One thing that became clear during lockdowns is that fitness and health are important in people’s lives. As people strive to achieve a new level of work/life balance, wellness is high on people’s agenda and should be on the radar of small-business owners, too.
The fitness/wellness industry has stepped up in response to people’s needs in this space, with innovations and new ideas that help businesses build that ‘wellness at work’ philosophy, whether it’s in a physical workplace or not. These ‘wellness perks’ can help business owners to attract new staff, reduce workforce stress levels, boost productivity and promote a stronger sense of community and comradeship through non-work related shared activities.
So, what can you do to promote health, fitness and wellness at work? Here are a few ideas based on the latest developments in the industry:
- Bring the fitness to them: Whether your staff are in the office, remote or a hybrid, the good news is you no longer need a gym or even a fitness instructor in the flesh to do a workout. There are an ever-growing number of virtual fitness classes and downloadable apps to facilitate everything from a HIIT class, breathing exercises to meditation, and goal-setting.
- Healthy options: Are standing desks available? Are there healthy options in the vending machine? Are there facilities to store and reheat healthy meals from home? Are there some simple ways to facilitate movement – an active video game, a table tennis table or can you put walking meetings into the mix? We all respond when we are prompted and reminded by the things around us so it’s all about exposure and making healthy choices as easy as possible.
- Discounts and freebies: This doesn’t have to be expensive if you can leverage connections with other local small businesses. Perhaps you provide a quarterly wellness offering with a freebie or a discounted offer, be that a discounted gym membership, a healthy food delivery service, free company-sponsored access to a fitness app or a free talk/webinar with a fitness expert.
- Encourage and facilitate time out: Wellness pods are a new trend we’re seeing in the industry – they are basically high-tech ‘timeout’ zones. They work on all the senses – sound, smell and site to eliminate external stresses and encourage people to relax and chill out. For small businesses, there are options that can achieve the same thing without the expense/ Set up a quiet, relaxing space where phone calls and meetings aren’t allowed. Or maybe it’s as simple as introducing regular ‘quick breaks’ where staff are encouraged to stand and remove themselves from their desk area or a system to accrue ‘wellness days off’.
- Team effort: Nothing beats having a common goal and working towards a challenge or fitness event – a fun run, team-based challenge or physical fundraiser – can be a great motivator for the team. These can be challenges you host in-house or you can sign-up to one of the many fitness events and challenges out there. Many of them can be done regardless of employee location.
- Lead by example: As the business owner, if you’re not seen to be valuing the health and wellness principals you are trying to instil in your staff then it’s likely your efforts won’t get the traction you’re hoping for. You need to be part of the activities and make an effort for your own health and self-care to set a positive example for your team. In other words, walk the talk.
- Foster a positive work environment: Build a positive work environment by encouraging work-life balance, recognising achievements, and promoting a culture of support and inclusion.
Overall, promoting health, fitness, and wellness in the workplace can improve employee satisfaction, increase productivity, and reduce absenteeism, while also helping to build a positive workplace culture.
