Wellness in the workplace is important. There are a number of things you can do to help foster a better working environment.
Your employees are one of the best investments and assets for your business. This is why wellness in the workplace is important. There are a number of things you can do in the workplace to help foster a better work environment.
No matter what industry you’re working in, wellness and better health outcomes for your workers is important. From the retail sector to the office and even factories and manufacturing, wellness is key to better health. So, what can you do to improve workplace wellness? Start with some small changes, which can make a big difference in the culture of your company.
Consider working on prevention
When it comes to health and wellbeing, prevention is often the best way to help staff. It’s often cheaper, too. There are a couple of ways you can help prevent health issues in the workplace. One such option is to ask a doctor or mental health professional to come into the workplace to have one-on-one sessions with workers to allow them time to address any issues they may be having. Whether it’s at work or at home, this may help open up the conversation and help your staff get any help they may need.
When it comes into flu season, it’s also a good idea to offer free flu vaccinations to your workers if they choose to do so. Some industries, such as the health and nursing industry, will require staff to be vaccinated. But, for some sectors, such as the retail sector, offering a flu vaccination may be a great idea. Having less staff available in the colder months due to cold and flu could be helped with a simple vaccination offer.
Encourage healthy eating
Take a look around the lunchroom. Are there snacks, cookies and cakes available to staff on most occasions? Or, are you offering fresh fruit instead? Not only is unhealthy eating bad for the general health of your staff, but it could also lead to lowered productivity levels. Offering healthy snacks to staff can help foster a better attitude towards food and healthy eating.
If possible, provide a fridge, sandwich press and even a juicer to give your staff more options for mealtimes. If you have vending machines, try and ensure there are some healthy options available and it isn’t just full of crisps, sweets and other “junk” foods.
Inspire staff to get more active
Some workplaces offer a team workout session every week to improve physical health. But, personal training sessions don’t have to be your only option. It could be as simple as offering parking spots for bicycle riders or encouraging walking meetings. Even having wearable trackers available to staff or setting a step goal or challenge could be beneficial. For staff members who are required to sit for lengthy times (such as those in I.T), a step challenge could help motivate staff to move more during breaks.
Reduce alcohol consumption
It is common in many workplaces to enjoy a drink or two on a Friday afternoon or at a lunchtime meeting. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. Enjoying a drink here and there is fine, but fostering a healthy relationship with alcohol is possible. Avoid providing alcohol at the workplace and for work events, always make sure there are alcohol-free options available. According to health professionals, excess alcohol consumption can lead to decreased health and issues with liver disease, cardiovascular disease and mental health issues.
Consider workplace stressors
Do you have short deadlines expected of staff? Is there a high workload? Are your staff often unwell or sick? There could be a high level of stress on your workers that could be decreasing their sense of wellbeing in the workplace.
There are a number of industries that have a high level of stress involved. But, where possible, it’s important to try and reduce the amount of stress. If you need more staff in order to tackle the workload, consider hiring more staff. Make sure your staff are also comfortable in voicing their opinions on their workload. If they feel like they can’t talk about their struggles, you might find staff are more likely to feel burnt out rather than ask for help.
If you want to improve the health and wellbeing of your staff, whether they’re back in the workplace or working from home, another great way to improve it is by asking what your staff needs. If you ask them where they need help, they’ll likely tell you what they think will benefit them. Offering the assistance they need will help them to feel happier and healthier which will, in turn, make them more productive in the workplace.