Health First
Adopting a health program in the workplace is not only beneficial for employees, but also for the employer as it creates a more dynamic, effective and efficient working culture and environment.
Individuals spend more than 50% of their time at the workplace and therefore delivering a health program in the workplace is important as it promotes positive behavioral patterns, improves dietary habits, reduces absenteeism levels and helps to improve the overall productivity. Poor health habits create unhealthy individuals, which in turn impacts negatively on the workplace. A workplace health program integrating nutrition, physical activity and mental wellness has yielded effective results in reducing stress levels, combating back pain, limiting sedentary behaviour, preventing overweight/obesity, reducing chronic diseases (i.e. heart disease, stroke, hypertension, diabetes, depression, cholesterol) increasing productivity, enhancing satisfaction and employee morale, improving corporate image, reducing absenteeism levels and workplace health costs.
Benefits of Implementing a Health Program in your Workplace
Stronger employee-employee and employee-employer relationships
A health program helps build, maintain and strengthen the relationship between coworkers and supervisors and allows employees to feel appreciated and cared about. This, in turn, impacts positively on job satisfaction and employee morale. An environment in which co-workers are social and supportive further influences a healthier, happier and more dynamic workplace ambiance.
Lower levels of absenteeism, better cognitive performance, and reduced stress
There is no coincidence in that eating well, being physically active and feeling happy enhances the employee’s attitude and work output. Employees are the most important assets of a company and therefore they should be prioritized as one. By replacing the typical sedentary behavior of deskbound work with alternative options, incorporating wellness activities and educating good eating habits reduces the numbers of work days missed, increases employee morale and job satisfaction, lowers levels of stress and depression, improves worker efficiency as well as boosts and inspires one’s mood and motivation.
Improves quality of life and sense of well-being
Adopting a workplace health program promotes a smoke-free environment, positively improves weight status, helps minimize back and ache problems, improve sleeping patterns and further allows the employee to return home in a positive state. Consuming higher intakes of fruits and vegetables, adopting active and relaxing workplace methods makes you feel energized, fresh and promotes an overall feeling of well-being. Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, essential vitamins and minerals, and fiber, which in turn positively stimulate alertness and productivity and improves quality of life overall.