Corporate Benefits, People Management, Recruitment and Retention of Talents, Strategic HR

Creating a healthy workforce brings a number of benefits to businesses, including increasing productivity, reducing sickness, and boosting morale and confidence – all of which are factors that contribute to better profits.

Research confirms that employees who exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes, three times a week, are 15% more likely to perform better at work than their peers who don’t.

It’s no wonder employers are realising the connection between the health of their staff and the financial health of their business. Increasingly, business leaders are placing the well-being of their employees as a priority.

1. Leadership participation

Lead by example.

You will see more engagement in health initiatives if it comes from the top. When leaders are seen actively participating, this serves as an incentive for other employees. What’s more, having a healthy workforce is a great indicator of a well-run business.

2. Fitness Breaks

It may be difficult for business leaders to realise the benefit of allowing “fitness breaks” at work, but allowing the team to go to the gym or go on a run can be more beneficial in the long-run for employers.

Consider allowing employees to set aside a work hour for exercising during the day, as long as it did not conflict with meetings. They could make up for the time by eating lunch at their desks or starting early/ staying late.

Not only does this make your company one which attracts athletes, team-players, and sportsmen, but it promotes healthy competition, self-care, and body positivity!

Moreover – when we take care of our team, they become more likely to present a positive public image for the business.

3. Establish a culture of health

One of the key ways to improve the health of your team is to incorporate wellness into the company culture. This is most easily done when it is tied to the goals of a business – and management will support more when it can realize real benefits, such as increased productivity.

You can achieve this by incorporating health into business practice, from company policies to daily work activities. For example, think about providing healthier food choices as well. Remember that a healthy workforce is not just a matter of physical fitness, it is a holistic approach to ensuring that they are well both mentally and physically.

4. Well-being initiatives

A report by the US Department of Labor and Pensions (DWP)showed that when implementing wellness programs, companies had several benefits:

• Absence due to illness reduced by 45%
• Turnover ratio decreased by 18%
• Accidents and injuries decreased by 16%
• Employee satisfaction increased by up to 14%

In the DWP study, companies that implemented health and wellness initiatives reported a return on investment. In one example, a manufacturing company that made ergonomic improvements recorded a 4:1 cost ratio. In other words, for every $1 spent, it recovered $4.17 in program benefits.

5. Communication

It is essential to communicate the availability of any health enhancement programs and highlight their benefits. The more you communicate with employees, the more they will engage.

It makes sense that employee health is on the corporate agenda, since they spend most of their lives at work. With benefits that include better service delivery, better results for individual employees, and reduced disease costs, making the health of your workforce a priority makes all the parties involved win out.