Workplace wellness: how to look after your employees
At the heart of any company are hard-working and dedicated employees. Your appreciation for your workforce should go further than simply enabling them to do their jobs well; you should make sure they’re well looked after too. For advice on how to take care of your staff members, keep reading.
Provide comfortable workstations
The health of your workers is paramount and as a manager, their wellbeing should be at the top of your list of priorities. If your employees are sat in front of computer screens for the majority of their working days, you’ll need to pay close attention to the setup of their workstations. For example, you should provide them with a spacious desk and comfortable chair. Their work surfaces should be large enough to cater for the essentials, such as a computer screen, keyboard and mouse and extras like telephones or filing trays, and they should allow them to carry out their daily tasks with ease. Moreover, your seating solutions should be high-quality, providing your employees with the support they need. Plush chairs with in-built supportive features are ideal as they can prevent the user from straining their lower back. You shouldn’t struggle to find suitable furnishings for your workspace. For inspiration, you could visit your local office furniture store or browse the products available from an online specialist such as Calibre.
Offer a clean eating area
Your workplace should include a clean, spacious area where your employees can prepare and eat food. While a fully installed kitchenette is ideal, simply having a designated space for your members of staff to sit and unwind on their lunch break is sufficient. You may want to take this one step further and offer healthy food options too. You could arrange for a delivery of fresh fruit each week or stock the vending machine with nutritious snacks to ensure your workers are kept well fed throughout the day.
Encourage exercise
In an office environment, employees are often inactive for long periods of time, so it can be difficult to ensure they’re getting the exercise they need. From taking regular rest breaks to going for a short walk during their lunch hour, there are a whole host of simple yet effective ways to encourage exercise in the workplace. Moreover, you could install secure bike storage to inspire your employees to cycle to work or offer subsidised memberships to a local gym.
Be mindful of mental health
While the physical wellbeing of your employees is important, it pays to be mindful of their mental health too. Whether it’s due to their role or a personal problem, if members of your workforce are feeling stressed, this could lead to a drop in productivity, job dissatisfaction and absences if their worries turn into a serious health condition. Simply being aware of how your employees are feeling and offering your support when they need it could be a good place to start.
Treating your workforce with respect and kindness is crucial if you want your business to go from strength to strength.
