There are mixed perspectives when it comes to promoting health and wellness in the workplace. Some agree that implementing wellness programs that offer rewards are effective. There are those who believe that this works for persons who desire doing the things they already like. Regardless whether health promotion in the workplace is reward-based, there are other steps on how companies can encourage the overall well-being of employees.
#1. Provide Access to Health Insurance
All employees needs to have a good healthcare program. This program must include treatment as well as prevention. Company owners must encourage employees to obtain regular physicals and to undergo medical screenings that could provide an early detection of diseases.
#2. Motivate Employees
Achievement of wellness goals can be obtained through extrinsic and intrinsic motivation. The company can innovate a healthy competition among or across multiple teams. Groups can reach certain goals collectively that include running the greatest distance by the end of the quarter or losing the most weight.
There are numerous selection of fitness wearables that are within budget that can assist individuals to monitor their progress. These wearables often are great rewards to achieving objectives at work.
Moreover, employees must be internally motivated to fully appreciate any wellness program. It would be a good choice for an employer to discuss the advantages of better health with the group. It has been concluded that individuals base their decision on emotions and not on scientific research. Thus, it is significant that a speaker can reach the employees.
#3. View Health in a Holistic Manner
Most people view wellness programs incorrectly. They just consider the physical component when health should be considered on a larger aspect.
Human resource personnel should monitor their staff to check that they have their emotional needs met and that they are not overly stressed at work. Stress due to personal and related to the job can result in having more gain on weight.
#4. Employ a Non-Threatening Culture at the Workplace
Health does not only revolve around attending gym workouts or adding an organic food to one’s diet once in awhile. An organization can only be considered a healthy group if it has high morale and productivity, has high employee retention rates, and has minimal company politics.
Companies that are healthy are comprised of individuals who are engaged and invested in their work. Employees have a greater rate of success with wellness programs if they feel good about where they work, plus if they know who they work for and with whom they collaborate. Workers often go the extra mile if work fosters better interpersonal relationships.
#5. Leaders Should Set the Example
There is an aggregated data about employee health when it comes wellness programs. This limits managers from looking at individual results and addressing potential issues. It is crucial that managers should focus on the significance, quality, and scope to specific employee groups when creating a wellness program.
There are instances when employees who have high ranks may opt not to join in a wellness program. It might be due to the busyness of their schedule or they might see a little advantage. All programs, including wellness, must involve leaders who lead by example. These leaders involve officers, team managers, and executives.
#6. Organize Their Work Desk
Mental health is as important as physical health. Thus, improving a wellness program involves alleviation of stress from work through a clean and organized workspace. Each employee has his individualized style of organizing workspace, but it is important that employees organize their work desk.
Cleaning is a special skill that requires a system. Thus, it would be best if the company have professional cleaners in organizing the company’s workspace. The hiring of cleaning services would make the employees focus more on more important tasks.
#7. Review the Program
It is significant that a wellness program should listen to the feedback of employees and not recommended that employees should be punished when they do not participate. It would be better if managers ask why they do not participate. The proponent can base the modification of their program through the feedback of employees. Each encounter with employees will assist one in crafting the wellness program to be more significant and engaging.
A workplace wellness program cannot be considered as an asset if there is no correct employee motivation. A company must be trained to collaborate and build strong relationships. When people have the best interests of their company, their co-workers, and for themselves, they make better decisions.
#8. Support a Full Lunch Break
All employees should enjoy a mental and physical break for a day’s work. Being chained to one’s desk limits creativity and decreases productivity as the day progresses. Workers must feel that they have free time to work on errands, have a relaxing lunch away from their computer, or just walk to clear their minds. Getting a break helps one to be relieved from stress. This impacts the performance of employees positively.
#9. Supply Healthy Snacks And/Or Meals
Companies should provide access to healthy food such as vegetables, fruits, and nuts instead of unhealthy snacks and candy. For companies that have vending machines, these can have nuts, seltzer water, granola bars, in lieu of soda, chips, and candy. If companies have observed that employees buy food outside on their lunch breaks, then the company must obtain menus that have healthier lunch choices from nearby food centers.
#10. Motivate Employees to Exercise
Most people say they lack time as an excuse for not exercising. It is recommended that a company can permit a longer lunch break to provide employees who desire to exercise ample time to obtain a decent workout and have a quick shower. It would be better if there is access on-site for workout equipment. Endorphins According to Dr. Dee from Healing Hands Chiropractic are released through exercise, helps increase energy, decrease stress, promote better concentration, and keeps people in a better mood.
#11. Promote Work-Life Balance
Companies should promote a work-life balance. They should spend their weekends and vacations with family. Employees become more productive after spending time with family and friends.
Stay Connected
GlassesUSA.com prides itself on its close connection to employees, even with the imposed limitations of COVID-19 and the lockdown. There were regular video calls with all employees and managers reached out on a regular basis to their employees to find out how they’re handling the situation and if they needed any support.
woman stretching in workspace -DepositPhotos
