How to help your employees be healthier

Employers are beginning to realize that one of their most valuable assets is their staff. In order to help their staff function at the highest level of productivity employers are taking steps to introduce employee wellness, into their company culture. The good news is that there are simple steps that can help your employees be a lot healthier, that don't cost a lot of money, or take a lot of resources. Here is what you need to know about how to help your employees be healthier-

• Rethink food within the company-It is important to consider the food that your employees are surrounded with, during the day. One of the biggest problems that affect employee health is the vending machine. If you have vending machines within your business, you need to make sure that they are stocked with items that contribute to your employee's health. While soda, candy and chips may provide a short term energy burst, in the long run they are seriously affecting employee health. It is easy to swap out your vending machines to carry water bottles, granola bars, fruit and fruit juice and nuts, which are all far healthier snacks, for everyone. In addition, if company meetings involved doughnuts and other sugary treats, then its time to focus on providing healthier treats. A fruit tray with low fat fruit dip or some healthier muffins can still let your employees enjoy, without damaging their health. Finally, if your business has a cafeteria, then now is the time to revamp the menu to include healthier items. A dietician or nutritionist can help provide guidance in offering menu items that are both healthy and tasty.
• Work on stress reduction-Most jobs have some level of stress. While certain jobs have higher stress levels then others, when employers take the time to manage the stress within the workplace, the result is a healthier staff. If stress is allowed to go unchecked, then your employees could be suffering from stress related health problems that are affecting your company. While you may not be able to completely reduce the stress in your business, helping your employees manage it will make them healthier. This in turn will lead to lower health care costs, less sick time and higher productivity. Best of all, when employees have manageable levels of stress they report higher job satisfaction and morale, which leads to lower turnover. Low employee turnover is also another cost saver, for employers. Employers can help their staff reduce their stress in a number of ways, these include but are not limited to: offering time for exercising, (either through an onsite gym or elsewhere), offering stress management classes and workshops, and providing one on one counseling, for those employees dealing with stress.
• Offer health insurance/screening-It may seem counter-intuitive, however, it has been shown that companies that offer health insurance, have healthier employees. The reason for this is that when employees have health insurance, they are far more likely to go to the doctor for preventive care (which prevents more serious and expensive problems), and if they do develop a health problem, they do sooner, which means that their problems are easier to treat and less expensive. Either way, employers reap the benefits of paying less in health insurance premiums and having a healthier and more productive workforce. In addition, to offering health insurance, employers should offer health screenings to their employees. Even a simple flu shot can prevent widespread absenteeism and help make your workforce much healthier. Also, health screenings can detect problems before they even become symptomatic, thus making them much easier to treat.