How to create a healthier workplace

More and more employers are seeing the benefits of being concerned about their employees' health. The people who work for you are the most valuable asset that you have in your business and it only makes sense to do what you can to keep that asset in the best working form. This has lead many different employers to take steps to make their place of business healthier for their employees. There are many different ways that you can do this. Best of all you can choose the methods that will fit the logistics of your workplace and fit your employees needs the best. Here is what you need to know about how to create a healthier workplace-

- Offer healthier eating options-One of the easiest ways to help your employees become healthier is by offering them healthier eating options. You can start by cleaning out your vending machines. If your employees only see candy and soda when they walk to the vending machine then that's what they will choose. However, if you fill your vending machines with healthier options in both food and beverages they will be much more likely to make better choices. In addition, when meetings are held put a stop on the doughnuts and other sugary choices that often go along with meetings. Instead offer your employees a fruit and veggie platter, yogurt, or other healthier options. Keep in mind that people tend to eat what is put in front of them so it is important to offer the healthiest choices. Finally, if you have an onsite cafeteria calling in a registered dietician can help you to put healthier food on the menu that still tastes good.
- Offer your employees a chance to exercise-Fitness changes can be made within a business in numerous ways. Creating a culture of wellness means encouraging employees to take the stairs or hand delivery important paperwork. Setting up contests to see who can become the most fit can often get employees up and moving. Many employers who can't offer an onsite gym are taking the steps to offer walking or biking paths around their buildings. You can clear out a conference room for yoga or other fitness classes. Finally, if the budget and space allows you can put in an onsite gym for your employees to use. Many employers worry that the gym will be underused. To combat this many companies require ID cards to be scanned which lets them know who and who isn't using the gym. They can then reward those employees who are using the gym. Finally, as another option for fitness many companies who cannot put in an onsite gym are offering partial or full gym memberships to their employees.
- Offer health screenings-One of the most effective ways to promote employee health is to offer health screenings. There is a wide variety of health screenings that are available. Keep in mind that you can set up a "health fair" once or twice or year and offer multiple health screenings or you can offer a particular type of screening every month. This will be based on the needs of your employees and the size of your company. The good news is that many of these health screenings can be done for little or no cost. The reason that health screenings are so effective is that they can catch potential problems before they become larger. This means the end result is a cheaper and easier treatment for the employee and lower out of pocket costs for the employer. In addition, these health screenings can also serve as a great way to educate your staff about various health concerns and help them begin preventive measures.