Employees are the lifeline of a company. Encouraging healthy living can strengthen business and increase the quality of life your employees experience.
Inc.com reminds employers that health conscious employees are more likely to have a positive impact on productivity, take fewer “sick” days, and bring down the cost of healthcare programs. After considering these facts, it seems evident why a healthy workplace can boost business. But the benefits go beyond business gains. When you encourage employees to live healthy lifestyles, you send the message that you value their hard work and continued efforts.
Moving the workplace towards health and wellness begins with small, inexpensive steps. Listed below are three examples of simple techniques that can inspire your employees to turn over new leaves.
1. Get Active
Full-time employees spend upwards of 40 hours at work each week. These hours are often draining on mental energy and provide little or no physical activity. This doesn’t have to be the case though. You can encourage employees to engage in physical activities while at work. Here are some ideas how you can do this:
- Instead of having meetings in an office, go for walks while discussing business matters.
- Add tall desks so employees have the option to stand and work.
- Lead by example. If you participate in light stretching, brief cardio sessions, and some weight lifting in your office, your employees will feel more comfortable doing the same.
2. Offer Incentives
Some employees have established fitness routines. Reward them by paying for part or all of their gym memberships. Also, look into covering the costs of health insurance premiums for those who meet health goals. And remember, not all incentives have to be monetary, just as long as they don’t include indulgent foods.
3. Make Healthy Options Available
An office can be a hub for junk food. If employees want to share food with the entire staff, ask them to bring in healthy options. In addition, make sure drinking water is readily available. If vending machines are on the premises, have them stocked with water and other healthy beverages. Feel free to include light snacks too.
Taking small steps like these can lead to workplace transformation. By raising awareness, providing education, and encouraging change, your team may embrace this new office environment. They may even get excited about choosing healthy options outside of work too. This benefit can increase the quality of life for many people. It may also increase business profitability, making this a win-win change.
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