Over 40% of American workers experience work-related stress on a regular basis. In fact, primary care physicians estimate that at least 75% of visits are for stress issues. Paying attention to your employee's well-being can not only benefit them but also help your business. Below are several ways you can promote health and wellness in the workplace.
To help employees relax encourage communication and connection. Having a workplace tv series can be a great way for them to connect and have something non-work-related to discuss. Other activities to consider include a games tournament, movie night, or trivia event. Having common interests can help everyone connect and promotes wellness.
Learning how to be calm when you know you will be under pressure can drastically reduce stress levels. After all, stress inhibits rational and logical thinking which can lead to mistakes. Preparing well in advance can help to minimize mistakes and decrease stress leading up to any deadlines.
Promoting health and wellness in the workplace requires you to ensure that your employees are not overextending themselves. Encourage your employees to stick to standard working hours, and avoid working late into the night if working from home. For those on shift work, make sure that employees have regular breaks and do not work too many extra shifts each week. Getting adequate sleep is crucial for the well-being of your employees. Well-rested employees can decrease mistakes and boost productivity, and creativity.
Consider updating your break room to allow employees to truly relax on their breaks. Avoid having a phone or loudspeaker in the break room and encourage workers to take their breaks.
Moving your body is a great way to improve your mental state and boost overall wellness. Consider hosting an exercise challenge with a monetary prize for your employees. Ensure that you choose a challenge type that everyone can participate in if they wish to. For example, consider a fitness tracker challenge where employees must log exercise every day for a certain timeframe. By not setting specific weight loss or step counts, all employees can participate and do their best.
Your business can register with a charitable cause to help employees take a break from work and help your local community. Some charitable opportunities include helping at the local soup kitchen, cleaning parks, or hosting a fundraising event. Encourage your employees to take a break from their tasks to participate and help out. Just ensure that your employees are still compensated for their time.
Set aside time each month to celebrate your employees and any company wins. You can do this by hosting a free lunch or having a meeting with recognition awards. You could also consider buying coffee (or tea) for the office one morning a month. Another way to boost morale is to encourage employees to share pictures from their weekend in virtual meetings or on a company social platform. This not only shows employees that you care about their lives, and encourages communication.
Utilize the tips above to promote health and wellness in the workplace and reduce employee stress. By focusing on the well-being of your employees, you can create a better company culture. This in turn encourages productivity and can boost business loyalty.
