How to support a healthier workforce

Many employees set intentions for the year ahead. How can businesses tap into this and help set the tone for the year ahead??

At the beginning of the year, people are often intent on setting themselves up for success. Naturally, this means that your employees are likely doing the same – providing business leaders with the unique opportunity to support them (and your business) by getting involved.

Wellness is generally considered to consist of five key areas. Depending on your business needs and the culture that you’re nurturing, take your pick and determine a combination that works best for your business and employees. The five areas include physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental wellness. Of course, the more of these you’re able to combine, the more holistically well-rounded your approach becomes and the better primed your employees will be to face challenges and wins in the year ahead. Below are some ideas to consider when gearing up to support the wellness of your employees.

Create room for movement for sedentary staff

Whether you take on the structured approach of having weekly movement classes – such as yoga or Tai Chi – or arrange an employee discount at a gym, physical activity is known to improve our stamina and mood. If this isn’t quite what you had in mind, why not simply encourage line managers to implement desk stretches every hour as a form of showing care for employees? It’s recommended that deskbound employees stretch for 5 to 10 minutes every hour that they work – the same can be applied to employees who stand for long periods. While you’re at it, be sure to have a solid foundation of ergonomics in place to support the neck and back health of your teams.

Conduct health screenings and checks

Empowering employees with information doesn’t only apply to work-related skills. When it comes to their health, early detection of preventable diseases and illnesses is key. Offering health screenings at the workplace saves employees from needing to take time away from work to get these done, and makes it easier to avoid using that as an excuse for not practising self-care. This also forms a great basis for them to assess their health levels regularly and make the necessary lifestyle adjustments to prevent ill health in future.

Cultivate stress management techniques before the onset

Instead of waiting for the busiest time of year to establish healthy coping mechanisms, why not make it part of business as usual? By supporting staff with breathing exercises, mindfulness workshops, and stress management techniques, you’re able to mitigate the business risk associated with burnout and other side effects of prolonged exposure to stress. In this instance, one of the key components is to focus on communication. A lack thereof creates uncertainty, which also causes stress in employees. Additionally, discuss how your business communicates. In other words, set a framework for communication so that people know how to speak to each other and are encouraged to use their voices, knowing that there is an intention for them to be heard.

Can your canteens or vending machines improve?

If we are what we eat, let’s make it balanced. We know how hard it can be to stick to a healthy diet all the time – there is nothing wrong with having a sweet treat or snack that brings you joy, as long as it’s enjoyed in moderation and as part of a balanced diet. To support nutritional wellness in your organisation, consider stocking healthy snacks in your vending machines. These can include nuts, biltong, and naturally dried fruit. Try to avoid only having sugar-filled drinks, chips and chocolates. If you have a canteen on-site, try to offer a menu that meets the necessary nutritional requirements for thriving staff, and be sure to include a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit too. If you’re unsure of what a healthy meal should look like, feel free to speak to one of our nutritionists who’d be able to recommend suitable options for your teams.

To learn more about how we can support and engage your employees (and, therefore, boost your business), email [email protected] or call (+27) 86 123 4123 to speak to one of our business development managers.

References

Top 5 ways to promote a healthy workforce [internet]. European CEO. TBD [cited 4 January 2023]. Available from: https://www.europeanceo.com/business-and-management/top-5-ways-to-promote-a-healthy-workforce/

57 Great Ways to Encourage Better Employee Health [internet]. Inside 6Q. TBD [cited 4 January 2023]. Available from: https://inside.6q.io/57-great-ways-to-encourage-better-employee-health/

Dimensions of Wellness [internet]. Roger Williams University. TBD [cited 5 January 2023]. Available from: https://www.rwu.edu/undergraduate/student-life/health-and-counseling/health-education-program/dimensions-wellness

Four Ways to Maintain a Healthy Workforce [internet]. Cover Tek. TBD [cited 5 January 2023]. Available from: https://www.cover-tek.com/four-ways-to-maintain-a-healthy-workforce/