05/ 02/ 2007
Face it: The healthier your employees are, the fewer absences you'll have, and the more productive your people will be. But what can you do to keep employees healthy?
The answer: Plenty. By fostering a healthy workplace, you'll help your people live better lives and strengthen your own business.
Here are some ways to start:
Discounts. Contact health-food stores, gyms and fitness centers and other health-oriented businesses. Many will offer discount programs to your employees.
Education. Keep materials available in your employee break room on current health topics. These can include fact sheets on common treatments and preventive health as well as popular health magazines.
Healthy food. Sponsoring a workplace party or gathering? Consider serving heart-healthy food.
Incentives. A small but growing number of business firms throughout North America provide in-house support for employees trying to become healthier. Initiatives include quit-smoking clinics, weight-loss reduction programs and exercise coaching. Many companies provide prizes or bonuses to employees who reach pre-determined health goals.
In-house clinics. Check with your local public health department, HMO or health-insurance carrier to see if they'll run an annual or twice-yearly health fair. These events usually include blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings and mini-seminars on hot-button health topics.
Leave allowances. Progressive businesses provide a non-punitive leave allowance policy--a certain number of hours or days that employees can use to care for themselves while ill or even while feeling under the weather. Better yet, establish leave policies that allow parents to care for ill children.
Modeling. If you're in a position of leadership and authority, you're also in a position to serve as a role model of good health. Be sure your people know about your positive exercise, nutrition and health education habits.
Stress awareness. Progressive managers are always on the lookout for signs of unrelieved stress. A few common signs are short-tempered employees, rapidly diminishing productivity or increasing errors and inexplicable fatigue. By intervening with temporary assignments, offers of assistance or even simple words of reassurance, you can often ward off health problems and even enhance employee retention.
Support services. Many businesses maintain contractual arrangements with employee service organizations to provide third-party counseling on drug and alcohol issues, recommend treatment or even provide guidance on other life issues. One of the upshots of such an arrangement is that you can refer employees with known substance abuse problems for assistance.
Values. Clearly and firmly state your belief in the importance of healthy living. Place the statement in your employee handbook and other employee communications, and praise employees who practice good habits.
By encouraging employees to stay healthy, you'll have a happier and more productive workplace--and a healthier bottom line.
