A health-supportive environment can enhance your employees’ professional experience, enabling them to increase their productivity.  These results can have a powerful impact, help improve employee retention, and help your company or organization progress further towards their goals. However, creating an environment where your employees’ health is promoted can feel like a challenge. Below are some simple changes to ensure your staff’s health and wellness.

1. Organize weekly covid testing 

An easy way for employers to assure employees they are invested in their health is by mandated regular Covid-19 testing. Doing everything you can to maintain a virus-free workplace demonstrates you are doing your part during the pandemic. Although DIY testing options are freely everywhere, not every employee is trained enough to test themselves correctly. Convenient and reliable covid testing for companies in San Diego can provide accurate and quick results. Organizing weekly on-site visits with the help of a qualified specialist reduces the likelihood of an outbreak, leaving staff feeling confident they are safe at work.

2. Encourage hydration 

Regularly drinking water is essential for your health, as the human body is nearly 60% water. It’s also important to maintain electrolyte balance, which helps regulate body temperature and keeps your blood pressure in check.  Staying hydrated is essential to body function and maintaining overall health.  Dehydration can negatively impact energy levels, mental clarity, and concentration, so it’s important to encourage hydration at the workplace to support employee focus and productivity.  Some strategies you may wish to consider include:

Create hydration education

Educating employees on the importance of staying hydrated is a good first step in encouraging good hydration habits. You can encourage the use of apps or other means to keep track of their water consumption habits, and even host friendly competitions to encourage employees to drink more hydrating beverages. 

Provide reusable bottles 

It’s always a good idea to obtain branded reusable bottles for your company. Decreasing plastic waste demonstrates your organization is environmentally conscious. It also makes staying hydrated more convenient for employees, so they don’t have to worry about buying water bottles or commuting with their own reusable bottles.  Finally, you can distribute literature with the bottles explaining general hydration guidelines that can help employees keep track of water consumption. 

Establish hydration stations

The best way to make sure employees stay hydrated is making sure water is easily accessible. Make sure water coolers are well-stocked and maintained.  If you have water fountains, consider adding attachments that make refilling water bottles more convenient.  If you are providing bottled water, consider also stocking sports drinks for those who need to frequently replenish electrolytes.

3. Encourage taking a mental health day 

Understanding that employees sometimes need time off for mental health is essential for maintaining your company’s success and growth. Your staff feeling overburdened and stressed will result in decreased productivity, a lack of motivation, and increase the likelihood of conflict between colleagues. Making sure employees have sufficient paid time off and encouraging staff to use it for self-care will help you avoid these workplace challenges.  Make sure employees know the signs of when they should take a mental health day.

4. Provide daily healthy food options

Making sure employees have access to nutritious and appetizing foods can help them maintain energy levels and focus at work. If you do not have any food vendors onsite, consider making a snack bar available to employees.  You can also approach local eateries that are health-conscious about providing employee discounts, thus encouraging employees to try healthy lunch options.

5. Encourage physical activity 

Regular physical activity not only lowers high blood pressure but also reduces the risk of diabetes and heart disease. It is essential to keeping the body and mind in good health so your employees can manage everyday tasks efficiently.  Some ways you can promote physical fitness include:

Provide gym membership opportunities 

Given the importance of your employees’ health, investing in 50% subsidization of staff gym memberships is a good long-term investment. Encouraging physical well-being will help them to be productive in the office and energetically engage in daily tasks.  It can also help reduce sick time taken, due to the benefits of exercise to immune health and mental health.

Sponsor activities for employees 

Sponsoring events for employees that promote staying active not only helps employees health, but can be a powerful team building tool as well.  One example of how you can do this is by creating a company sports team.  Regular events can help motivate employees to participate and help build morale.  Whether it’s football, basketball, or bowling, these events can keep your employees moving and help bring them closer together.