5 Ways To Prioritize Employee Health In Your Business
Fifty years ago, the idea of business owners concerning themselves with their employees’ health would have been a rather outlandish one. Employees, people would argue, were there to perform a role. The focus was primarily on the workers’ professional lives and performances – health was rarely a factor.
Thankfully, times have changed, and more and more business owners have come to see that focusing on their employees’ health is hugely beneficial – both for the employees as individuals, and for the business as a whole.
It is now an accepted fact that healthy employees are happier employees, with lower rates of absenteeism, which in turn results in less disruption to standard working patterns, and the business benefits as a result.
If you are looking to enjoy a smooth-running, productive business, staffed by happy and healthy employees in the future, here are a few ideas you may wish to consider adopting…
#1 – Encourage your employees to take time off when they are unwell
Given that we noted one of the benefits of focusing on employee health is a lower rate of staff absenteeism, this may seem like a strange point to kick off on, but here’s how it works:
- One of your employees has the flu.
- They feel they have to come to work, even though they feel unwell.
- They sit at their shared desk and interact with their coworkers, but their performance is inevitably impacted by the flu, and worse yet…
- … they pass the flu on to their coworkers.
The above is not a good scenario: it takes a single, isolated case of the cold and turns it into a bug that sweeps the entire office. What’s more, the business doesn’t even benefit from the first employee forcing themselves to work. No one works at their best when they’re feeling unwell, so sick workers forcing themselves to work really does more harm than good.
Tips prevent this situation
To prevent this issue, all you have to do is ensure that workers know they can and should take time off if they are unwell. Also that taking time off to recover will not be seen as a sign of a lack of commitment or laziness. When a staff member does call in sick, advise them to seek medical advice, rest up, and return to work when they are ready.
Of course, there is always a chance that employees might abuse such an open policy. However ultimately, a worker throwing the occasional “sickie” is an acceptable risk in exchange for a healthier workplace overall.
#2 – Keep shift patterns static
Many businesses have sought to introduce rotating or rolling shift patterns, which means employees always working on different days of the week or at different times. For example, an employee may work Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, one week, then Friday to Tuesday, 6am to 2pm, the next week.
These shift patterns may be beneficial for the business, but study after study has concluded that they are extremely harmful to workers health. The more extreme the rotation – for example, day shifts one week, and night shifts the next – the more severe the problem becomes.
It is, therefore, preferable to ensure every employee has a static shift pattern, working on the same days, at the same time of day, every week.
#3 – Go sugar-free
In order to ensure that their employees are able to access food on-site, many businesses choose to install vending machines. Or another option of keeping the snack cupboard of the staff kitchen well-stocked. This may seem like a nice, helpful thing to do, but there’s a significant downside. Vending machine’s foods and store-bought snacks will almost always contain a significant amount of sugar – and that’s a real problem.
Over recent years, evidence has emerged to suggest that the sugar industry suppressed studies that highlighted the health impact a high sugar intake has on health. Despite years of being told that fat was the issue, sugar has now taken center-stage as the one foodstuff we should all avoid.
If you are focusing on your employees’ health, then removing access to sugary snacks is one of the most important choices you can make. Opt instead for vending machines that provide healthier choices. Always ensure your workplace’s kitchen is stocked with fresh vegetables and low-sugar soup options.
#4 – Provide health-related insurance benefits
If an employee is unwell, you will, naturally, hope that they are able to recover and return to work as quickly as possible. However, in order to recover quickly from various health ailments, dental issues, injuries, and mental health concerns, seeking specialized medical treatment is usually the best course of action. However, your employees may struggle to do this due to issues such as long waiting lists and, in some cases, cost concerns.
The best way to circumvent this problem is to provide comprehensive workplace group insurance coverage and similar policies to your employees, so that they can always access the medical assistance they need as and when they need it. Furthermore, by opting for a plan that provides insurance for both healthcare needs and life insurance could be a good option.
You can actually boost your employees’ peace of mind, as they can be sure that their most fundamental needs will be protected in the future.
#5 – Incorporate “movement periods” in every shift
Sitting at a desk using a computer is fairly standard for the vast majority of employees, but doing so can cause myriad health issues. In an effort to combat this concern, set an hourly alarm that starts a brief “movement period”; encourage employees to stand up from their seat, walk around a little, go outside if possible, and stretch if they feel comfortable doing so.
The length of this “movement period” is entirely up to you. A minimum of five minutes is preferred, though if you can afford longer, do so, your employees’ health will be greatly improved as a result.
By prioritize employee health and well-being, you can look forward to a bright future. Your workplace will foster a reputation as a pleasant environment, with a thoughtful, considerate boss at the helm. Do this while also ensuring your business is able to achieve its goals thanks to lower rates of absenteeism and greater staff morale.
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