The prevalence of sedentary behavior among office workers is a cause for concern. Whether employees are working remotely or in an office environment, there is a marked increase in sedentary behaviors and a decrease in physical activity. The 9-to-5 work routine is established worldwide, where people are often desk-bound from the moment they enter the office until they leave. Those who work 40 hours a week often struggle to make time for regular exercise, especially when juggling family obligations and other responsibilities. As a result, an alarming portion of workers lead sedentary lives, accompanied by unhealthy food choices.
A 2020 study from the Department of Family Medicine in Korea shows that a sedentary lifestyle, characterized by long periods of sitting and little physical activity, is associated with various health risks. A major concern is the greater likelihood of obesity. Sitting for extended periods reduces energy expenditure and slows metabolism, possibly causing weight gain, as the body burns fewer calories than with regular physical activity. So, how does one break out of 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 extend beyond typical health plans, salary benefits, or benefits provided by organizations. These initiatives play a vital role in shaping your company culture. However, such efforts will not succeed if they prioritize business benefits over employee well-being. It leads to a corporate wellness system that fails to fulfill its intended purpose.
Employee Wellness Initiatives for a Happy Workforce
Promoting wellness at work is about making small changes that matter. Whether it’s short workshops or sessions with health experts or organizing healthy meals, you can easily inspire your team to make healthier choices. In the end, this can lead to long-term cost savings for businesses.
Here is a curated selection of employee health initiatives designed to promote well-being and satisfaction among employees.
Encourage employees to walk or bike to work by providing incentives
Anyone who lives relatively close to their workplace and has a convenient commute can choose to walk or bike to work. As well as helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions, walking and cycling have proven physical benefits, boosting mood and productivity. Consider adding a small allowance to cover bike equipment, maintenance or supportive footwear. Some companies even provide free or discounted bikes for commuting and recreation. For those who can’t walk or bike, they extend similar incentives to fellow carpoolers.
Increase employee engagement and well-being with a comprehensive Corporate Wellness Program that goes beyond the ordinary
Healthy Eating Initiatives
Even when employees are on their lunch break, it’s important not to overlook their well-being. After all, lunchtime provides employees with an opportunity to relax and recharge. Initiate a lunch break of at least an hour to allow employees to eat at a comfortable pace without rushing. Make sure they step away from their workstations to enjoy a well-deserved break.
For companies with cafeterias or pantries, promoting healthy eating can include:
- Replace fried and oily snacks with baked alternatives.
- Introducing our freshly prepared salads with health friendly and low fat dressings.
- Install a juicer in the kitchen and avoid soda, energy drinks or packaged drinks.
- Providing a spacious refrigerator for employees to bring home-cooked meals.
- Offer fruit, nuts or protein bars to encourage mindful snacking during breaks.
Get moving
Many companies now offer fitness programs or gyms to improve employee health. When planning, it is vital to consider your group’s preferences and abilities for better participation. Some may prefer yoga or Zumba, while others like more vigorous exercises. To promote fitness at work:
- Share sign-up sheets for group workouts, whether in or out of the office.
- Create a dedicated workout space in the office for flexible exercise times.
- Schedule yoga classes after work.
- Organize company-led marathons or walks.
- Sponsor gym memberships or offer discounted fitness sessions with a trainer.
- Introduce incentive-based programs to motivate employees to achieve personal health goals.
A typical meeting involves sitting around a table indoors, which increases the amount of time spent sitting at desks, dealing with emails, taking calls and writing reports. However, meetings don’t always have to take place around a conference table. While standing meetings and desks have gained popularity, some are now going further by adopting walking meetings, which are essentially meetings on the go. It can be a short ‘walk and talk’ with a colleague in another part of the building, or a more organized 20-minute walk with a few colleagues to brainstorm ideas or discuss a problem.
Promotion of Employee Welfare Days
A wellness day can be a special occasion to celebrate employee health or a designated rest day. Offering healthy meals on specific days such as “Wellness Wednesdays” or initiatives such as “Fit Fridays” encourage employees to compete against 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 may include blood tests, BMI analysis, breathing assessments, cardiovascular assessments, EKGs and a personalized health report. Premium packages may even offer a follow-up call with a GP MOT.
Apply an ergonomic setting
To get the most out of workplace wellness programs, it’s important that your employees feel comfortable. Poor ergonomics can cause long-term repetitive stress injuries, but creating an ergonomic workplace can reduce fatigue and boost safety and productivity. Bring in a professional to provide ergonomic office equipment such as sit-down desks, cushions, stools and chairs with added lower back support for your employees.
Remote wellness initiatives
In the new era of hybrid and remote work, for most of us, work equals screen time. However, remote workers are more often than not far away from any corporate or central office. Extend benefits to those who work from home to keep them engaged 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 accomplish almost everything a live onsite program could. For example, using HealthifyMe programs, available on both iOS and Android apps, can help employees adopt and maintain healthier eating and physical 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 trusted wellness platform like HealthifyMe can manage every aspect of a wellness program, enabling remote workers to meaningfully participate in incentive programs, wellness sessions, challenges, health coaching and screenings. HealthifyMe facilitates leading physical wellness coaching to all employees, regardless of their location.
Providing wellness scholarship
Offering employees the flexibility to choose their own methods of self-care and wellness can be a great approach. Consider providing a fixed annual stipend that covers various wellness resources. By allowing employees to decide what promotes their health, you ensure that they benefit from their chosen wellness method, fostering goodwill in the workplace.
The Final Word
Customize your wellness program to meet the unique needs of your workplace. Listen carefully to the expressions of employee needs and take them seriously. Once you’ve implemented the program, check in regularly for honest feedback on its effectiveness. Be open to making adjustments as needed and actively seek suggestions.
HealthifyMe understands that successful wellness programs are personalized and detail-oriented. Inclusion is vital, involving employees at all levels, including company leaders. The goal of a workplace wellness program is to promote health, so it is important to avoid burdening employees with additional obligations such as strict dietary restrictions and vigorous physical routines.
Research Sources
1. Sedentary lifestyle: Review of updated evidence on potential health risks
