The prevalence of sedentary work among office workers is a cause for concern. Whether employees are working remotely or in the office, there has been a noticeable increase in sedentary behavior and a decrease in physical activity. The 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. working day is standard worldwide, with people often tied to their desks from the time they enter the office until they leave the office. People who work 40 hours a week often find it difficult to make time for regular exercise, especially when juggling family and other commitments. As a result, a worrying proportion of workers lead a sedentary lifestyle coupled with unhealthy eating habits.
A 2020 study by the Department of Family Medicine in Korea suggests that a sedentary lifestyle, characterized by sitting for long periods of time and little physical activity, is associated with various health risks. A major concern is the higher risk of obesity. Sitting for long periods reduces energy expenditure and slows metabolism, potentially leading to weight gain because the body burns fewer calories than during normal physical activity. So how can you 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 healthcare programs, salary benefits or perks offered by organizations. These initiatives play a crucial role in shaping your company culture. However, such efforts will not succeed if they prioritize business benefit over employee well-being. This results in a corporate wellness system that fails to achieve its intended purpose.
Employee health initiatives for a satisfied workforce
Promoting workplace wellness is about making small changes that matter. Whether you host short workshops, sessions with health experts, or organize healthy potlucks, you can easily inspire your team to make healthier choices. Ultimately, this can lead to long-term cost savings for companies.
Here you will find a curated selection of employee wellness initiatives designed to promote employee well-being and happiness.
Encourage your employees to walk or bike to work by offering incentives
If you live relatively close to your workplace and have a convenient commute, you can walk or bike to work. In addition to helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions, walking and cycling have proven physical benefits and improve mood and productivity. Consider adding a small grant to help fund cycling equipment, maintenance or supportive footwear. Some companies even provide free or discounted bikes for commuting and leisure. For those who cannot walk or bike, extend similar incentives to colleagues who carpool.
Increase employee engagement and well-being with a comprehensive corporate wellness program that goes beyond the usual
Healthy eating initiatives
Even during the lunch break, the well-being of employees should not be ignored. After all, lunchtime offers employees the opportunity to relax and recharge their batteries. Establish a lunch break of at least an hour so employees can eat at a comfortable pace without feeling rushed. Make sure they leave their workplace to enjoy a well-deserved break.
For businesses with cafeterias or pantries, promoting healthy eating can include:
- Replace fried and oily snacks with baked alternatives.
- We present freshly prepared salads with health-friendly and low-fat dressings.
- Place a juicer in the kitchen and avoid soda, energy drinks, or packaged beverages.
- Providing a spacious refrigerator for employees to bring home-cooked meals.
- Offer fruit, nuts, or protein bars to encourage conscious snacking during breaks.
Move
Many companies now offer fitness programs or fitness facilities to improve employee health. When planning, it’s important to consider your team’s preferences and abilities for better participation. Some may prefer yoga or Zumba, while others like more intense exercises. To promote physical fitness in the workplace:
- Share registration forms for group training sessions, either in the office or outside.
- Create a dedicated training area in the office for flexible training times.
- Arrange yoga classes after work.
- Organize company-led marathons or walkathons.
- Support gym memberships or offer discounted fitness sessions with a trainer.
- Implement incentive-based programs to motivate employees to achieve personal health goals.
A typical meeting involves sitting at a table indoors, which increases the time spent sitting at the desk, processing emails, answering calls, and writing reports. However, meetings do not always have to take place at the conference table. While stand-up meetings and desks are becoming increasingly popular, some are now taking it a step further and introducing walk-in meetings, which are essentially meetings on the go. This could be a short “walk and talk” with a colleague to another part of the building, or a more organized 20-minute walk with a few colleagues to brainstorm ideas or discuss a problem.
Promote well-being days for your employees
A wellbeing day can be a special occasion to celebrate employee health or a set day off to rest. Offering healthy meals on certain days, such as “Wellness Wednesdays,” or initiatives like “Fit Fridays,” encourage employees to compete on fitness goals during the workday. Consider adding a health MOT (measurements, observations and tests) to your wellness day, with packages to suit different budgets. Comprehensive packages can include blood tests, BMI analysis, breathing tests, cardiovascular exams, ECG and a personalized health report. Premium packages may even offer a follow-up visit to a family doctor (TÜV).
Implement an ergonomic setup
To get the most out of workplace wellness programs, it’s crucial that your employees feel comfortable. Poor ergonomics can lead to long-term repetitive stress injuries, but creating an ergonomic workstation can reduce fatigue and increase safety and productivity. Hire a professional to provide your employees with ergonomic office equipment such as sit-stand desks, foot pads, stools and chairs with additional lower back support.
Remote wellness initiatives
Given the new culture of hybrid and remote working, work for most of us means screen time. However, in most cases, remote employees are far from a company or central office. Extend benefits to those working from home to include them 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 nearly everything that a live, on-site program can do. For example, using HealthifyMe programs, available on both iOS and Android apps, can help employees adopt and maintain healthier eating and health behaviors.
Use a web-based or app-based wellness platform
A web-based or app-based wellness platform is a software application that manages online wellness programs. A reliable wellness platform like HealthifyMe can manage every aspect of a wellness program, especially allowing remote employees to virtually participate in incentive programs, wellness meetings, challenges, health coaching, and screenings. HealthifyMe enables all employees to receive first-class physical well-being advice, regardless of their location.
Offer a wellness scholarship
Offering employees the flexibility to choose their own self-care and wellness methods can be a great approach. Consider providing a fixed annual stipend that covers various wellness resources. By letting your employees decide what promotes their health, you ensure they benefit from the wellness method they choose, thereby promoting goodwill in the workplace.
The last word
Tailor your wellness program to the individual needs of your workplace. Listen carefully to employees’ expressions of need and take them seriously. After implementing the program, conduct regular check-ins to get honest feedback on its effectiveness. Be open to adjustments as needed and actively seek suggestions.
HealthifyMe understands that successful wellness programs are personalized and detail-oriented. Inclusivity is critical and the involvement of employees at all levels, including management, is critical. The goal of a workplace wellness program is to improve health. Therefore, it is important to avoid burdening employees with additional obligations such as strict dietary restrictions and intense physical routine.
Research sources
1. Sedentary lifestyle: Overview of updated evidence on potential health risks
2. A study on ergonomic assessment in the workplace