Are you planning to create a healthy workspace for your employees? Learn more about the benefits and how to go about building it only on ANS!
Human health is affected by workplaces in a variety of ways. In fact, as per the World Health Organization, “work is good for mental health, but a poor working environment can contribute to physical and mental health problems.” So, what steps can companies take to make sure their
workplaces promote good health for their employees? In this article, we’ll discuss the key benefits of a healthy workplace. From there, we’ll dive into
how to create a healthy environment for your employees.
The Benefits of a Healthy Workplace
A healthy workplace can help improve your team’s well-being while increasing their productivity. Hence, there’s no doubt that a healthy workforce is critical for your company’s growth. Take a look at the following factors:
Boosts Productivity
A more productive workforce is one that is more physically fit. When a worker spends less time in the doctor’s office, take sick days, or arrive at work miserable, they are more productive. Brigham Young University researchers found that employees who eat properly and exercise at least three times a week were 25 percent more productive, and those who exercised at least three times a week were 15 percent more likely to have higher job performance.
Save On Insurance & Healthcare Costs
A company’s healthcare and insurance expenditures can be reduced by encouraging healthy employee behavior. According to an analysis published by the CDC, workplace wellness programs can reduce healthcare expenditures and absenteeism by up to 25 percent. As far as insurance expenses are concerned, a healthier workforce results in reduced rates. Employers and their employees both benefit from healthy workers.
Beat The Sick Building Syndrome
When a company suffers from Sick Building Syndrome, it might lose a lot of money. Many office employees suffer from symptoms including allergies, respiratory diseases, and asthma, which are often caused or aggravated by inadequate ventilation and indoor air quality. An estimated $60 billion in lost productivity each year might be avoided if indoor air quality and other healthy building practices were improved.
When people miss work because of a sickness, it costs the economy billions in lost output. Reduced losses may be possible with well-maintained structures. Multiple studies have shown that a better interior environment may reduce sick leave by 2 percent and overall absenteeism by 1.5 percent.
Better Recruitment and Retention
Workers are more likely to stay at their present employer if they believe that the corporation is committed to establishing a happier, healthier workplace and supports their path toward healthy behaviors. Employees are often under a lot of stress at work. Offering a stress-reducing program improves employee engagement, which leads to increased staff retention.
In a competitive employment market, any company that provides a wellness program will have an advantage over those that do not have one. Survey results show that 87 percent of employees evaluate health and wellness perks when choosing between employment, as more than half of Gen Z and millennials consider wellness programs critical for job satisfaction, according to Virgin Health Miles/Workforce Magazine.
How To Create A Healthy Workspace
Now that you know the importance of maintaining a healthy workplace, you should understand to effectively create one. Keep reading to learn how to create a healthy workspace.
Wellness Programs
According to The Institute for Healthcare Consumerism, more than 70 percent of employees would engage in workplace wellness programs if they were offered by their employers. Employee well-being encompasses both mental and physical health, hence it is critical that companies promote physical activity, such as a lunchtime walking club, as a means of promoting employee well-being.
Mini-breaks and consideration of workloads are important for mental wellness as well. You can even make use of a health and wellness portal to help you automate activities.
Create A Healthy Office Space
A well-designed workplace may boost employee morale by up to 33%, according to a new study. It is possible for an employee’s work environment to stimulate them, enhance their health, and encourage healthy behaviors. Put some money into making your workplace a more pleasant place to work, and you’ll find that your staff enjoys coming in.
No matter how remote your employees are, their work environment still has an impact on their productivity. Providing a stipend for items like ergonomic chairs, additional monitors, and standing workstations can ensure that your employees enjoy a relaxing and engaging work environment outside of the office.
Ensure that your staff is aware of the need for fresh office supplies, such as a new mouse or keyboard. Also, tell your staff that keeping their workstations free of clutter, allowing for ample natural light, and displaying art that inspires them may have a positive impact on their productivity and attitude.
Create Psychological Safety And Trust
Employees are more comfortable being themselves in a psychologically safe atmosphere. They understand that they may openly express themselves without fear of shame or reprisal. Employees are significantly more inclined to join in important dialogues, share their thoughts, and stay involved when they are certain that their ideas will not be dismissed out of hand or ridiculed.
Creating a workplace that prioritizes psychological safety takes time and effort, but it is well worth it. Employees in high-trust organizations report 74 percent less stress, 50 percent more productivity, and 40 percent less burnout.
Psychological safety is founded on real concern for the employee. Consider checking in on employees’ mental, physical, and emotional wellness on a regular basis, and offer them the time off they require. Most essential, train managers on how to implement psychological safety procedures.
Managers can benefit from workshops to learn about leading with empathy, delivering particular appreciation, and phasing out micromanagement. Managers must listen more than they talk, and they must encourage open and honest dialogues between themselves and their staff. Aside from fostering trust, this sets an example for team members in your business who may one day find themselves in a leadership capacity.
Create A Healthy Work Environment Today
A healthy work environment is one in which employees feel heard, recognized for their efforts, and understand how their job fits into a larger picture. This results in more creativity, better trust in leadership, and a higher bottom line – firms with highly engaged employees tend to be more lucrative. So, use the inputs provided in this blog to create a healthy environment by conducting employee engagement activities, creating an effective workplace, and more!
