In today’s fast-paced world, where the demands of work often take precedence over personal well-being, it is crucial for employers to prioritise the health and overall well-being of their employees. With the average person spending a significant portion of their life at work, it is essential to create an environment that fosters improved health and well-being. Here we look at How to Improve Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace and we shed light on the importance of workplace well-being and provide practical strategies for employers to implement.
The Importance of Workplace Health and Wellbeing
Research has consistently shown that a healthy and happy workforce is not only more productive but also more engaged and motivated. Employees who feel supported in their health and well-being are less likely to experience burnout, absenteeism, and turnover, leading to substantial cost savings for the organisation. Moreover, a culture of well-being promotes a positive and inclusive work environment, enhancing overall employee satisfaction.
Practical Strategies for Improving Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace
Encourage Physical Activity
Movement can reduce weight, and has many more benefits such as cancer prevention and reduction, sleep and mental health improvement, social connection, reduced stress, increased energy, and more! Movement is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.
Encouraging regular physical activity has numerous benefits for both the individual and the organisation. Employers can promote exercise and movement to encourage employees to maintain a healthy weight, as well as improve the body’s function and mental health. By promoting wellbeing programmes that educate around how movement impacts health, employees can also be guided on what categories of movement are necessary, how much, how often, and what options bring the most joy. The organisation could even organise fitness challenges as a way to bring together the workforce and to encourage engagement in the programme.
Educate About Nutritious Food
Food is nourishment to the body, brain, energy, and emotions. When people consume unhealthy foods, slowly, over time, they will lack the nutrients needed for energy, strength, and health.
Healthy eating plays a pivotal role in overall well-being. Employers can partner with local vendors to provide nutritious food options in the office or establish wellness programmes that educate employees about healthy eating habits and the importance of balanced nutrition.
With the right workplace wellness programme, employees can learn the importance of nutrition as well as recommendations based on strong supporting evidence for eating an optimal diet when living a healthy lifestyle, working to reduce the risk of a cancer diagnosis, when supporting healthy cells and organs whilst undergoing cancer treatment, when wanting to aid recovery after treatment, and when reducing the risk of cancer recurrence.
Promote Mental Health Support
Mental health is equally important as physical health. Stress Management and Emotional Well-being are the strength and foundation of our health and wellness. Employers can offer employee assistance programs (EAPs) that provide access to mental health professionals and resources. Encouraging open dialogue about mental health and destigmatizing seeking help can create a supportive environment.
With the right workplace wellbeing programme, employees can learn what’s most important to them by identifying and connecting with their core values. They’ll know stress, its impacts, and the tools to become stress savvy. They’ll learn the importance of connection through various support systems, social connections, and services.
Foster Work-Life Balance
Striking a balance between work and personal life is essential for maintaining well-being. Employers can implement flexible working hours, remote work options, and policies that discourage after-hours communication to promote a healthy work-life balance.
Support Team Building and Social Connections
Strong social connections can significantly impact an individual’s well-being. Employers can organise team-building activities, social events, or create designated spaces for employees to connect informally, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie.
As humans, we’re meant to be social. Isolation has negative impacts on physical, mental, and cognitive health. Evidence shows that having social connections improves mental health, which enhances overall well-being. The right workplace wellbeing programme will educate employees on how to build their own support system and social connections to healthily socialise depending on their level of extroversion or introversion.
Prioritise Ergonomics
Physical comfort plays a crucial role in overall well-being. Employers should invest in ergonomic office furniture, encourage regular breaks, and provide education on proper posture and ergonomics to prevent workplace injuries and discomfort, even if employees work from home.
Offer Health Screenings and Wellness Programmes
Regular health screenings, such as blood pressure checks and cholesterol screenings, can help identify potential health risks early on. Employers can also offer wellness programmes that focus on stress management, smoking cessation, and health education workshops. These programmes can also provide tools that empower employees to take ownership of their own health and wellbeing, such as educating around weight vs Body Mass Index (BMI). With the right tools your employees can access BMI calculators to calculate their own BMI to check for weight categories that may lead to health problems [it’s worth noting that BMI does not diagnose an individual’s body fatness or health, but a high BMI can indicate high body fat. BMI isn’t always 100% accurate, because age and muscle mass may not always be considered—and in this case you may be a healthy weight even though your BMI is classed as obese—but BMI is an excellent place to start].
Conclusion
Promoting health and well-being in the workplace is not only a responsibility but also a smart business decision. By prioritising the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of employees, organisations can create a positive work environment that fosters productivity, engagement, and overall job satisfaction. By implementing the strategies mentioned above, employers can make a real difference in improving the health and well-being of their workforce. It’s time to take action and redefine the workplace as a space that nurtures and supports the holistic well-being of its employees.
Read The Workplace Wellness State of the Market 2023 Report
The Workplace Wellness State of the Market 2023 Report: The Unprepared Reality of Cancer in the Workplace and How to Safeguard Your Organisation is for:
Workplace wellness providers and employee assistance programmes (EAPs) aiming to incorporate programmes focused on specialised cancer research and measurable outcomes to enhance their current portfolio beyond generic workplace wellness offerings.
Insurance providers who want to empower their customers to achieve better health outcomes and reduce the risk of claimants.
Employers who want to see higher productivity, fewer absences, less burnout, attract and retain their best talent and be an employer of choice when recruiting.
To empower individuals within an organisation to lower the risk of cancer and other chronic illnesses. It provides useful advice if someone has recently been diagnosed with cancer; dealing with the emotional and physical effects of cancer treatments; when medical appointments are over; reintegration back into the workforce and guidance for caregivers of loved ones.
The Report Covers: The Role of Workplace Wellness Needs to Be Redefined; Challenges and What Organisations Want to Achieve; Why Existing Workplace Wellness Programmes Are Not Fit for Purpose; and, Structure of a Successful Workplace Wellness Programme.
Read the The Unprepared Reality of Cancer in the Workplace and How to Safeguard Your Organisation.
