Finding and retaining talent is a difficult challenge for many companies. In various sectors, there is a “war for talent.” For this very reason, we want to encourage companies to go the extra mile for their employees in terms of health and exercise.
We provide you with numerous tips and initiatives that your company can undertake to improve well-being. What do you get in return? Happy, productive, healthier employees who cost the company less money. So keep reading.
Nutrition and health at work
#1 Provide employees with healthy snacks
Healthy snacking has many benefits; it keeps the metabolism going, ensuring the body has enough energy throughout the day. This prevents mental slumps and hunger spikes.
So move away from unhealthy snacks and soft drinks with no nutritional value; they disrupt metabolism, are bad for the heart, blood vessels, and cholesterol, and quickly cause hunger again. In the long term, they are detrimental to employees' health.
#2 Hire a healthy cook for the workplace
Hire a cook who regularly prepares a healthy and simple lunch. This way, employees learn what healthy eating means and are not tempted by sandwiches, hamburgers, or other unhealthy meals.
Besides main meals, employees can also be provided with a healthy smoothie made from fruit and oats. Thousands of combinations are possible.
#3 Educate employees about healthy nutrition
Many people know too little about healthy nutrition, which is well known. Therefore, provide employees with easy-to-read and digestible literature. It’s not difficult, but it does require some basic knowledge to get started. Some ideas:
- Hang infographics around the office
- Encourage employees to drink enough water, e.g., by giving out free refillable water bottles
- Provide easy and healthy recipes for home or work
- Send a weekly newsletter about healthy nutrition
- ...
#4 Introduce standing & active desks
Sitting too long is harmful to blood circulation and thus brain activity. Consider introducing standing desks where work can be done while standing. If you want to go a step further, there are also active desks; these are standing desks combined with a treadmill on which you can walk at a very slow pace. There are many alternatives that help you move while working.
#5 Help employees quit smoking
No comments required :-) ?
#6 Promote hand hygiene
Washing hands regularly is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs at work. Encourage employees to wash their hands regularly or use disinfectant lotions. The latter can be placed in various locations around the office. Disinfecting hands is quick and easy!
Sports and exercise at work
#7 Connect the workplace with a sports club or gym
Encourage your employees to exercise by reimbursing part of their membership fee at a sports club or gym. Take the local gym near the office as an example. This allows employees to relax during a healthy workout!
#8 Introduce yoga at work
At JustBite, we are huge supporters of yoga. It helps the body relax, increases flexibility, improves focus... and we could go on. So organize a yoga class at work, for example during the lunch break.
#9 Walking meetings
When the meeting allows, try holding it outside instead of in a meeting room. Being outside lets the body take in necessary oxygen, keeps it moving, and frees creativity. This is highly recommended to try. Feel free to add “Outside” among the meeting rooms in calendars.
#10 Organize a sports squad
Look around the company for enthusiasts who want to organize sports activities at lunchtime: for example, running 5 or 10 km. It’s their job to motivate others to join. Feel free to attach an incentive to make the group as large as possible.
#11 Provide a fitness room at work
Provide a fitness room at work with various equipment: treadmill, bike, trampolines, rowing machine... but also free weights, mats, and stretch bands can get you quite far. Provide a set of exercises for those who don’t know how to start.
#12 Encourage stair use
Try to encourage employees to take the stairs. Some ideas:
- Use fun posters to show how many calories they burn by taking the stairs
- Make the stairs a pleasant environment. Think of art, colors, music... no one likes walking in dark, cold corridors
- Guide employees/visitors to the stairs by sticking footprints or lines from the door to the stairs
- ...
#13 Motivate cycling to work
Encourage (and incentivize) people to come to work by bike. It’s good for health and the environment!
#14 Reward employees with massages
Good employees deserve a treat! Reward them from time to time with an on-site massage or just at the office. Or pamper each employee regularly with a free 15-minute massage.
So, we hope to have provided you with a series of ideas that you can introduce in the workplace today. Above all, keep checking with employees what works and what doesn’t through surveys. Good luck!
What initiatives are you already doing at the office?