Working with happy and healthy employees can lead to better business success, regardless of what industry you are in. When your employees are working to maintain their health, you will see fewer sick days, your employees will have more energy, and they will be more focused and targeted in completing their day-to-day tasks.
But because we spend so much of our time behind desks in offices, on our feet in hands-on jobs, or stressed over completing our next project, it isn’t always easy to stay healthy. In many ways, employers need to take the time to consider their employee’s health without assuming they will handle it in their off time.
If you’re an employer wondering how you can help to better promote health and wellness in your organization, here are a few tips.
Make it Fun
Between meeting the demands of the job, staying up with their home life, and taking time to participate in hobbies, many of our employees have enough to worry about without needing to be hounded about how they’re taking care of themselves. Instead, consider ways to make getting healthy fun.
A popular strategy many companies use is to turn exercising into a competition. Departments or teams will compete against one another to see who can log the most time at the gym or get the most steps in during a week. Another fun way to get everyone involved is to sign up for a team sport in your city. This can be a great way to bond with your employees and get some fun activity in as well.
Provide Adequate Dental Coverage
Keeping our teeth and gums healthy is a huge part of maintaining overall health. When gum disease, cavities, or other oral hygiene issues go untreated, they can lead to other illnesses and pain that keep us from work or prevent us from putting our best foot forward. Giving employees individual dental insurance is a great way to ensure they are keeping their teeth and gums clean and healthy.
Improve Workplace Culture
While the atmosphere of the workplace may not immediately influence the health of an employee, it can improve their happiness and reduce stress, which are both key parts in living life of health and wellness. Additionally, people who are happy with the environment of their workplace are going to stay with the company longer and invest more deeply in their work.
Remove toxic environments from the workplace. Instead, focus on staying positive, keeping drama to a minimum, and maintaining a space where workers feel comfortable and positive.
Keep Things Casual
If you want to promote health and wellness, let your employees have some wiggle room. While you don’t want your employees showing up in sweatpants, a business casual or even casual dress code allows your employees to get a little more movement in throughout their day. Walking or biking to work is difficult to do when the dress code is so stiff, and even things like taking the stairs or walking to pick up lunch is hard in heels and dress shoes.
Developing a new dress code that allows for more movement can help to encourage your employees to get more exercise. On days when clients won’t be in the office, you can also encourage your employees to take their breaks outside. If they need fifteen minutes away from the office, let them walk around the block. Understand that everyone’s lives are busy and most everyone needs to squeeze in their fitness when they can.
A good example of this is with with Blue Coat. The organization published on its site a formal statement explaining workplace conduct and proper attire. Being a software company, Blue Coat the dress code as casual, yet business appropriate, attire. While this leaves employees the freedom to interpret the standard for themselves, it gives the company a feel of being welcoming and friendly.
A focus on health and wellness is beneficial to both the employee and the employer. If you’re ready to reduce sick days, maintain focus, and improve happiness in your office or organization, these four tips for developing a health and wellness work strategy can get you off to a positive start.