Pledging to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions. But who says it has to be a goal that is confined to life outside the office? Promoting a health and wellness initiative not only helps your employees achieve that elusive work/life balance, it can also makes them become better employees who are happier, more productive, and absent less. Here a few tips for getting your initiative off the ground.
Focus on Preventative Care
Preventative care is the best kind of care. You can encourage your employees to become proactive about their health by bringing in someone to administer flu shots, installing hand sanitizing stations around the office, or giving employees time to exercise during the day.
Make Exercise Easier
As an employer, there are a number of ways that you can encourage your employees to get more exercise. Consider offering secure parking for people who bike to work, shower facilities for people who want to get moving during the day, or incentives for employees who choose to join a walking club that meets at lunch. You can also offer subsidized gym memberships.
Offer Education Opportunities
Many people aren’t as healthy as they could be simply because they’ve never been adequately educated about healthy lifestyles. Think about bringing in speakers during the lunch hour to demonstrate healthy cooking, talk about effective stress management, or lead relaxation yoga sessions.
Bring in a Nutritionist
The typical work schedule makes it difficult to schedule an appointment with a nutritionist. What if the doctor came right to the office instead to answer questions and offer routine checkups? Your employees will appreciate the convenience and will be empowered to take control of their health and well being.
Improve the Food
Employees are often forced to eat unhealthy lunches and junk food for snacks simply because they don’t have any other options. You can make it easier on them by bringing in healthier snacks, offering alternatives to soda and energy drinks, and improving the food in your cafeteria if you have one.
Remember Mental Health
This area of health and wellness that frequently gets overlooked in these kinds of initiatives, but it is just as important. Improving access to mental health care, and giving employees a chance to take stress relieving breaks throughout the day can go a long way. Just remember that this can be a sensitive subject for many.
You don’t have to follow all of these recommendations for your initiative to be successful. Just a few can make a difference in the way your workforce feels and performs. Find more resources to help you make 2015 a success by contacting The Squires Group.
