Years ago, the concept of ‘Wellness in the Workplace’ was unheard of. But, it has become more and more popular in many industries over the last couple of years. In today’s day and age, life is much more demanding, fast-paced and people are spending more time at work. This means less time to exercise and focus on our wellbeing.
This has a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of people. With greater demands come greater stress levels. This has a domino effect which spills into every area of an individual. Sleep deprivation, anxiety and impaired immune systems affect the work productivity of individuals in many ways. From lack of concentration and focus at work to extended absenteeism due to illness.
So we ask:
The answer is:
Looking at the term: ‘Wellness in the Workplace’, the definition as extracted from Wikipedia:
Workplace wellness is any workplace health promotion activity or organizational policy designed to support healthy behaviour in the workplace and to improve health outcomes.
So the strategy is to incorporate this into the workplace as soon as potentially possible to alleviate the above negative impacts of today’s societal effects.
We have researched a few tips on how to introduce wellness into your workplace:
#1
Exercise – Larger companies are introducing in-house gym facilities. This is great, but not all companies are able to facilitate this due to cost constraints. There are many ways to introduce exercise that could cost very little, if anything. Many people have pedometer counters on their phones or watches. Incorporate weekly/monthly step challenges amongst peers in your workplace.
#2
Mental Focus – Yoga and meditation have proven to reduce stress and anxiety as well as to enhance mental focus and concentration. You could incorporate yoga/meditation sessions in the workplace on a weekly basis during a lunch break.
#3
Diet – If the company has a Cafeteria, ensure fresh fruits and vegetables are on offer. Reduce the quantity of deep fried and sugary snacks which cause instant ‘highs’ followed by rapid ‘lows’. Replace vending machines which are filled with chocolates, crisps and sugary, carbonated sodas with waters and healthier snack options.
#4
Team Building – This creates a sense of belonging amongst your team. Building a workplace ‘family’ which builds a network of employees. Staff feel encouraged and a vital part of the team. Encourage brain-storming sessions and discussions regarding the company.
#5
Screening – Encourage your staff to go for annual health screenings. This is vital for longevity. By doing this, they will be encouraged to make healthier choices in the long run.
#6
FIKA – ‘Coffee and Cake Break’, a Swedish 10 minute – 30 minute break taken both in the morning and afternoon as a regular daily schedule would be a fabulous introduction. No work should be discussed during this time.
#7
Massage-type treatments – Create a liaison with a Massage training centre or Salon/Spa to arrange desk-top massages for your staff. A neck and shoulder massage or even hand/foot massage changes the way you feel for the rest of the day.
An integrated, holistic approach to wellness in the workplace is key to providing benefits to your employees that will benefit the company as well. Better productivity and longevity of staff and fewer expenses to the company in terms of sick leave, replacement of staff and on-site injuries.
I will leave you with a few words from Sir Richard Branson:
“The key is to treat your staff how you would like to be treated. People want to work on projects that mean something to them, and be surrounded by colleagues who treat them with the respect they deserve. If all companies took this approach then employee well-being ratings would be much higher.”
Blog written by Michelle Schuur
Beauty Therapy Institute Somerset West.
Email: sw@beautytherapyinstitute.co.za
Phone: +21 72 127 6608
For further information on the Beauty Therapy Institute group of training colleges:
Email Sandy on sandy@beautytherapyinstitute.co.za or call +27 83 457 1965.