexibility, stress management, decision-making ability, lateral thinking, concentration, etc. In other words, companies' prosperity depends on individuals' well-being. To reverse your question: what happens if a company neglects the well-being of its people? This company will inevitably face a decline in motivation, productivity, and innovation and will have to manage the sudden loss of its top talents! I am convinced that taking care of the well-being of people is the best strategy a company can implement, the most forward-thinking one. The future lies in the hands of organisations capable of creating conditions for individuals to thrive in every aspect of their lives. I am sure people's well-being is an extraordinary productivity factor, and investing in well-being is always the winning strategy. Better-functioning companies are those made up of happy people.

Possibility of Happy Workers in a Company

Well-being is a highly articulated and complex concept. Therefore, it would be a significant mistake to think that needs are the same for everyone and proceed with a flat, one-size-fits-all approach. Newly hired, junior, senior, employee, technician, manager, executive, single, married, parent, strong, fragile, etc., each of us is a piece of this mosaic in different periods of our lives. And in each of these phases, everyone must find the right tools. So, I believe the best approach is to address the topic of happiness in the company in a ‘holistic’ way.

“Positive individuals produce more and better, are more resilient, gain confidence, and volunteer for new and increasingly challenging tasks.”

First and foremost, values and purpose must always proceed in unison and be deeply rooted in the corporate strategy, always perceived by all as ‘coherent.’ Then, we must strive to design a future where well-being is considered the norm and inherent in every decision, action, and interaction. Well-being must be breathed into the folds of every single business process! I also believe that the best thing is to go to people and ask them: ‘Are you well? What do you need?’ Not only through specific surveys but also by doing it when you simply meet a colleague in the morning at the coffee shop (where many of my projects originate!): ‘Hello, how are you?’

Focusing Too Much on People’s Happiness Doesn’t Risk Overshadowing Performance

It's exactly the opposite: performance, especially sustained over the medium to long term, only comes when there is well-being. Placing people with their needs and emotions at the centre is undoubtedly the right path, and I have experienced it myself: I have given my best in terms of performance when I could operate in an ecosystem of positive energies, in a supportive environment capable of favouring and enhancing the effectiveness of my actions. Positive individuals produce more and better, are more resilient, gain confidence, and volunteer for new and increasingly challenging tasks. Positive people go beyond, are more innovative and creative, and attract and generate more positivity. They are also positive in their social and private sphere and, most likely, will have better physical and mental health! From a holistic perspective, if individuals achieve balance, organisations also benefit from it.

How can companies better support people?

Setting aside the more complex issues in which companies can do very little (consider, for example, the alarming proliferation of international crises), a highly relevant issue is that of declining birth rates: a phenomenon increasingly affecting all Western societies. Forecasts reflect a bleak picture in which the family seems inexorably in decline in the context of the irreversible crisis of values and an unstoppable reduction in births. The decline in birth rates has deep roots that go far beyond the usual considerations related to economic aspects or work-life balance: it is primarily a cultural issue. Governments and institutions must do their part, but companies can also do a lot for families and their children. At Wind Tre, for example, we are very active on this front. For instance, we reimburse a portion of the nursery school fees, finance part of the expenses for attending summer camps, support employees in purchasing books and school supplies, provide a cash scholarship for the most deserving students, have agreements with prestigious academies for reducing university fees, offer discounted online tutoring, etc. In January, we organised an extraordinary event for our community: we invited a highly popular influencer physics professor in Italy to our auditoriums, the most followed on social media by our adolescents. In the presence of the children and grandchildren of our employees, the professor held a two-hour ‘show lecture’ titled ‘The Future We Like,’ addressing very relevant topics for young people such as bullying, emotional education, social commitment, inclusion, sustainability, equality, healthy use of new technologies like A.I., etc. Even now, there are colleagues who, with eyes full of emotions, thank me for giving their young ones the opportunity to live this experience!

Message for the Readers

I wish everyone to be happy, each in their own way! Never stop fighting for your right to be happy, and always cultivate optimism and good humour! To companies, I say more services to people and less budget on cups with the company logo!