10 Ways to Support Employee Health in Your Business

Working can take a toll on employees’ mental and physical health. This is why they must find a good work-life balance and feel supported. At the same time, you want to provide an office space that gives them a safe environment to get work done.

To provide you with some ideas, here are 10 ways to promote employee health within your business.

1. Encourage Connection

Connecting with co-workers can help your employees feel happier at work. Forming solid relationships gives them people to vent to throughout the day. This helps them be more productive, since they’re less stressed out. Strong connections can even boost employee morale and retention rates.

To help encourage team connections, have office events, such as trivia nights. This is an excellent way for co-workers to get to know each other outside of work.

2.  Remind Them to Take a Break

Breaks can help your employees clear their heads and recharge. This will make them more focused for the rest of the day. Also, breaks improve their mental well-being and elevate creativity. However, some employees may be tempted to work through breaks to meet deadlines.

Try gently reminding them to take their lunch break and step away from the computer. Without taking breaks, employees may eventually face burnout. The lunch break is also a good excuse for them to get some water or food and move a little.

3. Promote Health Initiatives

You want to help encourage healthy lifestyles for your employees. This means promoting physical activity. You can do this by offering discounts on gym memberships or fitness centers nearby. Also, consider offering exercise classes or having a company sports team. These are great ways to get your employees active and increase office morale.

Along with promoting physical activity, make sure you also encourage mental well-being. Consider offering meditation classes and encouraging mindfulness. Meditation has many benefits, such as giving you a new perspective on stressful situations. Employees can transfer these valuable skills into their work.

4.  Have a Safe Water System

Your employees need to stay hydrated throughout the day. This is why it’s essential to have clean drinking water. Public water supply systems can contain biofilm pathogens that cause diseases. So it’s critical to have your plumbing system regularly inspected.

5. Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Since your team works in the office for multiple hours a day, they must breathe in clean air. Some causes of unsafe air include building materials or lack of proper ventilation.

You might also want to inspect your heating and cooling ducts to ensure they aren’t clogged. Change your HVAC filters every three months to ensure your system is properly functioning.

6.  Encourage Pets

Some employers feel pets can be a distraction in the workplace. However, they can help to reduce stress. Petting an animal can lower your cortisol levels and blood pressure. Cortisol is your body’s stress hormone. Having reduced anxiety can increase your employees’ productivity.

7.  Foster Creativity

Allowing employees to work on creative tasks provides a break from mundane assignments. This can enable them to feel more balance in their work and less burnt out. Also, it gives them a chance to use a different part of their brain.

8.  Embrace Flex Time

Allowing your employees flexibility within their schedules is essential. Many employees, especially working moms, have multiple responsibilities outside of work. To have an efficient work-life balance, they may need to adjust their schedule. Consider having a weekly hour requirement, such as 35-40 hours, and letting them work within that.

9.  Support Telecommuting

Along with flex time, consider letting your employees work from home a few days a week. This allows employees to take care of responsibilities outside the office, such as doctor’s appointments. While you might wonder if your employees will be less productive at home, this isn’t usually the case.

Being at home allows employees a better work-life balance, making them more efficient. Also, having employees telecommute can save you money on operational costs.

10.  Encourage Family Interaction

Consider sponsoring company events that allow family members to come into the office for the day. This can enable your employees to spend valuable time with family. It also gives you a chance to learn more about your staff.

Tips for Promoting Your Employees’ Health

When it comes to your business, you want both healthy and productive employees. So, make sure you’re checking on their mental and physical wellness. Follow these tips to create a supportive atmosphere for your workers.

Author Bio:

Jane works as the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co where she covers environmental news and sustainable living tips.