The prevalence of sedentary behavior among office workers is a cause for concern. Whether employees are working remotely or in the office, there is a notable increase in sedentary behavior and a decline in physical activity. The 9-5 work routine is the norm across the world, where people are often confined to their desks from the moment they enter the office until they leave. Those who work 40 hours a week often struggle to find time to exercise regularly, especially when juggling family commitments and other responsibilities. As a result, a worrying portion of employees follow a sedentary lifestyle, accompanied by unhealthy food choices.
A 2020 study by the Department of Family Medicine in Korea indicates that a sedentary lifestyle, marked by long periods of sitting and little physical activity, is linked to various health risks. A significant concern is the higher risk of obesity. Sitting for long periods reduces energy expenditure and slows metabolism, which can lead to weight gain since the body burns fewer calories than with regular physical activity. So how can we escape these unhealthy patterns and achieve a more balanced and fulfilling work-life equation?
Employee health and wellness initiatives help improve well-being both inside and outside the office. They go beyond typical health programs, salary benefits, or perks offered by organizations. These initiatives play a vital role in shaping your company culture. However, such efforts will fail if they prioritize business benefits over employee well-being. This leads to a corporate wellness system that does not serve its purpose.
Employee Health and Wellness Initiatives for a Happy Workforce
Promoting well-being at work means making small changes that matter. From short workshops and sessions with health experts to organizing healthy choices, you can easily inspire your team to adopt a healthier attitude. Ultimately, this can lead to long-term savings for businesses.
Here is a selection of employee health initiatives designed to promote employee well-being and satisfaction.
Encourage employees to walk or bike to work by offering incentives
Anyone who lives relatively close to their workplace and has a convenient travel route may choose to walk or bike to work. As well as helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions, walking and cycling have proven physical benefits, improving mood and productivity. Consider adding a small allowance to cover bike equipment, maintenance, or supportive shoes. Some companies even offer free or discounted bikes for commuting and leisure use. For those who can’t walk or bike, extend similar incentives to colleagues who carpool.
Improve employee engagement and well-being with a comprehensive corporate wellness program that goes beyond the ordinary.
Healthy Eating Initiatives
Even when employees are on their lunch break, it is essential not to neglect their well-being. After all, lunchtime is an opportunity for employees to relax and recharge. Initiate a lunch break of at least an hour to allow employees to eat at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed. Make sure they step away from their workstation to enjoy a well-deserved break.
For businesses with cafeterias or pantries, promoting healthy eating may include:
- Replace fried and fatty snacks with baked alternatives.
- Presenting freshly prepared salads with healthy, low-fat dressings.
- Install a juicer in the kitchen and avoid soda, energy drinks or packaged drinks.
- Provide a spacious refrigerator so employees can bring home-cooked meals.
- Offer fruit, nuts, or protein bars to encourage mindful snacking during breaks.
Get moving
Many companies now offer fitness programs or gyms to improve the health of their employees. When planning, it is essential to consider the preferences and abilities of your team for better participation. Some will prefer yoga or Zumba, while others will prefer more intense exercises. To promote physical fitness at work:
- Share sign-up sheets for group workouts, in the office or outside.
- Create a dedicated workout space in the office for flexible exercise schedules.
- Schedule yoga classes after work.
- Organize company-led marathons or walkathons.
- Support gym memberships or offer discounted fitness sessions with a trainer.
- Introduce incentive programs to motivate employees to achieve their personal health goals.
A typical meeting involves sitting around a table indoors, which adds to the time spent sitting at the desk, dealing with emails, taking calls and writing reports. However, meetings don’t always have to take place around a conference table. While standing meetings and desks have grown in popularity, some are now taking it a step further by adopting walking meetings, which are essentially meetings on the go. This could be a brief “walk and talk” with a colleague in another part of the building or a more organized 20-minute walk with a few colleagues to brainstorm ideas or discuss a problem.
Promote employee wellness days
A wellness day can be a special occasion to celebrate employee health or a designated day off. Offering healthy meals on certain days, like “Wellness Wednesdays,” or initiatives like “Fit Fridays,” encourage employees to strive for their fitness goals during the workday. Consider adding a health MOT (Measurements, Observations and Tests) to your wellness day, with packages adapted to different budgets. Comprehensive packages can include blood tests, BMI analysis, respiratory assessments, cardiovascular assessments, ECG and personalized health report. Premium plans may even offer a follow-up call with a GP.
Implement an ergonomic configuration
To get the most out of workplace wellness programs, it’s essential that your employees feel comfortable. Poor ergonomics can lead to long-term repetitive stress injuries, but establishing an ergonomic workspace can reduce fatigue and improve safety and productivity. Hire a professional to provide your employees with ergonomic office equipment such as sit-stand desks, footrests, stools and chairs with added lower back support.
Remote wellness initiatives
With the new culture of hybrid and remote work, for most of us, work equates to screen time. However, remote workers are most often quite far from any centralized business or office. Extend benefits to those working from home to keep them engaged in your new wellness programs. Encouraging collaboration, whether in person or online, can also reduce feelings of isolation.
Technology has enabled employee wellness programs for remote workers to achieve almost everything a live, on-site program could. For example, using HealthifyMe programs, available on iOS and Android apps, can help employees adopt and maintain healthier nutritional and exercise behaviors.
Use a web- or app-based wellness platform
A web-based or app-based wellness platform is a software application that manages online wellness programs. A trusted wellness platform, like HealthifyMe, can administer all aspects of a wellness program, including allowing remote workers to virtually participate in incentive programs, wellness meetings, challenges, health coaching and screenings. HealthifyMe offers top-notch physical wellness guidance to all employees, regardless of location.
Offer a wellness scholarship
Providing employees with the flexibility to choose their own methods of self-care and wellness can be a great approach. Consider offering a fixed annual scholarship covering various wellness resources. By allowing employees to decide what promotes their health, you ensure that they benefit from their chosen method of wellness, thereby promoting goodwill in the workplace.
The last word
Adapt your wellness program to meet the unique needs of your workplace. Listen carefully to employees’ expressions of needs and take them seriously. Once you’ve implemented the program, conduct regular check-ins to get honest feedback on its effectiveness. Be open to making adjustments as needed and actively seek suggestions.
HealthifyMe understands that successful wellness programs are personalized and thorough. Inclusivity is key, with employee participation at all levels, including company leadership. The goal of a workplace wellness program is to improve health. It is therefore crucial to avoid imposing additional obligations on employees such as strict dietary restrictions and intense physical routines.
Research sources
1. Sedentary lifestyle: overview of updated evidence on potential health risks
2. A study on ergonomic assessment in the workplace