People & Culture

Work Wellness: How employers can promote a healthier workplace

Making Moves' Director of Operations, Sally Evans, offers guidance on how to make workplaces healthier.

By Making Moves London

June 19, 2023
A desk featuring healthy snacks

“As the place where many of us spend the majority of our time, it’s important that a workplace feels supportive of both the mental and physical health of its staff. Nourishing, balanced food is not only key to maintaining a healthy body, but it also plays a huge role in how motivated, productive, and energised we feel at work. So, it benefits staff and employers alike to create a healthier office environment.

 

From cycle-to-work schemes to designing a more welcoming, mindful breakroom, there are plenty of ways that companies can better support the health of their employees. Approaching wellness as a priority rather than an afterthought can be the key to a happier, healthier, and more productive team.”– Sally Evans, Director of Operations at Making Moves

This article was originally published by London Daily News.

The chair of the Food Standards Agency has claimed that bringing cake into the office should be viewed the same way as passive smoking. And while the effects of these two activities are of course very different, this statement encouraged important debates about how employers could better support their employees’ health.

So, much like policies and provisions for mental health becoming more common, you may be wondering how your company can start prioritising the physical wellness of its employees.

To help businesses get started, Sally Evans from Making Moves shares her top tips for boosting workplace wellness:

Healthier choices and productivity

Alongside a rise in childhood obesity, a 2022 report by The Food Foundation revealed that excess weight and poor nutrition costs the UK approximately £74 billion every year through a combination of NHS costs, lost workforce productivity, and reduced life expectancy. In fact, a similar report found that eating a consistently unhealthy diet can increase the risk of workplace unproductivity by up to 66%. Creating a healthier work environment can therefore benefit both the health of your employees and the overall performance of your company, something which more businesses are gradually becoming aware of.

So, while more indulgent treats are still welcome for special occasions, on a regular basis, you can start by keeping the food offered to your employees as balanced and nourishing as possible. For example, rather than ordering a pizza to the office, try to introduce something a little healthier into your regular rotation. Opting for more balanced meals like veggie burgers, sushi, or smoothies is a great way to fuel your team with plenty of brain food without compromising on taste.

You can also incorporate this health-first approach into your office design by paying extra attention to your breakroom. Creating a welcoming space with plenty of natural light and comfortable seating is important, as it means employees are more likely to take time for a proper lunch break. This not only encourages slower, more mindful eating compared to eating fast food at their desk, but it is also a key social aspect of the office and contributes towards a more positive, productive afternoon.

Cost and accessibility

As well as education around healthy cooking, one of the key factors behind the nation’s poor nutrition is the price and accessibility of healthy ingredients. Especially during the current cost of living crisis, many people across the UK are noticing the stark price difference between more nutritious, fresh produce and cheaper processed alternatives (The Food Foundation). Finding any way to reduce the impact of these costs can therefore be a huge help to your employees, whether they support a family or live alone.

For example, your company may set up an affiliate partnership with a rewards app and provide each employee with a personal subscription. Through these rewards schemes, your staff can receive discounts on a whole host of goods and services, including money off their weekly food shop, recipe box subscriptions, or even local gym classes. However, if you’re a smaller company, something as simple as providing fresh fruit and healthy snacks in the office breakroom can still make a huge difference. This way your employees can keep their energy up with convenient, nourishing food rather than processed snacks or caffeinated drinks that inevitably cause a sugar crash in the afternoon.

Exercise initiatives

For some, it can be a great motivator to participate in company-wide exercise initiatives. These can introduce a healthy dose of competition between employees, encouraging more physical movement in pursuit of a set prize — or simply the glory of winning!

You might set up a competition for consistently reaching a daily step goal, or create an office sports league such as tennis, football, or basketball — putting this to a vote can help your employees get the most enjoyment out of this initiative. These are not only a great way to get everybody active, but they also encourage more social interaction outside of office hours, which can strengthen the bonds between team members. Similarly, implementing a cycle-to-work scheme has the double benefit of keeping your employees fit while also being kinder to the planet.

Just be sure to make it clear to your team that these initiatives are not mandatory, and anyone who cannot or would prefer not to take part is under no obligation to do so. This ensures that no one feels pressured to do something they aren’t comfortable with. Similarly, it’s important to set up a variety of initiatives for a range of abilities, so that none of your team ever feels excluded. These could include achieving the goal of meditating every morning, consistently eating your five a day, or any other healthy habit that contributes towards physical well-being.