Your company may have a good reputation as an employer in the market. You may be offering competitive pay and benefits, have a diverse staff, good employee retention, and more; however, all your good intentions may go to waste if how your company organizes its work adversely affects the health and well-being of your employees. For many Americans, workplace condition is a significant source of stress. Several studies have shown that the design of a workplace directly impacts employee well-being.
Approximately 15% to 20% of payroll costs can be attributed to voluntary employee turnover, mainly caused by burnout. The cost of overworked and unsatisfied employees is high. The average employee takes 28.5 sick days annually due to occupational stress disorders, such as depression and anxiety.
So, how can you improve the health and well-being of your employees? Here are some simple ways to create a healthier and happier workplace for your staff.
Hire an Industrial Hygienist
Organizations must ensure the health and safety of their employees, whether they are factory workers or senior management employees. Having an understanding of industrial hygiene is essential for ensuring the safety and health of employees at work. The best way to accomplish this goal is by hiring an industrial hygienist’s services, which raises the question: what does a industrial hygienist do?
Industrial hygienists are responsible for analyzing, identifying, and measuring hazards in the workplace. These hazards may cause sickness, impairment of health, or significant distress to employees due to exposure to physical, chemical, biological, or ergonomic agents.
You are responsible for ensuring that any recommendations made by an industrial hygienist to correct any actual or potential workplace issues are implemented.
Promote Health-Related Activities
Try providing sponsorship for your company’s athletic teams to help improve your employees’ health. Many people enjoy playing basketball or softball on a team. It may be appropriate to arrange a one-time event in a year if it is impossible to schedule regular practice sessions and games. Select a charity that organizes yearly events like walk-a-thons or mini-marathons. You can even engage your employees in physical activity by hosting a picnic with friendly competitions and games.
Promote Preventative Health Care
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that 69 million workers miss work yearly due to various illnesses. The provision of preventative healthcare can help to decrease the frequency of sick days and improve the productivity of employees.
Ensure that employees receive regular testing, such as mammography and colonoscopy, as appropriate. The simple act of providing and promoting flu shots could make a significant difference. Participation can be increased by hosting a “flu shot day” at the workplace.
Utilize Effective Tools for Screening and Triaging
Employees are provided with information regarding their health as part of a good workplace health program. This can be accomplished by offering to conduct screenings on-site or off-site and providing follow-up opportunities. For instance, employee screening surveys and risk analysis can generate valuable feedback that can be used to motivate employees to take action to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
A summary of employee health data provides an overview of your organization’s health status. Depending on your available resources, this information helps you determine how to prioritize the various workplace health components.
Ensure Your Managers Support the Needs of Their Employees
Most employees work while caring for children or aging parents. Having supervisors who support their efforts to balance their personal and professional lives is beneficial to them. According to a study conducted in long-term care facilities, workers with managers who accommodated their family needs exhibited a lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Researchers have examined training programs for managers in the healthcare and grocery industries to improve health and work-life balance by increasing family-friendly behaviors. It was also beneficial for employers since workers whose managers had been trained were more satisfied with their jobs, performed better, and had a lower tendency to leave their position.
Incentives and Reward Programs
Incentives and rewards can motivate employees to improve their well-being by offering them an incentive or reward they value or desire. Programs like these can be easily incorporated into other initiatives as well. Using an incentive, you can encourage employees to participate in fitness challenges sponsored by the company. You can also reward employees who consistently achieve fitness goals by providing them with wearable devices that track their progress.
You do not have to spend a great deal of money on rewards and incentives. It may be smart to offer a day off from work or a gym membership as an incentive. Consider offering a gift basket of nutritious foods or a subscription to a health-related program. Your employees can benefit from virtually anything as long as it is valuable to them.
Wrapping Up
The examples presented here demonstrate that many strategies that enhance the well-being of employees also benefit employers. That should not come as a surprise.
Ultimately, companies that prioritize the health and well-being of their employees are likely to have employees who are also concerned about the company’s well-being. And that is an outcome that every good leader strives for.
