What workplace wellness ideas have you implemented at your office? Healthy employees make for a strong and successful company. A healthy workforce is productive and motivated, and it’ll help you compete more effectively against other businesses.
It is a fact that happier employees are more productive. Along with this, happy employees are also less likely to get sick and take extended periods of time off from work.
When it comes to a healthy, happy workforce, there are a number of factors that come into play. It’s not just about the physical benefits of well-being. There are also intangible things like increased creativity and productivity that come with happy workers.
Achieving wellness in the workplace is not an easy task. It can take a lot of time and effort from everyone involved. But the rewards are worth it—a healthier, happier workforce will ultimately make your company more successful.
These are actionable ideas to get you started on making your employees happier and healthier. Once you’ve set the tone of wellness at your company, it’ll be easier to follow through on it consistently.
1. Encourage employees to take breaks
Taking a break is one of the simplest workplace wellness ideas that doesn’t cost a lot of money. Encourage your employees to take breaks. It’s as simple as that. Actually, take it a step further by making it company policy. Whether it’s a walk around the office, a quick coffee break, or a five-minute stretch on the floor, getting up and moving is important for health.
But it doesn’t stop there! It’s also important to make sure employees are encouraged to take enough time off throughout the day. Giving workaholics an opportunity to recharge will make them more productive when they return. The key is balance—when employees are taking care of themselves physically, they are more likely to be productive in their work.
2. Provide comfortable work environment
The most important thing you can do to make your employees happy is provide them with a comfortable work environment. One of the major factors in workplace wellness is how well people sleep.
A comfortable bed can help greatly, but what about the other aspects of their workspace? A desk with ergonomic benefits like an adjustable keyboard and monitor will help reduce back pain and increase productivity. A massage chair might also provide some relief for those hard-working muscles.
Make sure that your office has plenty of natural light coming in from the windows, as well as plants or live greenery to promote a healthier atmosphere. Provide your workers with noise-canceling headphones, so they have some peace and quiet when they need it without being rude to their coworkers. And don’t forget to keep some healthy snacks on hand! It’s important for everyone’s health to maintain a balanced diet, so keep things stocked up on fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, protein bars—whatever you want!
3. Provide healthy snacks
In order to have a happy, productive workforce, it’s important to satisfy their needs. A snack can be a great way to keep your workers energized and focused. It’s one of the most popular workplace wellness ideas. Providing healthy snacks at the workplace will help employees maintain a healthy weight and provide benefits like reduced risk of heart disease or stroke. It’s also recommended that you offer more than one type of food for variety and interest while still providing the benefits of healthy eating.
It’s not just about offering snacks; it’s also about what kind of snacks you offer. For example, sugary foods like donuts may provide an immediate boost in energy levels but this is followed by a drop in energy later on. Compare this with fruit, which provides both an initial hit of sugar and long-term sustained energy levels. Healthy snacking is essential for your employees’ mood and productivity!
4. Offer flexible schedules
Offering flexible work schedules to your employees can make them healthier and happier. This is especially true for parents. Working mothers are three times more likely to experience depression than working fathers, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research. Flexible work hours means less stress for moms who want to balance their kids’ needs with their careers.
While it’s not always possible or practical to offer full-time workers the flexibility that they need, offering flexibility in schedules is one way you can help your employees stay healthy and happy while still advancing your business goals.
5. Get to know your employees
The first step is to get to know your employees. You should have a clear understanding of their work-life balance, personal interests, and what makes them feel happy. This will help you come up with ways to improve the office environment that are right for them.
For example, you may want to make sure there’s ample outdoor space or offer lunchtime classes on things like meditation or yoga. If you know your employees enjoy playing video games at home, why not offer a digital gaming lounge? The point is to do what will make your employees happy.
6. Offer exercise classes for employees
Provide exercise classes in the office. It may sound like a stretch, but it’s actually a really easy thing to do. You can either offer classes outside or inside the office in your conference room. If you want to make this idea more appealing to employees, try partnering with a local yoga studio in your area to provide the service for free.
7. Provide recreational Room for employee
Provide a place where employees can relax and have fun. It’s important to provide some downtime for your employees as well as provide an area where they can take a break from their work. One great way to do this is by providing a recreational room that the office can use on breaks or even during lunch. Create a go-to space where they can come and play games, eat snacks, read books, or just enjoy some time away from their desk. This will keep them more productive when they return to work because they had the chance to recharge their batteries.
8. Offer employees personal development courses
Offering employees personal development courses is a great way to make your workforce happier and healthier. This might sound like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be. You can offer these courses internally or by partnering with an external course provider. Many companies don’t invest in their employees. Offering personal development courses is one of the most effective workplace wellness ideas to keep your employees happy and productive.
It’s important that the courses you offer are relevant to the workplace and that they improve certain skills in key areas. These courses can be anything from stress management to public speaking—it depends on what your workforce desires! The benefits of offering employees personal development courses are two-fold: 1) happier, more engaged employees and 2) increased productivity.
9. Subsidised gym memberships
One of the most important things you can do for your employees is provide subsidised gym memberships. This is an inexpensive way to keep your team healthy and happy. If they’re not happy, it will reflect poorly on your business.
A gym membership can improve employee wellbeing, health and mood. You can partner with a gym company to install gym facilities at your office premises or offer free membership for employees at their favourite gyms. It’s an inexpensive way to make them happier and healthier, which will in turn make them more productive for you.
Conclusion
In order to provide a healthy and happy workplace, it is important for employers to understand what their employees need. In addition to providing a comfortable work environment, healthy snacks, and exercise classes, employers should strive to get to know their employees, provide personal development courses, and subsidise gym memberships. By investing in your employees’ well-being, you will find that your employees are more productive and satisfied.
