When you think about workplace wellness, it can be all too easy to envision a picture of massive employee perks: a smoothie bar in receptions, an exclusive gym in the building, health and wellness professionals on tap. And while all of these are lovely things to have, they’re not essential for the majority of workplaces, although we’re sure employees won’t say no to the perks.
The reality is that for most workplaces, there aren’t practical or even realistic employee wellness options. But there are many different employee wellness options you can integrate easily that don’t bust the budget and become more of a novelty than a help. This post has some ideas of budget-friendly wellness choices you can make to help your employees feel better at work.
Hydration Is Paramount
Hydration, a simple yet powerful wellness strategy, can significantly boost productivity. Did you know that well-hydrated employees are more productive than those who don’t drink water regularly? That mid-afternoon slump when everyone is yawning into their keyboards or the sluggish start to the day can both be alleviated by ensuring your employees have access to water or other drinks during their working day. It’s one of those little health upgrades that people don’t realise they need, and the ability to grab a cup of water at work makes staying hydrated far easier than remembering to carry a flask or bottle of water every day.
This is where water coolers can be massively beneficial. They also work well as a meeting point where people can connect when they get up to grab a drink and stretch their legs (which again is another good wellness tip: having people move around regularly).
Ergonomics Counts
Nothing kills productivity more than a sore back or pain caused by a chair that doesn’t support your body or a desk that isn’t comfortable to work from.
Ergonomics is about removing barriers in your working environment. It’s adjustable desks and chairs that people can configure to work for their body, and it’s the placement of equipment on and around their desks to limit movements and stretching that can cause pain or lead to an injury. It’s placing the screen at eye level to relieve neck pain and reduce eye strain. It’s small tweaks that, when added together, can make life so much easier and improve wellness in one fell swoop.
Movement Matters
Bodies weren’t designed for sitting for long periods or remaining stationary. Yet in many offices, this is exactly what the day looks like. To improve wellness, you need to enlighten people about the importance of getting up and moving around and taking regular breaks from sitting in the same position. Building in movement breaks into the working days isn’t going to cost you a penny, but it could help towards saving money from time off sick or a loss of productivity from accidents or strains or general fatigue from a lack of movement.
It doesn’t need to be full-on breaks of 20 minutes plus. A few minutes of rest or to get up, walk around, roll their shoulders, stretch, etc., is enough and can be massively beneficial.
collaborative post