Home » Blog » How can you do to help make your workforce healthier?

So, we are just about to hit March, all the new year’s resolutions may have been forgotten, but not by you… what should you be doing to help your employees have a healthier life?

Here are some ideas.

1. Promote healthy eating

Not only does offering free healthy snacks to employees help embed healthy eating practices across the workforce, it is also proven to increase productivity and retain staff.

British corporate catering firm Eat Club surveyed 1,050 professionals from small to medium-sized business and found that 60% of staff would be happier if their employers offered free health snacks or meals.  Maybe the word ‘free helps’.

Healthy eating also means taking time away from your desk to eat and digest whilst not reading your emails at the same time.  Not to mention actually enjoying it too.

2. Offer a subsidised gym membership

A gym membership is a popular work benefit, particularly for younger employees. In fact, it was one of the top three staff perks among one in five workers aged 20 to 30 in a study by PWC.

There is a lot to be gained by offering a gym membership to employees. Researchers at Stockholm University concluded that businesses who offer this benefit have higher productivity levels and reduced sickness absence.

3. Support smoking cessation

According to the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), UK businesses pick up a bill to the tune of £8.7 billion per year as a result of lost productivity due to smoking breaks and related sick leave.

Smoking cessation support can include cessation programs, online counselling and social support services, medication, and behavioural support.

4. Get them away from their desks

Set up a lunchtime walking group or have meetings outside in the fresh air. They don’t all need to be done in a room.  The nights are getting lighter, maybe look at things that are local to your office where you could go for a taster ie rock climbing, paddle boarding etc.  Or you can set up a walking challenge to see who can walk the most steps each month.

Yes we are on a roll, there is so many things you can do.  What are you doing to help your employees be healthier?

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