Promoting health in the workplace should be a priority for any business that cares about its employees. At a human level, your employees will love seeing that their employer has their best interests in mind. This will push more of them to stay with you and increase your retention rates. You’ll also get more from them, as well as fewer sick days. These are all things that will go directly towards your bottom line.
The only issue is that you can’t force your employees to be healthy, but you can always make things easier for them. Here are a few ways that you can promote healthy habits in your workplace.
Have Multiple Vending Machines Full of Healthy Goodies
Snacking is usually seen as a bad thing because of the things we snack on, and what your employees eat will have a huge influence on their performance and health. Things like excessive sodium, unhealthy fats, and simple sugars will leave them feeling sluggish, tired, and unfocused.
But, if you install a few colorful vending machines full of healthy snacks like fruits, yogurt, or anything that could help sustain your employees while keeping their minds sharp, you’ll get much better results. You’ll have a better performing team and their moods will improve. Many of them will also appreciate this gesture and have a better general idea of their workplace too.
Review Your Cafeteria Menu
If you have a cafeteria, you will also need to review your menu. Again, if you want happy and productive employees, you need to serve food that will support proper brain function and supply your employees with steady energy.
The first thing you should do is to get rid of fryers. Fried foods are bad for our health and our mood. Try to go for oven-baked and grilled alternatives. You need to get rid of all white carbs as well. This means swapping things like white rice, bread, and potatoes, with things like yellow rice, whole wheat bread, and sweet potatoes. Replace sodas with flavored sparkling water and have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables available.
Set Up Break Rooms Carefully
You can have a lazy break room with TVs and sofas, or you can have an active one with tons of games that will keep your people active. Allowing your employees to have fun and get their blood pumping during breaks is the best way to keep them motivated for the rest of the day.
You should consider adding a few things like a ping pong table, a pool table, or an air hockey table. You could also set up a closed-off lounging area with recliners, face masks, and headphones so that people can have a little rest. Resting is very important for productivity and having a restful lunch break will allow your employees to come back with more focus and motivation.
Educate Your Employees
Many people aren’t healthy simply because they don’t know what being healthy means. This is why you should consider bringing speakers in. They will be able to teach a few basic principles of healthy eating and living to your employees, and this could pay some impressive dividends later on. Investing in your employees’ health is investing in your company, and there’s no better way to get them healthy than to teach them how to integrate healthy habits.
These are all some very simple ways that you can encourage your employees to have healthier habits and live healthier lives. Make health a priority in your workplace and you’ll be rewarded with happier, more engaged, and more loyal employees.