There has been a recent increase in the number of businesses, large and small, that place an emphasis on the health and well-being of their employees.  Such an emphasis leads to a number of positive outcomes for a business such as a tighter, closer staff; fewer days lost to health-related issues; increased productivity and higher employee retention.

Companies have myriad options at their disposal to promote good employee health.  The ultimate guide to wellness at work covers many of these health initiatives for a variety of industries and job types.  Four of those—standing options for office workers, flexible working conditions, financial health ‘initiatives’ and health maintenance/prevention initiatives—are covered here.

Standing Options

Sitting is the new smoking!  Or so the new saying goes.  That saying attempts to convey the inherent health dangers to office workers who spend the entire day sitting.  The sedentary nature of sitting at your desk all day can lead to health problems like obesity, heart disease, poor circulation and Type 2 diabetes.

Furthermore, the jury is still out on whether these effects can be combated by standing at work or via exercise.  However, several companies now offer their office employees the ‘sit-stand’ option of an adjustable desk.  These height adjustable desks allow employees to adjust the height of their desks to accommodate both sitting and standing positions.  These adjustable desks have been linked to several employee health benefits such as—increased metabolism, weight loss, and improved circulation.  All of these benefits increase production at work.  Image source:

“Placing an emphasis on the health

and well-being of their employees leads to a

number of positive outcomes for a business such as

a tighter, closer staff; fewer days lost to

health-related  issues; increased productivity

and higher employee retention.”

Flexibility

Flexibility helps if you’re doing yoga and it has positive benefits in the workplace as well.  Companies with a flexible approach towards employee work schedules reap the benefits of increased productivity.

Some employees are night owls and prefer a later start to the day.  Some employees anxiously await sunrise every day and have been awake for hours when they get to work.  Productivity is lost on waiting for the owl to wake up.  It’s lost on the early bird as they await time to clock in.

A one-size-fits-all approach to hours doesn’t always work for every employee.  Companies that can accommodate different employee schedules (without those employees gaming that system) find those employees are much more productive.

Financial Health Initiatives for Maintenance/Prevention

Nothing resonates with an employee like a financial incentive.  For companies looking to increase productivity, many have turned to financially rewarding good health practices.

Annual employee health surveys—which can include everything from weight and blood pressure monitoring to blood work/cholesterol screens—are a cost-effective way for companies to help their employees maintain their health.

The proactive monitoring of (and maintenance of) employee health also lowers the cost of more expensive treatment options later.  An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Companies can offer incentives for participation in these programs—such as a slight reduction in their monthly health care premiums.  Nothing beats money when it comes to an incentive.

Companies can help their employees maintain their overall well-being in many ways.  Those that do often see increases in productivity, lower turnover, better health and happier employees.

What healthy initiatives are in place to make your workplace more productive?

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Header image source: Tayloright.com