Healthy employees are happy employees!
This is a fact that businesses today are finally starting to realize, and react accordingly.
Ipsos found that as many as one in four Americans believe that work can be a source of anxiety. Anxiety, in turn, can lead to depression, which according to different studies, leads to a decrease in productivity.
Businesses are now aiming to change that, by aggressively trying to ensure a healthier and fitter workplace. Whether it is employee productivity or welfare, taking care of employee health can help your business leverage in on more.
The corporate wellness program has turned into an $8 billion industry in the USA and predicted to grow at a rate of 7.8% by 2012. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the amount dedicated to wellness programs worldwide is over $40 billion, and around 9% of over 3 billion global employees have access to wellness programs. Center for Workplace Mental Health asserts that as many as 80% of employees who have been treated report improvements, translating to a happier workplace.
Let’s take a look at the top 5 health trends making the rounds in today’s offices in 2018 and beyond.
1. Focus on Overall Wellbeing
Traditionally employers have long provided health coverage for their employees and even reimbursed out-of-pocket expenses. But in modern times, catering only to physical health is no longer enough.
Employees are being plagued with mental issues like depression, work-related stress and so on. According to a new study, work-related stress converts to lost workdays, which incurs up to a cost of $30 billion annually for US businesses. Depressed employees are more likely to miss work five times more than non-depressed employees.
Employers therefore have settled on different programs such as meditation, yoga and mindfulness to tackle the problem. They are also allowing sleeping pods and naps at the office for employees so that mental issues are kept at bay. Companies like PwC, Google and Uber all allow their employees to take a nap at the office to make up for lost sleep.
2. Individual Personalization
It has been found that employees want their corporate wellness programs to be personalized. Companies are increasingly investing in technology and digital means like wearables and apps to offer a personalized wellbeing program tailored to the specific needs of an individual employee.
Employers are also relying on data obtained from the wearables and tracking apps to develop a rich well-being experience for their employees. Such well-being programs are more likely to be taken up by employees for the improvement of their health.
3. Machine Coaching and AI
Apart from personalization, companies are depending heavily on machine learning and AI to help their employees realize their health goals. The AI-powered platforms can deliver relevant content and help answer the queries of the employees.
The employee engagement solution firm Virgin Pulse has built a modification for Amazon Alexa which can remind employees to get up and take a walk after sitting at the desk for too long. It also works outside the company and even reminds the employees to go to bed at the right time!
These devices or platforms behave just like a personal trainer and help the employees develop healthy habits over time.
4. Use of Ergonomic Furniture in Offices
Companies are increasingly looking to provide a more comfortable working space for their employees without restricting them in suffocating cubicles. They are also investing in ergonomic furniture like standing desks and ergonomic chairs so that their employees don’t get affected by the sedentary job.
Sitting for long hours at work can lead to physical injuries and even cause cardiovascular disease, cancer and type II diabetes. Some studies have also called sitting for long hours more dangerous than smoking.
Furniture like standing desks offer some opportunities of movement to the employee and help them get relief from sitting so long. Research by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) has called standing desks the fastest growing employee benefit in the US.
Ergonomic chairs prevent lower back pains and help employees work in a more neutral position that provides support to the spine. With back pain being one of the main reasons for missed work in North America, companies are starting to see the value in investing in top ergonomic office chairs that come with headrests, adjustable lumbar and full back support.
5. Return of Vending Machines
Vending machines, often associated as junk food dispensers in offices and schools alike, started to lose their appeal in the late 90s. However, they are now making a comeback in the offices once again.
You are not going to find junk food and carbonated drinks like before, however. It’s not about a pop drink anymore. Instead, the machines are going to have something healthy for you. The German healthy food startup Livello plans to set up healthy vending machines across offices in the country so that employees get to eat better.
Instead of serving snickers or cola, employees would be able to get healthy items such as Salads, soups and energy bars.
Expect vending machines to make a roaring comeback in offices as a quick and easy way to access healthy snacks and drinks.
A Healthier, More Productive Office Space
The trend towards a more healthy workplace has just began as companies begin to realize how this translates into higher profits, productivity and employee retention. Now is a good time to be an employee.
