As far as workplaces go, no matter the varying characteristics, the majority of owners and key management professionals are united in the quest to do what’s best for their employees. There are two key principles that should always be taken into consideration with respect to workforce: wellness and safety.
Designing a Program That Covers All of the Bases
In terms of overall health and wellness, there are a lot of different factors at play for each individual and a well-designed workplace wellness program should strive to take this variance into account.
“It is important when designing a workplace wellness program to have the basic understanding that wellness starts with the individual,” emphasizes Kathi Bratberg, owner of Eat Well Nutrition & Wellness, Inc. “We are each responsible for ourselves and our own health habits. It is something we all must work towards and there’s no magic way to make it happen otherwise. When translated to something that is effective within the workplace, it then becomes all about support. How is your business or organization supporting the overall wellness of each of its employees? Providing resources that make it easier for employees to have access to healthy options that will benefit them most is paramount. Encouragement is important also—it all starts at the top. When positive choices are offered, it reinforces the importance of making better decisions and this becomes easier to follow through with on a daily basis. In playing the supportive role, you’ll be giving your employees the tools that will help them to be better advocates for their own health and wellbeing.
Weight loss initiatives and friendly competition in the workplace is generally fun and motivating. However those that promote a lifestyle change, not just a 21 day effort, will be the most effective in the long run as there is more of a focus on better health habits instead of merely judging results based on the metrics of weight alone. Incorporating wellness initiatives in a group setting does stimulate people to act as well as teaching them new things. The educational piece is crucial; you must have the appropriate knowledge in order to make a positive, lasting change.
Even incorporating small, relatively easy changes like implementing a smoke-free workplace or including healthy options in the vending machines can have a big effect on the culture of wellness in your workplace. You may also consider options for more physical activity including routine breaks for getting up and moving around, providing a fitness center onsite, setting up a rewards program, or pairing up with a gym to offer your employees a reduced membership. A program that sticks to the basics and incorporates preventative aspects is the key to keeping your workforce healthy and energized so they are at maximum production with minimum down time.”
Addressing Specific Health Concerns in the Workplace
Considering the diverse spectrum of health related issues that can potentially affect your employees, you may be looking into correcting a specific aspect of your workplace environment. As allergies and asthma are common issues currently affecting a significant percentage of the population, it stands to reason that some modifications might need to be made to ensure that nothing is adversely affecting your employees’ health and productivity. Dr. Brett V. Kettelhut of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Associates, P.C. offers some helpful tips for evaluating any potential workplace issues:
“There are generally two issues to consider: 1. If the workplace itself is the trigger for the symptoms that are present, or 2. When symptoms are present but are not being triggered by something specific to your working environment.
So, how do you differentiate between the two?
When there’s a workplace issue, normally allergies or asthma symptoms will begin to improve within a very short period of time, such as over the weekend or when on vacation. We always ask whether or not our patients have seen improvement when they are gone in order to determine if there’s a workplace component involved. Sometimes the source of the problem is quite obvious, but other times it can be more difficult to discern. The first thing that an employee who is noticing symptoms at work should do is consult an allergist so we can find out exactly what you’re dealing with. This is due to the fact that the two different causes are managed quite differently in terms of treatment. If it’s a true environmental issue unfortunately the only way the problem will get resolved is to remove the person completely. If a pre-existing condition is becoming worse, the prior and current issues will both need to be dealt with. The main reason to be proactive in this area is that we all know that employees who go to work and deal with these issues are less productive, miss more work, and are likely to experience future health complications as a result.
It is important for wellness programs in the workplace to address those with allergies and asthma. The first thing to do is bring it to everyone’s attention that if there is anyone who is experiencing issues, it’s not normal and not something that they should have to live with. A lot of people out there just end up putting up with the discomfort, but it’s likely affecting their overall work performance and there are effective solutions in dealing with these issues. One of the main reasons that workplace wellness programs are beneficial is because they create awareness; this is a perfect example. I’m more than happy to work with employers in developing their workplace wellness program in this area, which can include setting up a meeting or evaluation with employees or working with the company to ensure that their environment is optimal for their employees to reach maximum productivity while remaining happy and healthy.”
Extending Your Wellness Program Outside of the Workplace
In addition to making changes for the better in your workplace, it is beneficial to organize efforts that get your employees away from their desks and out of the workplace too.
“In terms of planning a program that takes into account the comprehensive wellness of employees, consider aspects that promote physical activity as well as those that promote mental and emotional wellbeing,” emphasizes Katie Anderson, owner and operations manager of Fun-Plex. “Social interaction outside of the workplace helps us to build healthy working relationships as a team without the pressure that can be present in the confines of our office or place of business. Sometimes the best option is to get out of the office and into a completely different environment. When you give your employees a respite from their regular working environment, they are able to talk more openly and it’s a refreshing change of pace. Whether you have actual team building activities planned or just want to give your staff the opportunity to organically mingle while they enjoy the rides and activities we have to offer; they’ll be finding common ground and forming bonds with one another that will translate into better professional relationships and avenues of communication. Furthermore, it’s a gesture that is well-received and very much appreciated by most employees. Off-site events really are the best in terms of overall success in revitalizing employees and allowing them more freedom for genuine interaction on a personal level.”
She continues, “For those who are planning wellness initiatives or future corporate events that promote wellness, consider those that allow employees to get out of the office for some fresh air and targeted interaction. We can set up an event that incorporates your specific goals and outcomes, whether it’s a planned activity, simply allowing your employees and their families to get together and explore the park together for the day, or a mixture of the two. Our new cabanas will be perfect for smaller, more tight-knit events and we have already begun planning on how to incorporate them into our existing corporate offerings next year. With the park’s expansion, we can also accommodate larger groups if you’re thinking about partnering with another company that you regularly do business with or if you’re a larger business or organization that wants to get everyone from different divisions together all at once for an opportunity to meet one another face-to-face.
Our venue is perfect because of the space we have to work with combined with the wealth of options we have to offer. Corporate events at Fun-Plex generally offer a mixture of Employee Appreciation and Team Building aspects. Putting together elements of critical thinking and employee interaction with fun and relaxation makes for a great outcome and time well spent. Whether you’re looking into an all-day adventure in the waterpark or with access to all of the rides, or if want more privacy and structure with organized gaming that can include volleyball, mini golf, BINGO, and so on, we can tailor an event to fit any business’s specific needs and goals.”
Safety Training in the Workplace
Safety is one of the key factors on the preventative side that greatly contributes to overall wellness in the workplace. Implementing the proper training can help to avoid accidents and injuries that have the potential to negatively affect both the employees and the business alike. If you are looking to design a new training program, or to update an existing program by incorporating a new multimedia element, you may want to consider having your own safety training videos produced. This will allow you to focus on addressing the safety issues that are specific to your workplace and training your employees properly in those areas.
“For those who need a professional-looking training video, whether for OSHA compliance or situational training for educational purposes, we are very well seasoned and have many examples of training videos to provide if you are looking for ideas,” advises Mike Domgard, President and CEO of Outpost 12 Studios. “It doesn’t matter if it needs to be animated or filmed; we have the expertise, staff, and experience to produce top quality training videos for your business.”
Outpost 12 Studios is the Midwest’s premier full service production studio, offering all in-house services including 3D, VFX, film and interactive design capabilities. This allows them to infuse your brand and content with their creativity and expertise for a finished product that will capture the interest of your intended audience and effectively deliver your message. Safety videos are among Outpost 12’s offerings that are specifically designed with practical applications that benefit local businesses. Utilizing tools that educate your employees and bring awareness to the key issues that will likely affect them at some point is mutually beneficial and fundamental in the success of your wellness and safety programming.
In today’s workplace, the wellness and safety of employees is at the forefront of discussion. Implementing a program that takes these two areas into account will ensure that your workforce is operating at its maximum potential with little interference from a host of preventable issues. Creating a culture of wellness in the workplace has far-reaching benefits, and it has the potential to positively affect the lives of each and every person that plays a fundamental role in the continued success of your business.