Tips, Ideas & Updates

Considering how much time you spend at work in an average week, it’s important that your workplace be as healthy as possible. Workplace health can mean a lot of things, from what you eat to whether the staff know each other’s names, so if your workplace isn’t exactly thriving health-wise, make some changes. You’ll probably notice productivity go up as health does. The following are a few good ways to make your workplace a healthier one.  

Get more plants  

Plants do a huge amount for our health by helping to purify the air, so it’s always a good idea to have lots of plants around the office. Staff will generally get involved in their maintenance, and everyone will love the energy of having some living, positive energy in the workplace.  

Healthy drinks and snacks  

Rather than have a supply of unhealthy snacks like cookies and coffee, stock up your workspace with a jug of spring water, healthy teas, fresh fruit and other healthy snacks, so that it’s easy for your workers to grab a quick, healthy bite to eat when they need a pick-me-up. It may cost a little extra to go healthy on the drink and snack front, but you’ll benefit from having a healthier, happier, more productive workforce.  

Better furniture  

Having well-supported chairs and appropriate office furniture can have a huge impact on the health of office workers, so make sure everyone has the best possible furniture for their needs. A good office chair can cost a lot of money, but it may save a back injury, so make sure you’re looking out for your staff with the best possible furniture support.  

A great lunch room  

It’s important that your workers take their breaks and leave their desks once in a while, so having an awesome staff room will make it far more likely that people will go there for their breaks. Have lots of comfortable seating; no phone or intercom to avoid disruptions; no television so that it’s peaceful and quiet; and, if possible, a nap room where employees can grab a quick 10-minute nap on their breaks. A great lunchroom should help to revive and energise your staff, so don’t just provide a table and chairs — for the health of your staff, try and have the best possible lunch room.  

Exercise programs  

If you think you have at least a few interested staff, having exercise classes before work or during lunch can be a great way to get your staff in shape. Whether it’s a morning yoga-and-meditation class, or even organising a small crew to go running at lunchtime, this will provide an awesome opening for anyone on your staff who has been thinking of getting in better health.  

Make it social  

The best and healthiest workplaces are often the ones where people get to know each other better, as feeling isolated can negatively impact your health as well as work performance. Making a tradition out of going to the pub every Friday or even having two or three staff parties throughout the year will not only make your workplace more social, but will help cut isolation and therefore increase the health, happiness and productivity of the entire work environment.