An effective workplace environment helps to support a positive workplace culture. Over time, workplace wellness programs improve the efficiency, happiness and health of employees.
Link Between Employee Health and Optimal Performance
1. Improved focus and engagement
Healthy employees are more engaged in their work. They can concentrate better, which leads to enhanced performance and creativity.
2. Stay motivated
When employees feel valued and cared for in their workplace, it brings job satisfaction and forms a better team framework to be successful.
3. Minimize absenteeism
Healthy employees are less likely to take sick leaves, which means fewer disruptions in workflow and greater productivity.
Workplace Wellness and Mental Well-Being
1. Celebrate achievements
All humans need appreciation for their efforts to help them stay motivated. It is the duty of the organization or employer to recognize an employee’s achievements even if their colleagues don’t.
2. Clear communication
Giving employees a chance to express their doubts and suggestions is very important to work through when a negative work environment arises. Also, clearly defining the objectives of upcoming projects can resolve unwanted issues that may arise amongst the team. Thus, communication, whether positive or negative, should be clear and unbiased.
3. Mindfulness and counseling
To upgrade workplace wellness, provide discreet mental health counseling and support services to help employees deal with stress, depression and job burnout.
3. Physical environment
Aim for ample natural light along with adjustable artificial lightning to suit individual preferences. This will have a profound impact on people’s mood and energy levels. Remember to cut down surrounding disrupting noises when it gets too loud. Install acoustic panels or carpets to create quiet zones, and never keep the office too hot or cold.
Workplace wellness and Physical Health
1. Health check-ups
Knowing about an employee’s health status through regular check-ups can empower them to modify their food and fitness habits and prevent avoidable diseases. So, offer them annual health check-up packages and reduce absenteeism for better productivity.
2. Encourage breaks
One should encourage employees to be active on lunch breaks and prioritize movement. Stretching, standing and light activity should be allowed in between work hours.
3. Healthy eating initiatives
Employers can provide nutritious snacks in break rooms or organize weekly fruit deliveries for employees. Also, hosting workshops focused on nutrition can educate the staff about the benefits of various foods to help them make healthier choices.
4. Ergonomic furniture
Ergonomic furniture such as adjustable chairs and standing desks can be installed to avoid musculoskeletal problems. The height of the monitor and keyboard can be adjusted as per the employee’s reach.
5. Prioritize sleep
Employers should ensure a reasonable amount of working hours and discourage late-night emails and calls to ensure employees get their rest.
6. Hydration
Forgetting to drink water regularly when engrossed in work is very common. It is the fundamental duty of the employer to provide easy access to water coolers or dispensers in office premises.
7. Create a gym or wellness room.
A dedicated space in the office for a quick workout and stretching is essential in today’s work culture to promote workplace wellness. The room can be equipped with basic gym equipment like yoga mats, foam rollers and resistance bands. Even guided meditation headphones can encourage employees to take short wellness breaks.
Workplace Wellness and Social Health
1. Employee safety
An employer can improve trust between colleagues by making each individual feel safe and recognized. There must be a proactive approach towards preventing bullying and harassment, along with preparing individuals against any harmful situations that may arise. In addition to mental and physical security, safeguarding digital security is also important through regular cyber security audits.
2. Equality
Every team member must be treated with the same dignity and respect. There must be no team preferential or negative treatment to ensure a healthy workspace.
3. Social outings
Create opportunities to encourage team members to get to know each other. Ice-breaking activities can be arranged every now and then to break the monotony of dull and boring work. Company-wide activities like a football match or a badminton tournament are also a fun way to have colleagues connect on different grounds.
Conclusion
A positive work culture is the key to transforming employee engagement and unleashing team potential. So, an organization must consider all the aspects of workplace wellness, including the office space, management structures, company tools and software, and employee compensation to empower a positive workplace.
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FAQ’s
Q1 What is the optimal physical setting in a workplace?
A1 Aim for ample natural light along with adjustable artificial lighting to suit individual preferences. Also, the indoor temperature is important, which can be maintained around 22 degrees celcius through fans, AC’s and heaters. Remember to cut down surrounding disrupting noises whenever needed. For this, one can install acoustic panels or carpets and even create quiet zones.
Q2 How can employee health benefit costs be reduced?
A2 Knowing about an employee’s health status through check-ups, the employer can empower them to modify their food and fitness habits and prevent avoidable diseases. Offer employees annual health check-up packages and reduce absenteeism for better productivity.
Q3 What can be done to make your employees feel secure?
A3 There must be a proactive approach towards preventing bullying and harassment, along with preparing individuals against any harmful situations that may arise. Besides mental and physical security, safeguarding digital security is also important through regular cyber security audits.D, BODY AND LIFE FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE
