5 Tips for Promoting Employee Health

Health promotion is becoming increasingly popular as companies and employers see the added benefit to their productivity levels that healthier employees produce. Here are 5 ideas to help boost employee health and wellness (and productivity) in your office.

Partner with the closest gym - A great health promotion tactic is to partner with the gym that is physically the closest to the office. Being within close proximity to the gym will save employees time due to a shorter commute between office and exercise center. And, if the gym is extremely close by, employees may be able to work out during their lunch break. Another possible perk, when in talks with a gym to become partners, try to negotiate a lower, bulk membership rate. This will save employees money.

Once a month "clean/sanitize" day - Create a company wide event once a month when everyone takes everything off their desks and scrubs it down with cleaning wipes (the kind with bleach). Germs are commonly spread by touch, so keep employee health in check by wiping away germs from the items workers are in contact with the most.

Stock lots of cleaning products - When ordering Post Its and pens, also order supplies like hand sanitizer, soap, cleaning wipes, surface cleaner and paper towels. Then place these items in a common area where staff can access them easily. The more accessible - the more likely people are to use them.

Encourage calling out sick - When a contagious employee comes into the office inevitably they will get someone else sick. Office health promotion starts with encouraging ill staff members to stay home, get better, take care of themselves and not make anyone else have to call out sick either. Plus, no one wants a Mr. or Ms. Sniffles sitting next to them all day either - ew!

Don't forget the emotional side of things - Mental health and wellness also plays a pivotal role in office productivity. If an employee is anxious, mad, depressed, scared, etc - their work and interactions with others (possibly clients) will reflect their emotional unrest. In an interview with Science Daily, Thomas Wright, Jon Wefald Leadership Chair in Business Administration and professor of management at Kansas State University says, "Simply put, psychologically well employees are better performers. Since higher employee performance is inextricably tied to an organization's bottom line, employee well-being can play a key role in establishing a competitive advantage." Make sure employees know they are cared for and listened to. Create a safe, comfortable method for complaints, suggestions, brain storming, etc. A subtle wellness promotion method is to make sure a company's Health Insurance Provider offers mental health coverage.

Sources:
Kansas State University, Happy Employees Are Critical For An Organization's Success, Study Shows, Science Daily