Four Ways to Maintain a Healthy Workforce

The workplace is changing, putting more emphasis on employee wellness and happiness.  Whether or not you provide traditional benefits like health insurance to your employees, you may want to consider adding additional perks to your wellness lineup. Such components of your work environment are crucial, as they can reduce employee turnover and stress.  We’ve got a few pointers on how to foster an environment that supports a healthy workforce. 

1. Encourage employees to use their paid vacation time.

In the past, employers often discouraged people from taking paid vacation. They had the mindset that they were losing money because they’re paying a person to be away from work. In reality, the opposite is true. When employees take some time away from the office, they are able to recharge and reduce stress, which leads to increased productivity when they’re back at work.

2. Make it easy for employees to be active.

Whether you provide free gym memberships, fitness tracker programs, or encouragement to walk at lunchtime, you can help employees get active. Physical activity can aid in brain function, weight management, and reduce the risk of developing many diseases. While such programs have a cost associated with them, you’ll see a great return through fewer call offs due to illness, less reliance on traditional health insurance, and overall increased productivity.

3. Keep their families in mind.

When taking a new job, one of the main factors that people consider is how it will affect their families. There are the basic concerns like “will I earn enough to provide food and a home for my family,’ but what about the other factors? Offering paid time off to parents when they are having a baby or attending school events or field trips is a benefit that most parents will cherish. You may even consider taking it a step further and offering onsite after-school care. This helps parents reduce time spent picking up their children, and assures them of the quality of care children are receiving.

4. Make health a priority.

Sure, traditional health insurance can help employees cover the cost of healthcare. But there are ways you can supplement such benefits, or help employees who don’t receive insurance benefits. Onsite health fairs allow employees to receive blood tests, hearing and vision screenings, and other perks like massages and immunizations. These services can’t replace doctor’s visits, but they can provide employees with a screenshot of their overall wellness. When you schedule regular health fairs, employees are able to track progress and see how any lifestyle changes they’ve made may have directly influenced their health.
Employers want productivity and employees want benefits. Nontraditional benefits and initiatives offer a middle ground where wellness is a priority and productivity comes naturally.