We spend a large portion of our lives at work. If the people working alongside us are happy, unhealthy, or have other issues, then they must be addressed. Failure to address their concerns encourages an environment in which your employees will be wandering off, giving their worst possible effort, and will fail to inspire confidence in the younger generation of workers who are now beginning to value happiness over a hefty paycheck.
Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a lot of money in order to address these concerns, and the following simple and easy to implement tips will help you create a healthier workplace.
1) Walking More
All day long, your employees are confined to their chairs, and this encourages a sedentary lifestyle which they will probably carry into their homes as well. But you can bring about a small change by encouraging your employees to walk more and be creative. A good idea is to turn regular meetings into walking meetings, walking during lunch, and walking during the break. Your workers will return to work physically and mentally rejuvenated and ready for their next assignment!
2) Outdoor Events
A good idea is to look for fundraises or corporate team events such as marathons, bicycle relay, or a simple walk. Create teams among your employees who will compete with each other to raise the most money. Not only will your employees raise money for a good cause, but they will also become much healthier in the process. If anything, it will serve as a useful distraction from all work and no play.
3) Promote Hydration
Provide filtered water to your employees in order to promote hydration at the workplace. Hang banners and decorate the walls with art that outline the benefits of keeping well hydrated. Make sure to keep your water filtration machine neat and clean for optimal performance!
4) Incentivize Workplace Wellness Programs
If your office has a workplace wellness program that encourages employees to work out or go to the local gym, then make sure to incentivize the program. This could include providing them with bonuses, time off from work, or tickets to the theaters, and even better, something that facilitates their favorite hobby. Not only will this make your employee wellness program a success, but it will also improve the health of your employees.
5) Encourage Healthy Eating
It is common for most employees to skip healthy breakfast in the morning as they frantically try to make it to work on time. Later during the day, these employees try to stock back on energy by eating as much junk food as possible. This will cause a surge in sugar levels that could complicate their health further down the line.
A much safer option would be to encourage a “Healthy Snacks Only” policy, where all the food items brought to the office are healthy. For workplaces that have their own onsite cafeteria, make sure to ask your foodservice provider to offer the healthiest food choices possible. Make sure to subsidize the healthier options to employees so they would avail healthy food more often.
Want to implement a workplace wellness policy that actually works? Get in touch with our consultants for the most effective strategies to get your employees fit and healthy! Click here to learn more.
