The Connection Between A Healthy Lifestyle and Workplace Productivity
Most companies understand the link between employee health and productivity but often need to learn how to address it adequately. Unhealthy diets, a lack of exercise, and stress are some factors that can lead to unproductive employees at work. You can’t change the habits of your employees, but you can provide healthier support options to improve productivity.
How Your Business Can Benefit from Healthy Employees
Savvy managers can utilize the services of corporate wellness Los Angeles programs to enhance their employees’ health and wellness. You can create customized programs to increase their energy for more productivity, including vitamin IV therapy and flu shots. Spa treatments can help to relieve their stress, boost morale, and reward staff for their hard work.
- Reduce sick days: Healthy employees need to take fewer sick days.
- Reduce employee turnover: You are likely to have less employee turnover with a healthy staff. Your customers will have continuity of service with a strong team dynamic in the workplace.
- Improve productivity: A 2017 study at the University of California Riverside discovered that companies that offered wellness programs for their employees saw increased productivity. Participants improved their productivity by an average of about one workday a month.
How You Can Help Keep Employees Healthy
You can encourage your employees to embrace a healthier lifestyle in various ways.
1. Give staff access to healthy snacks
Employees with a healthy diet are more productive. You could inadvertently reduce employee productivity if you have a vending machine with sugary and salty snacks in your workplace.
Your employees may all have different definitions of what constitutes a healthy diet. However, everyone can agree on a few principles of healthy eating. Sugar and processed foods are not healthy options. Provide your staff with healthy alternatives, like fruit or nuts.
2. Promote physical activity in the workplace
When employees remain seated at their desks all day without moving enough, it puts pressure on their internal organs, and the blood flow to their extremities decreases. The effects of sitting all day can eventually result in serious health issues. Office workers should leave their desks for a few minutes every hour.
You could clean out a room and add some exercise equipment like balls and ropes so employees can take breaks to move during the day. Getting a rush of endorphins can work wonders to improve morale and boost productivity.
3. Work with a local gym to offer discounted memberships
If you can get your employees to attend a gym, they will likely be more productive and manage their time better. You could reach out to local gyms and arrange a discounted deal for your employees, or offer employee stipend benefits they can use toward membership. If you can make a gym membership more affordable to attend the gym, they can get exercise regularly, and it will show them that you care about their well-being.
4. Be flexible to help reduce workplace stress
Chronic stress is a significant problem in today’s workspace. When employees are stressed, they can’t perform properly at work. Efforts to alleviate employee stress will contribute to their productivity.
One way to reduce employee stress levels is to offer more flexibility. Allowing people to work when they can means they are happier and will achieve better results. Allow those who want to go to the gym before work to start and finish later. Offering fully remote positions and hybrid work options can further reduce employee stress.
You can also work with trained instructors to give classes, such as yoga or meditation classes, to help relieve stress.
Conclusion
There are many benefits your company can experience when your employees live healthy lifestyles. You can’t force them to be healthy, but you can offer them choices that make it easier. Living a healthy lifestyle can support a healthier and more productive workplace staff.
