5 Ways To Encourage Wellness At Work

Study after study shows that employee wellness affects everything from productivity to retention rate. What it comes down to is this: if you aren’t encouraging your employees to be healthy, you’re not maximizing your company’s potential. Here are some quick ways to promote wellness at work.

Exercise

There are a lot of resources out there to help you get your employees moving. Whether it’s a FitBit challenge with prizes or a gym membership discount/stipend, the important thing is that you help your staff prioritize their health. You can also encourage the use of apps like Charity Miles, which ties workouts to real cash donations.

Connection

Workplace relationships make a huge difference in employee happiness and retention. Promote bonding with regularly scheduled social activities. A team lunch out, trivia night, or a volunteer day are all great ideas. Next time a holiday comes around, plan a holiday party or seasonal activities.

Breaks

Taking regular breaks throughout the day improves productivity, contrary to what you might think. If you find your employees have trouble remembering to get up and shake off the cobwebs every now and then, help them by stocking the break room with nice coffee and tea or healthy snacks. There are even apps to remind you to get up every so often.

Meditation

Stress is major factor in overall morale, and one of the best ways to mitigate it is to practice some kind of meditation. Over 18 million Americans already meditate to relieve stress. Apps like Headspace make a quick break into a zen-like experience. Some companies even offer mid-day yoga classes to help relax and reduce stress.

Making health and wellness a priority in the office will benefit all parties. Take some time to encourage these practices around the office. Your employees will be less stressed, happier, and more productive.