Building a culture of health: practices that enhance employee well-being

Life-work balance, fitness, wellness, lowfat, sugarfree, keto, paleo, high protein, low carb, vegan, intermittent fasting etc. etc. etc. We could surely continue the list for long.

Without starting an endless debate about health industry, lifestyle and diet trends, there is one thing no one will hopefully argue with: active lifestyle is a crucial element for physical and mental health and well-being.

A positive workplace culture promoting and allowing to live a healthy lifestyle can significantly improve employee morale, productivity, and overall job satisfaction. Here's a look at the practices some companies adopt to foster a culture of health, their tools, examples of these practices, and the outcomes they achieve.

Tools and Techniques for Building a Healthy Workplace

Wellness Platforms

Many companies are investing in digital wellness platforms that offer services from tracking fitness activities to meditation guides. These platforms often include features like health risk assessments, activity challenges, and rewards for participation. Tools like Virgin Pulse or Limeade are popular choices that integrate gamification to engage employees in healthy behaviours.

Ergonomic Workspaces

Ergonomics plays a crucial role in employee health. Companies provide adjustable standing desks, ergonomic chairs, and keyboard trays to help reduce musculoskeletal disorders. Ergonomic assessments are often conducted to personalize workspace settings, reducing physical strain and preventing long-term health issues.

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Mental Health Support

Access to mental health resources is a cornerstone to reach a culture of health. Companies might offer subscriptions to apps like Calm or Headspace, provide in-house counselling services, or establish quiet zones for relaxation and meditation. Regular workshops on stress management, resilience, and mindfulness are also common.

A good practice can be for everyone to implement regular retrospectives (even for those not working in an agile manner) where colleagues can openly talk about their challenges at work.

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Health-Conscious Food Choices

Transforming eating habits at work can have a profound impact. Companies are stocking kitchens with healthy snacks; some even partner with local vendors to offer nutritious meal options at cafeterias. Cooking classes and nutrition workshops can also be part of the offering, educating employees about healthy eating.

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Fitness Incentives

Companies may encourage physical activity by providing on-site gyms, fitness class subscriptions. If you let employees start their daily meetings in a mutually agreed time and don’t enforce a 09:00 AM sharp start, many might choose to visit the gym early in the morning after their morning routines with the kids.

A shower and a changing room at the office can also promote using bikes to work.

Some also organize walk-and-talk meetings or set up company-wide fitness challenges to keep employees active.

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Examples and Outcomes

Google

Google's corporate wellness program includes gym memberships, wellness consulting, nap rooms, and Zumba classes. They focus on both physical and mental health with stress management workshops, counseling, and meditation. Google encourages employees to teach classes and offers flexible work arrangements to promote work-life balance.

Zappos

Zappos promotes corporate wellness with gym memberships, race reimbursements, and self-directed fitness. They organize group activities like golf lessons and trampoline park trips. "Recess Tuesdays" allow employees to enjoy outdoor games, fostering team spirit. Zappos offers fitness challenges with incentives and mental health resources.

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SAP

SAP shows the business benefits of employee well-being. Their wellness initiatives include on-site medical care, fitness facilities, and mental health support. Analysis revealed 21% higher productivity, fewer sick days, and higher job satisfaction among participants.

Reduced absenteeism alone covered SAP's wellness budget, with an overall 3:1 ROI. SAP's strategy links employee health to profitability and revenue, strengthening talent and the bottom line.

Moreover, employees are more likely to be engaged and motivated when they feel cared for and supported in their health goals. This leads to lower turnover rates, fewer sick days, and a more energetic workplace environment.

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Conclusion

Creating a culture of health within a company requires commitment and creativity. Companies can support their employees' health and build a more resilient, productive workforce by utilising various tools and techniques, providing actionable examples, and measuring outcomes.

As these practices become more embedded, they not only enhance the individual well-being of employees but also propel the company toward greater success through a more engaged and connected team.

At DruIT we are committed to live a healthy lifestyle. Most of us participate almost daily on training classes and some regularly even on competitions. For that we start our daily meetings at 10:30. No, not our workday, but the meetings??.

Naturally we stick to our clients’ needs, but we are not afraid to tell and ask for a different time, if a meeting would interfere with our training routines. This way we encourage our colleagues to start their day fresh and focused after a morning swim, run, bike or lift.