Five Ways To Get Employees On The Track To Good Health

Good employee health is the key to retention and productivity. It lowers the costs of turnover and medical bills. It can be achieved starting with these tips.

1. Push Exercise
Moderate exercise can reduce the risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, back pain, and high blood pressure. These are some of the most prevalent health issues in the US. Help keep your company at high health standards by promoting exercise. There are many ways you can encourage employees to take the time to work out. Here are a few:
- Offer free nightly classes, such as yoga, palates, and aerobics. Many people do not have the time or money to hold a gym membership. By hiring a personal trainer to teach large classes, you can save money that would go to medical bills from sedentary living.

- Bring a gym into the office. The initial cost is really investment in your company's future. It can be a big pull for promising new hires and for those that night otherwise switch to other companies. Keep it well stocked with towels and working machines. This brings the business up a notch.

- For company raffles and holiday gifts, give one that keeps giving. Give gym memberships and gift certificates that contribute to wellness. Gift cards for health food clubs and sporting goods are a good idea. Pedometers and subscriptions to healthy living magazines send the message that corporate cares about your wellness.

1. Easy Ways To Change Eating Habits

- Offer different food in the vending machines. They are usually loaded with garbage in the form of chips and soda. Switch it all out with apples, mini carrots, salads, and sandwiches. Low-sugar natural juice and low-fat milk are good replacements for caffeinated drinks. Just a few changes can help out those who are stuck at the office all day.

- At meetings, serve whole grain products instead of donuts and simple carbohydrates. Opt for orange juice rather than coffee. Juice helps boost energy without the negative long-term effects of caffeine. Serve whole grain crackers with cheese or sandwiches. These things help keep a person focused and full of energy throughout the workday.
3. Let There be Light
- Make sure that the office is well lit and that sun can stream through windows. Those working inside all day long could use a dose of vitamin D.

- Paint the walls light colors and keep the rooms at a warm, comfortable temperature.
These things can help with Seasonal Affective Disorder and possibly with depressive symptoms. Not many people enjoy spending time in cold, damp places. Bringing in some light goes a long way to bring joy and health.
4. Encourage Water Drinking
Coffee break are often filled with coffee, needless to say. Pump up the break room with free herbal tea and water cups with lids that can be taken back to the desk. Serve fruit baskets with fresh replacements daily. Encourage breaks, too. Just getting up and stretching a bit for a cool breath of air can help rejuvenate the mind and body.
Often the office is set at a temperature just right. The downside to this is that people can become dehydrated without knowing it. So if breaks are not a common practice, think about making them one.
5. Teeth Health
Hold a seminar or send out emails to teach these practices for good dental health:
- Brush your teeth at least twice daily
- Floss each day for those hard-to-reach places
- Get regular dental check-ups
- Drink water fortified with fluoride
These practices can get your employees to where they should be health-wise. Just a bit of prevention goes a long way when it comes to wellness.