It's not exactly radical to say that, the better your employees feel at work, the better their performance will be. However, improving the wellbeing of your workforce is about more than just improving the contents of your canteen menu. It's also about taking steps to help them feel happier, calmer and more confident, so they can bring this positivity into their daily work output.
Boosting the wellbeing of your employees could transform your office's organisational culture, and we're here to show you how its done.
Provide fruit
Guidelines suggest we should be eating anything from five to seven portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Offering a big bowl of fresh fruit to your staff will help them reach those healthy targets, and will also stop them from reaching for the cookie jar. While carb-heavy snacks can leave people feeling sluggish, fruit can give them an energy boost instead. Free snacks will also help to combat the mid-morning slump, when people are too hungry to focus.
Free exercise classes
Adults should be getting 150 minutes of cardio exercise every week, as well as muscle-building exercises two days each week. Long working hours result in your employees sacrificing their exercise to get the job done, while many inner-city classes can prove to be expensive.
Offering free lunchtime workout classes as a job perk can help to keep your staff feeling fit and get their adrenaline pumping while reducing their stress levels. According to the Harvard Business Review, regular exercise also improves memory retention, concentration, and learning power.
On-site massages
Having the details of a good massage therapist to give your staff a quick treatment when they're feeling stressed also improves wellness and boosts concentration. Massages don't just help your staff to relax, they also make them more comfortable at their desk by working out knots and tension caused by leaning over a keyboard.
Allow flexible working hours
When asked what would reduce their workplace stress the most, many employees cite flexible working hours. Whether you choose to allow your staff to work from home a few days per month or you introduce a flexi-time policy, being more lenient about their daily schedules can help to improve employee wellness.
Lectures on interesting topics
Your employee's professional development is another key part of their overall wellbeing. As well as paying for them to attend conferences and interesting networking events, try bringing the events to them and host expert talks in the office. Take inspiration from TED Talks and bring in unusual speakers who may be able to encourage your employees to think creatively about their work.