EMPLOYEE WELLNESS IDEAS FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Workplace wellness continues to be a top priority for many employees and job seekers.?Employees?are more engaged and motivated when they?feel their health is prioritized by their employer. Employers?also?recognize?physical exercise and balanced nutrition has?a?positive?effect on cognitive performance.??In addition,?wellness programs are a great?benefit?to?boost morale?and engagement?around the office.

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EMPLOYEE WELLNESS PROGRAM IDEAS

1) ERGONOMICS

The average person spends more than 5 and a half hours a day sitting at their desk.?Provide your employees with?comfortable?office?equipment?which?will make their days more enjoyable.?In an office setting this?could include ergonomic chairs, adjustable keyboard trays and?standing desks.?Adjustable height desks?are a great alternative to sitting?which?allow workers to move between sitting and standing at various times throughout the day.?Adjustable standing?desks?work in preventing back pain and other health problems associated with being totally sedentary.?

2) GET MOVING

10,000 steps a day is the recommended target for healthy adults. However, the average American only?walks 3,000 – 4,000 steps a day. Schedule reminders during your day to encourage breaks to get up and move. Walking is the easiest form of exercise for most people. There are many ways to work more steps into your?work day?even if you have a desk job.??

• Get up and walk to a?colleagues?desk instead of sending an email.?

• Walking meetings are a great way to be efficient by discussing work but still getting steps in towards your goal – walk and talk!?

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator.??

• Take advantage of your breaks and lunch hour to get a quick walk in outside or around the office.

3) HEALTHY SNACKS

A proper diet is an essential part of overall wellness. Look beyond sugary foods and strive for brain food?that?keeps you focused?and full longer.???

Instead of chips and candy bars in the vending machine, opt for?healthier options?such as?granola?bars?high in protein,?nuts, dried fruit, trail mix?or popcorn.?Also consider posting nutrition facts and literature in the break rooms to educate employees about what they are consuming.??

4) MENTAL HEALTH

In addition to physical wellness, mental?health?is?an important part of?overall?well-being.?Chronic, unmanaged stress over time can lead to major health problems.?

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• Encourage work life balance?to your employees to balance their personal and professional lives.?This includes encouraging?employees to use their vacation days and take time to mentally?disengage?from?work.??

• Consider offering flexible scheduling to allow employees to balance their work time during the week as it fits into their personal schedule.??

• Teach?mindfulness?to improve focus?at work?and?reduce stress on the mind and body.??

• Have?a?resource?available?in the office?if an employee needs to talk?or have?a contact readily available to refer them to.??

Team-based wellness challenges are a great way to create a sense of team building and maintain employee engagement.?Encourage your colleagues to set goals for themselves?and hold each other accountable as you?work towards them together.?