It may come as no surprise that when employees feel better and are in good health, they are more productive in their jobs. Yet, it has taken some time for this notion to translate into action within businesses to promote wellness in the workplace. In part, this is due to the difficulty to tie financial benefits to the cost of the program, but recently-published studies are showing it benefits both employees and the company to offer wellness programs.
Wellness programs, designed to boost employee’s overall health, have been increasing in popularity across the board. From efforts such as upgrading break room snacks to include more fresh fruit, seeds and nuts (and ditching starchy refined carbohydrates, which promote brain fog) to adding sleep pods and nap rooms, companies are taking charge and seeing positive results. Click here to read about some of the top companies offering wellness benefits (and open positions!).
What are Some Effective Ways to Promote Wellness in the Workplace?
- Improve employee snack and meal options to include organic, healthy food. I.e. hummus, low-sugar yogurt, fresh fruit, veggies, nuts, and seeds.
- Promote the use of ‘mental health’ days – which allows an employee to reset and focus on self-care.
- Invite local nutritionists to give educational talks on how to eat (and live) better.
- Encourage sleep! Sleep deprivation greatly affects employees’ performance. Offering flexible schedules for employees can help to balance workload and rest needs.
Providing wellness benefits and programs for employees shows them their company cares about their health and well-being. This can, in turn, lead to better employee-manager engagement and longevity of position within the company.
Likewise, schools that teach healthy habits and promote active lifestyles see lower levels of absenteeism and increased focus in the classroom. To learn more about the importance of healthy habits in children, listen to our podcasts on children’s mental health and healthy eating habits.
Originally posted 2018-09-19 16:12:10.
