Ask Yourself: What Is the BEST Way to Improve Employee Health?

A recent finding in the Principal Financial Well-Being Index brings to light one of the more frustrating dichotomies we face in the corporate wellness industry.

Despite the convenience of online resources to educate individuals about healthy habits and monitor progress, ultimately, sitting in front of a computer tracking habits contributes to increased screen time, more sitting, and less movement. It seems that fitting in a five minute walk would be more beneficial for the average worker than, for example, using those precious minutes to monitor calorie intake. As a wellness company, we promote educational resources like online health portals daily, but might they impede employee fitness goals?

The report concludes that the most common employee wellness offerings include online wellness information and educational tools or events, but 25% of employees without gym discounts said they would prefer a workout pass instead.

Today, especially in a corporate setting, most employees are aware of the benefits of exercise. So, all the online health resources in the world won’t do them any good when they are cooped up at their desks all day. Many employees want to move more but simply don’t have the time or energy at the end of a stressful workday.

Armed with this information, employers could better boost employee health with subsidized gym memberships or onsite fitness classes. The good news? 41% of employees agree that wellness benefits in general encourage them to work harder and perform better.

Wellness budgets are typically (unfortunately) limited, but determining the most effective wellness offerings for your company can lead to a more complete culture of health down the line.

Vote for Corporate Wellness Insights as Healthline's Best Health Blog of 2011 Today!

There are eight days left in Healthline’s annual blog contest and we are determined to make it into the Top Ten! Help land our blog on the first page by casting your vote today (and every day until January 31st). Make sure you’re logged in to Facebook or Twitter and follow the steps below to move Corporate Wellness Insights up in the rankings.

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Increase Productivity in the Workplace - Find a Quiet Corner

Many factors contribute to a productive office environment; Among them, a healthy, happy workforce.

If you take a look around, the current corporate design trend features open “pits”, glass-enclosed rooms, and wall-less offices to maximize collaboration and creativity. Many employers feel that an open, airy layout instills a sense of equality among workers and can lead to increased motivation and achievement.

But there are some downsides to this modern, now ubiquitous office interior. The glass walls meant to encourage brainstorming sessions amongst coworkers also serve as a distraction for many. An "open plan" that eschews private offices might increase work-related communication but it also leads to sensory overload. Studies show that open-plan offices can make workers frustrated and insecure. They’re also more likely to suffer from hypertension, stress, the flu and exhaustion.

It’s important to take into account the type of work being done to determine what layout is most conducive to a productive office environment. For creative industries such as advertising or graphic design, open space can greatly increase brainstorming and eventual output by employees. In other fields however, this might not be the ideal set up. Emerging research strongly suggests that people are more focused and constructive when they enjoy privacy and freedom from interruption.

Don’t assume that a sleek, modern design is what’s best for your company just because it’s in vogue. Environmental satisfaction contributes greatly to overall job satisfaction for the majority of employees. Wellness comes in all different forms and an appropriate office set-up goes a long way towards keeping workers satisfied, healthy, and productive.

Social Networks: The New Wellness Frontier

It’s all about the people, people.

Social media is on the rise, especially in corporate settings. “Online media content manager” is a position that didn’t even exist until recently but is now one of the most sought after and critical roles within any company. Some might even argue that a company without an online presence is hardly a company at all.

While it’s true I’m biased as I write this (I am blogging after all), article upon article heralds social media as an invaluable tool for reaching out to employees and implementing change in the workplace. If a CEO wants to create a healthier office environment, social media is a great way to communicate those wellness values from the top down. Social media can drive the culture of a workforce and impact it in numerous ways.

Chris Cartter from Me and You Health notes: With the recent surge in new applications designed for the health industry, it’s a great time to discuss how we can all leverage social network science and social platforms like Facebook to drive adoption of health applications and increase their effectiveness by helping individuals knit together genuine support networks of people they know.

There are real benefits of allowing employees access to social networking sites and online apps in a work setting. Virtual communities are popular forums for engaging with an audience regardless of whether that audience is one of peers, colleagues, or employees. So, use social media to your advantage to monitor, track, and improve company health goals. 

Don’t think your company is a tech savvy, “online” group? Start slowly. As younger generations hit the workforce, online content is becoming an inescapable part of the culture. Embrace the positive aspects of social media and let it change your company for the better.

Overeaters Not So Anonymous - Americans Eat a Ton Every Year

This year, Americans ate a ton of food. Literally! A recent NPR piece discusses the vast amounts of carbs, fat, and sugar Americans eat on a daily basis and what it’s doing to our waistlines. According to the USDA, the amount of food consumed per year is roughly 1,996 lbs per person.

It’s no surprise that Americans are overweight and not getting any slimmer, but the amount of processed, unhealthy fare we snarf down is truly impressive. Chicken, pork, turkey and beef consumption amounts to about 185 lbs while ice cream, yogurt, milk and cheese tip the scales at 630 lbs per person. The good news? The average American eats 415 lbs of vegetables each year. The bad news? Potatoes and corn are at the top of the list and lack the health benefits of nutrient-dense leafy greens.

Armed with this information, what can companies do to encourage healthier food choices in the workplace?

1. Offer healthier foods onsite. Revamp the snack room to reflect the wellness values of the company. Stock baby carrots and hummus instead of chips or pretzels, and oatmeal and fruit instead of candy bars or sugary cereals. Hungry employees will nosh on what is free and/or accessible.
 
2. Launch an office nutrition challenge that rewards healthy food choices. Offer incentives to employees who cook meals at home instead of going out. Give credit to those who bring home leftovers or award points to employees who regularly start meals with a small salad.

3. Host office activities that don’t revolve around food. Go for a celebratory walk with coworkers instead of birthday cake and soda. Take an office trip to a local museum. Or, start a company-wide flag football game.

At the end of the day, most of us simply need to eat less. Portion control is a difficult task when you're trying to eat well but it plays a critical role in carrying our nation to better health. Executive support can tremendously impact employee health and increase a company’s ROI, so help employees eat less and reap the benefits in the workplace.

Don't Gamble on your Employees' Health

Gambling is a risky act. With every spin of the wheel or roll of the dice it’s hard not to let emotions take over. But, if you can dismiss the existence of “luck” and make decisions by the playbook, there’s a chance you can actually walk away with winnings. Trust the facts, play your cards right, and the house doesn’t always have to win.

Let’s take a look at workplace wellness. Some view wellness as an unnecessary expense - a frivolous add-on during tough times - but putting forth the up-front capital for employee health care is the rational, logical, and financially sound thing to do.

Don’t count on luck to keep your workforce healthy. No matter the size of the company or the age of the workers, anyone anywhere anytime can get sick. Investing in preventative measures such as biometric screenings, telephonic health coaching, and smoking cessation can have an immediate, positive impact on employee health, increase the odds of retention (employees are less likely to leave if perks are good), and save the company real dollars down the line. For every $1 spent on workplace wellness, research shows $2-$6 in savings.

With odds like that, who wouldn’t want to make wellness an office priority? As always, feel free to contact Wellness Corporate Solutions for information about setting up a wellness program for your company. Big or small, young or old, every office has something to gain from investing in health. You can bet on it!