With the number of fitness trackers on the market today, it’s no surprise that people are beginning to take health and wellness more seriously. Wellness programs in the workplace lead to increased productivity, less sick days, and reduced healthcare costs for employees. Wellness programs aim to improve the overall health of your employees and focus on preventative health and lifestyle modifications. Even if you don’t have the money to implement a complete wellness program, there are still things you can do to show your employees that you value their health.
Encourage mental breaks
You know better than anyone how stressful work can be. Encourage your employees to take breaks throughout the day so they can relax and unwind. Encourage your employees to socialize with their coworkers to talk about things not related to work. If you’re worried that these breaks will be counterproductive – don’t be. Mental breaks allow your employees to reduce stress and be more productive.
Provide educational materials or bring in experts
If you don’t have enough money to pay for your employees’ gym memberships or provide a company gym, there are still ways you can promote an active lifestyle. Provide your employees with educational materials such as healthy meal plans, at-home workouts, and other educational materials. Or you can bring in nutrition and/or fitness experts to teach your employees about a variety of topics including cooking healthy meals, staying healthy while traveling, stress management skills, and more. Bringing in third-party experts is a great way to provide education and added value to your employees.
Encourage physical fitness and activities
How many hours do you think you spend sitting at your desk? Research has shown that, on average, we sit down 9.3 hours a day. With all of those hours we spend sitting down, it’s more important than ever to get up and move throughout the day.
Many experts recommend 10,000 steps a day, and business owners are following the trend by encouraging their employees to walk at least 10,000 steps. This is a good way to encourage your employees to remain active even while they’re at work. Take it a step further and provide your employees with pedometers or fitness trackers to help them track how many steps they take each day.
Encourage your employees to take a walk in the middle of the day or to move around when they’re feeling stressed. It may feel odd at first to ask your employees to step away from their desk, but your employees will function at their best when they’re happier and less stressed.
Provide healthy snacks
A well-balanced diet is an essential component to leading a healthy lifestyle. Instead of buying soda, potato chips, and candy, try providing your employees with healthier options such as water, fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, yogurt, and more.
Promote preventative care
One of the best ways to avoid serious illnesses is to work to prevent them in the first place. Save your employees a trip to the doctor’s office by offering vaccinations at work at the beginning of flu season. When your employees avoid the flu, they avoid missing days, if not weeks, of work. If your health insurance policies don’t cover flu shots, consider reimbursing your employees for their vaccination fees.
There are a number of different ways to promote wellness in the workplace, and you’ll likely find something that will work well for your business. Remember: your employees are your most important asset. It’s important that you invest in them wisely and encourage them to be healthy both physically and mentally.
