One of the biggest concerns for any company is a lack of productivity among staff – it’s costly and can hinder the growth of the business over time. And the largest cause of reduced productivity is actually from unhealthy employees. It’s believed that the average employee absence on an annual basis is over six days, as any company’s HR software system will no doubt attest to.
Studies have shown that there’s a definite link between ill-health and a loss of productivity in the short term, with British companies losing an average of over 27 days of productive time from each of their employees every year, whether it’s from people not turning up to work from illness or from not performing at their maximum when they’re in the office. The latter may seem like a preferable option – where staff turn up to work but don’t put in a great performance because they’re not well enough to be there – but it’s equally as costly as not showing up at all. But there is good news. Company wellness programmes can ensure that staff stay healthy and can improve productivity as an added bonus. Here are some ideas for how to implement a successful wellness scheme.
Recognise Stress in Employees
With proper training, managers can spot signs of stress and overworking early in their colleagues. Not all stress will be related to work but even if it’s from personal problems, understanding when an employee is feeling the pressure can make things easier on the individual. Over time, stress can have a significant impact on one’s wellbeing, both mentally and physically, so training managers on how to manage this effectively and sympathetically is enormously helpful.
Encourage Healthy Eating Habits
Companies can’t force their staff to switch their eating habits to something healthier, but there are ways that businesses can help their employees to adopt better choices when it comes to their diet. Supplying free fruit at the office is a great way to help colleagues switch from snacking on crisps and chocolate to choosing nutrient-dense options that are better for their health. Some companies have even gone as far as to invite nutritionists into the office for one-off talks to help staff understand the benefits of making a switch to healthier alternatives.
Make Sure Sleep is a Priority
No-one has ever performed their best at work when sleep-deprived so instilling in employees the importance of plenty of rest is vital for productivity. Studies have shown that a lack of sleep can become a corporate issue when the individual sees a negative impact on their performance which businesses would be remiss to ignore. And the higher up the career ladder you go, the less sleep you seem to get, with managers at a higher risk of decreased focus. Organisations can combat this by having an open dialogue about sleep, helping their staff to examine their sleep patterns while also taking a look at work policies to ensure that they’re not making the issue worse. One example of a way to help employees with this is to ensure that there is a sufficient amount of time given to staff who have to travel to work to get over jet lag or tiredness from long journeys, or to look at their flexible working policies.
Keep Fit Programmes
Few people get the recommended 10,000 steps each day and it’s estimated that over 25% of adults in England don’t even meet 30 minutes of physical activity each week. But keeping fit and active is important for our health and it’s important that companies encourage their staff to up their exercise. Perhaps this takes the form of the business forming a partnership with a local gym or fitness centre where staff can get their membership at a discounted price or set up football teams with members of staff. Or perhaps set up walking meetings a few times a week where instead of sitting around a table, you take the meeting on the go to get some steps in and get people moving.
Set Up Cycling Schemes
In keeping with the fitness aspect of employee health, encouraging staff to switch up their commute to something more active is also a great way to develop healthier habits. For some members of the team, the options will be limited because of how far away from the office they live. But for those who live closer, walking or cycling to work could be a viable option. As a business, you could provide cycle to work schemes for employees who travel to work this way – taking a more active approach to commutes is a great way to feel more energised and ready to tackle the day ahead, making individuals more motivated and productive throughout the day. And for people who can’t avoid public transport, even getting off one or two stops earlier and walking the rest of the way can make a big difference.
