From Monday to Friday, an average working American spends half of his waking hours at the office. For over eight hours, they sit at their desks or conducting repetitive activities, depending on their job responsibilities. Despite these lengthy hours, a surprisingly small amount of consideration is given to the impact of the workplace on an employee’s health and wellbeing.
This is why, as an employer, you must consider working with an occupational medicine provider in order to encourage a healthier workplace. In fact, by investing in a healthier workplace, you’re also investing in healthier and more productive employees.
The Benefits for Employees
According to a 2008 study conducted by researchers from the Orebro University and the KTH School of Architecture and Built Environment, workplace design and office environment actually have a huge influence on an employee’s health, well-being, and productivity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concurred that workplaces implementing health programs are sure to enjoy increased productivity from their employees.
Specifically, investing in the health of employees ensures that the use of sick or vacation days will be less frequent, thus the business will have better attendance numbers. Implementing a greater emphasis on health and well-being in the workplace also carries over to an employee’s personal life, where they can encourage the improvement of their family members’ diet and exercise habits.
Encouraging Health in a Workplace
As an employer, you’re probably wondering how you can begin investing in a healthier workplace. To start, you can incorporate ergonomically designed furniture into the workplace, in which employees are encouraged to maintain proper posture at all times. You can also encourage them to take regular breaks for walks and mental rest, while also reminding them to stay hydrated and stretch periodically throughout the day. Simple as these actions may be, they may make a huge difference in an employee’s health.
To further ensure that your employees are in their optimal health at all times, you can work with a provider offering occupational medicine service, such as U.S. HealthWorks Medical Group. Through them, your employees will always have easy access to healthcare services, especially for work-related injuries and maladies.
Investing in healthier employees is more than just ensuring productivity for your business. It’s also investing in healthier people that can inspire others to put an emphasis on healthy living.
Sources:
Healthy Offices Mean Productive Employees, Occupational Health & Safety
You Are What You Eat…Even at Work, Business News Daily
