Healthy living can have widespread, positive benefits – and, for employers, improving the wellness of their staff members has the potential to lead to increased productivity, lower expenses and fewer insurance claims.
Above all else, healthy workers are a good thing for the bottom line and financial plan. If your employees are a little out of shape – or partake in any number of unhealthy activities – you may want to look for effective solutions to change that. Thankfully, there are many ways in which you can motivate people to improve their behavior, from providing incentives to offering seminars.
In order to get started, here are three affordable ways that you can boost your employees' health and wellness:
1. Make it a team activity
Few people really want to work out. Plus, nobody wants to exercise when they are singled out for being out of shape. Therefore, CBS MoneyWatch recommended that you make health a team activity. For example, get the whole company involved. Take scheduled breaks each day so the entire office can work out together, encourage walks or running and provide healthy eating alternatives in the office, instead of junk food. This way, everybody has an opportunity to get on board.
2. Change your office around
Small changes to your office can have a big impact on employee health and wellness. CBS MoneyWatch explained that you could even offer secure bike parking outside, so people are more likely to ride to work instead of drive. Or, you can provide a room inside the office for employees to lock up their bikes. Another change could be standing desks or walking desks, which are both healthy alternatives to sitting down all day. Either way, think about creative ways that you can tweak your office space to encourage wellness.
3. Provide the right motivation
Employees need motivation to get up and start working out. According to Business Insider, you should find the perfect balance between pressure and encouragement. In some cases, a financial incentive will be a great boost to get people moving. You could offer a bonus, or provide a discount on insurance if they meet benchmarks. It is important to remember that changing chronic behavior is a long process. You need to be there for support the entire time, and make sure your company is helping, not hurting.