While it may be true that embracing a healthy lifestyle is a decision that must be made by the individual, employers have a great opportunity to help their employees see the value in adopting healthier behaviors. A workplace culture sets the tone for its employees. A supportive work environment, where managers emphasize a comprehensive wellness strategy, can keep employees motivated and involved. Fortunately, there are many small steps you can take to promote wellness in your company. Consider the following ideas:

  • Encourage vaccines. Make getting the flu shot convenient for your employees by bringing the vaccination right to your business for flu season. Encouraging and funding flu shots for employees can have one of the clearest returns on investment. If on-site flu vaccines are not possible, consider reimbursing employees for vaccination fees.
  • Promote exercise. You don’t need to make structural changes to encourage exercise at work. Implement and promote a lunch hour walk and offer incentives for employees who choose to participate. Encourage your employees to use the stairs whenever possible and offer discounts or partial reimbursement for gym memberships.
  • Emphasize nutrition. Keep your employees educated by helping them learn more about healthy eating habits. Consider lunch-time seminars on cooking healthy meals or how to eat healthy while traveling. Keep a good middle ground between information and entertainment, and reward employees who attend.
  • Manage stress. Unmanaged stress has been linked to heart disease, high blood pressure, and sleep disorders. Encourage employees to take simple steps to reduce stress, such as stepping outside for a breath of fresh air or taking a few short breaks during the day. If you have the space for it, consider bringing in an instructor for a lunch-time yoga, tai chi, or meditation class.
  • Provide snacks. It can be all too easy to grab a quick snack when you’re hard at work, whether it’s healthy or not. Offer your employees healthy snack options that will fuel their performances while also meeting their nutritional needs. Replace sodas with milk, juice, or water, and vending machines with dried fruit and nuts.

Incorporating workplace wellness programs should be viewed as an investment in your company’s most valued asset – your employees! Employees in good health will not only perform better on the job, they will also feel more fulfilled and contribute to a more positive company culture. If you are looking for additional resources on developing employee wellness programs, contact Staffers Inc. today!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

|