Running a business successfully involves several factors. From revenue generation to team management, all entrepreneurs are required to devise various business strategies to ensure progress and growth. One of the major aspects that need to be considered includes workplace wellness.
A smart workplace combines the aspects of health, happiness and learning to foster an environment that is highly productive. Employee health and well-being are major factors that contribute to improved business outcomes.
Various businesses worldwide provide corporate wellness programs to promote employee fitness and well-being. Since employees spend the maximum part of their days at the workplace, such programs can prove to be quite beneficial for the future of the company.
Let’s take a look at some of the aspects of fostering wellness at the workplace.
#1. Promote Healthy Food Habits
It isn’t uncommon for employees to trade water for soda or a healthy lunch for fast food, especially with deadlines looming. Such deprivations can affect the physical health of employees and can be quite harmful in the long run, thus hampering workplace productivity considerably.
As an employer, you can consider improving the chances of your employees making healthier choices. This can be achieved by ensuring that such healthier options are available to the employees by including fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy snacks, plenty of water etc. in the break rooms.
“A supportive company culture is exemplified by company cafeterias, where healthy food is abundant, affordable, clearly labeled, tastefully prepared, and situated at eye level at the checkout counter. When possible, these foods are also priced lower than less healthy items,” health and productivity management expert, Ron Z. Goetzel pointed out, “In addition, healthy and appealing food is served at meetings, included in company-provided overtime meals, and available in vending machines.”
#2. Conduct Programs Related to Physical Health Activity
Programs that emphasize an active lifestyle for employees are crucial for the progress of a company. For example, many companies have onsite fitness centers complete with swimming pool, gym, access to personal trainers etc. that employees can avail.
As employees are required to deal with overtime and deadlines, stress becomes a constant companion. This can affect productivity. However, such stress and the physical symptoms involved are usually ignored by the employees due to lack of time. This is why many companies are offering yoga classes and stress management seminars to their employees. In addition to that, smoking cessation programs are also quite popular.
#3. Promote Workplace Safety
Various unprecedented incidents may occur at the workplace. For example, a fire can be caused due to several reasons which may be difficult to detect. This is where an accident reconstruction expert comes into play. Not only do these incidents cost a business lost man-hours but also workers’ compensation premiums, insurance and legal costs etc.
Such injuries are avoidable. Following protocols and maintaining safety regulations can ensure safety in these areas. In addition that, employees should be trained to deal with such incidents.
Investing in health and safety programs for the workplace promotes peace of mind among employees. It also fosters a comfortable working environment since it makes the staff aware of the safety hazards that may occur and how to handle them appropriately. Consequently, productivity gets a boost and so do profit margins.
#4. Encourage Social Interaction
Wellness is way more than physical health. Many a time employees may feel isolated from the team members owing to various factors. This may affect the mental health of a person and affect workplace productivity adversely. This is why social interaction initiatives by the company are highly important.
Communication can be one of the most effective stress busters. Interacting with fellow team members can help in generating new and better ideas, help employees feel part of a team, boost their confidence and achieve more.
Such interactions can be achieved by arranging company outings, hosting potlucks, celebrating birthdays, promoting team-building activities and so on. Such social interaction activities can help in building team spirit and ensure that employees get to know each other and contribute to the progress of the company.
#5. Provide Ample Learning Opportunities
In the highly competitive and challenging business environment, learning and acquiring new skills is crucial to move ahead of your competition. A workforce that possesses the necessary skills can contribute to the progress of an organization and take a business to heights of success. Therefore, it is important to invest in learning and development programs for employees.
The right training can help in enhancing employee engagement. Activities for learning and personal development can help in nurturing talent and improving the performance of employees.
Hardly any employee wants to remain static. They expect a development potential in their job roles. Learning opportunities will help employees benefit from the variety in their work. Effective training bridges the gap between where employees are at present and where they can be.
#6. Consult Your Workforce
Providing these benefits to employees will be of no use unless the employees actively participate in these programs. Every single employee should be involved in the programs. One of the best ways to implement this is by consulting your workforce about the programs that you plan on including.
You can conduct anonymous surveys to find out the concerns of your employees and identify the requirements. Find out which wellness initiatives they would prefer. You can discuss the details of the programs with your employees and encourage them to add their inputs. This will help you identify what is important to your workforce and implement these accordingly.
It can be quite helpful if you identify a taskforce who will be assigned the responsibility to manage the research and implement new ideas, manage all the suggestions and feedback that each implementation draw, responding to concerns, devising foolproof plans and so on. Volunteers for such a taskforce can be from any department.
It is vital to find out whether the investment of resources for the wellness initiatives have been effective. As you measure the progress, you will be able to focus more on what works and eliminate the aspects that do not. Keep in mind that a supportive working environment can go a long way in making your business a huge success.
Image: Wellness Relax Wellbeing Nature Balance Exercise Concept
