EMPLOYEE WELLBEING
W L W L
FITNESS
EMPLOYEE WELLBEING
By Charlotte Forde
Employee wellbeing encompasses physical , mental , emotional and economic health , influenced by workplace relationships , structure and resources . It can be enhanced with employee benefits such as support , advice and balance . By providing a healthy work environment where employees feel productive , safe and valued ; as a prime asset to any business , a holistic and healthy workplace can promote healthy behaviours amongst your employees .
It has become noticeable that post Covid there are increased cases of stress , burnout and mental health and when individuals spend the majority of time in work it is easy for every day struggles to have a negative impact on performance in work . As a result of this employers may see decreased productivity , increased absences , poor staff retention , low morale and higher costs to cover health care and sickness . Wellness in the workplace does not have to be expensive or time consuming and yet can improve all of these things with continuity . Things to consider when implementing a wellness programme into the workplace could include : -
Onsite Holistic Sessions - To improve employees mood , coping strategies or enhance creativity you can incorporate a holistic class like Yoga , Tai-Chi or Mindfulness in the workplace . This could be before or after work and by getting in touch with a local freelance instructor , all you need to do is provide a safe space for practice .
3 Minute Stretch - If you are in an office environment and are seated for prolonged periods there is a high chance that you will suffer from neck or back pain , therefore it is a good idea to introduce a 3 minute stretch to get your employees moving . You could set a reminder to encourage employees to take their short break and add posters with exercises on for motivation .
Create a Health and Wellness Vision Board - This will keep your employees on track and hold them accountable for their wellness goals . By providing your employees with a space where they can reflect and measure their progress it will motivate them to achieve their desired target .
Organise a Health Fair - This is a brilliant way to raise awareness about health issues and show your employees ' that you care about their wellbeing . It is a good idea to get other local businesses involved like your local gym as this can save you time and money in promotion and you may be able to incentivize the event with discounted memberships etc .
Walk and Talk Meetings - By taking your employees out of the office for meetings , they will feel more at ease and it encourages them to get more steps in . You will still conduct the meeting in the same way as normal and with an agenda but ideally the maximum number of people in a group would be 4 to ensure it is still productive .
Healthy Eating Choices - By offering your employees healthy eating choices this will promote healthy eating habits . The main problem when eating in the workplace is normally the lack of variety and accessibility of healthy choices therefore by collaborating with a local nutritionist or food prep business , you can keep your employees happy and onsite at lunchtimes and breaks . Another option could be to create an organic garden where employees can grow their own fruit and vegetables .
Sign Employees to Fitness Apps - Using fitness trackers can be a real incentive for healthy competition within the workplace . By tracking steps , activity level or calories burnt can boost employee engagement and can be used as a great team building exercise . You could use it to challenge your employees and reward them for their efforts or even use it as a fundraising opportunity so that your employees can raise money for a good cause .
Create a Zen space - This could be a quiet area in an office where employees can visit if they need to take timeout away from their workplace . You could provide a 5 minute meditation playlist or breathing techniques and decorate it with motivational quotes .
Provide Water Bottles - Encourage employees to calculate their daily intake as hydration is essential for a healthy lifestyle and can enhance alertness and brain function . You could provide refillable water bottles and water filling stations throughout the workplace .
Hold Regular 1:1 Meetings with SMART Targets - In any job goal setting is crucial to motivate and measure employee success . By setting specific , measurable , attainable , realistic and time focussed goals can help strengthen the business and enhance employee productivity . Have a clear expectation when goal setting and be consistent with employees in similar roles .
Reward Economics - Provide a cycle to work or walk to work scheme which invites team members to forgo driving to work . This challenge is great for the environment , promotes increased physical activity and can be incentivised easily .
Arrange Workshops and Counselling - Personal finance workshops can help organise your employees and understand how to manage their money better . This will improve their quality of life outside of work which will increase performance in work . Counselling sessions could also help , especially if people don ’ t realise that they need help or are maybe too ashamed to ask . Awareness of dedicated helpline services would also be beneficial to employees .
Celebrate Birthdays - Celebrating employee birthdays is a great way to show that you care about each employee as an individual . You can create a birthday calendar with everyone ' s birthday displayed or you could send a personalised birthday email every first day of the month to employees celebrating their birthdays in that month . You can buy a small gift or even allow them an off day ; regardless of what you choose , a small act of thoughtfulness can make an employee appreciate you and their job more .
Provide and Encourage Continued Professional Development - Offer your employee CPD to enhance their skills and academic profile while benefiting the business too . This can encourage employees to stay and develop within the company .
Offer Work Perks - This could include a collaboration with a local gym , nursery or spa to offer employees free , discounted or vouchers for their services / products . As this would provide employees with a better quality of life and they would be healthier and happier it could mean more productivity and engagement and less days off for ill health . Another work perk could be to offer corporate discounts to attract and keep valuable quality employees .
Invest in Workplace Ergonomics - optimise employee wellbeing and overall performance by guiding employees to practise ergonomics . Investing in furniture that provides lumbar support , adjustable height systems and arm / foot rest can prevent long term musculoskeletal disorders .
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