Create a culture of wellness in the workplace
It is surprising to think now that the concept of work/health balance in the workplace is a 21st-century one. It seems self-evident these days that work environments should be geared toward maintaining the health of its staff. There are still some companies that consider healthy office initiatives as perks to be cut in lean times, instead of means to a more productive end.
Whether you’re part of a small business or Fortune 500 company, you can contribute to a culture of wellness in your workplace. It needn’t involve rustling a tribe of yoga-friendly goats or trying to organize team triathlons. Fundamental changes can be made incrementally.
SIMPLE EDUCATION
You don’t have to have the title of Wellness Director in your organization to help share basic fitness tips. Many of our friends-in-wellness, whether they’re part of the International Association of Administrative Professionals or Human Resource professionals, have success with passing along simple e-mails or putting up informational flyers. These can be infographics about nutrition, or shared articles on exercises that can be done in the workplace.
Another effective method is to start a private social media group, where those interested in the concept of work/health balance can share ideas. Whether it’s recipes that can be prepared in a company kitchen, or simple breathing exercises while working at a desk, using the “hive mind” to gather ideas to forward along to colleagues is ultimately rewarding for the company’s bottom line.
The information doesn’t need to be conveyed in an evangelical method – if one is told, in effect, “you’re doing it all wrong” by a work colleague, the message will be lost. At the end of the day, the enthusiasm you feel from your own success in adopting work/health habits will persuade others to join in.
HEALTHY ALTERNATIVES
Many studies have documented the correlation between healthy eating and happiness. The concept of “healthy alternatives” can extend far beyond nutritious snacks. Ergonomic office furniture, comfortable work environments, and inclusivity are all fundamental shifts in corporate culture. The money spent to paint an office interior so that it becomes an inviting place to work can imbue employees with a sense of physical and emotional well-being.
THE RIGHT METRICS
Many companies have soured on the phrase “wellness initiatives” because they feel they were promised a bill of goods they never received: a staff with fewer sick days and lower insurance costs. The assumption was that if the company paid for gym memberships or flu shots, all would quite literally be well. So it’s important that when we think of a work/health balance, we understand the goals. Increased productivity and improved office culture are goals worth pursuing!
WORK/HEALTH BALANCE
Does Kenneth, in Accounts Payable, get his reports done with greater accuracy now that he has fresh fruit to snack on, a more comfortable work environment, and is taking part in some fitness challenges with his team members? Now that Audrey in Marketing has a “Wellness Room” for twenty minutes of personal time in the afternoon, is she more productive the rest of the day?
Quite simply, the link is this: a workplace environment conducive to the physical and mental well-being of the staff creates a positive atmosphere. Employees are willing to work longer and with greater efficiency, because they become task-oriented instead of “watching the clock.” The real key is to see the long-term benefits of incremental nudges.
The hospitality industry has been known for being on the leading edge of the former for decades. Since the early 1980s, some hotel chains have been maintaining records of guest preferences, so that when that person checks into a hotel in Albany, there’s already an extra comforter and two hand towels in their room because that’s what they requested last time in Albuquerque. Medical and automotive centers will send out reminders of when service appointments might be made. Identifying patterns beyond the day-to-day, and taking action on them, requires the memory of an elephant.
