How to Support Good Employee Health and Wellbeing
13.05.2024

How to Support Good Employee Health and Wellbeing

Good employee health and wellbeing will positively impact both the individual and the business at large. Employer responsibility extends to supporting employees in maintaining good health and wellbeing, and there are various ways this can be done. One great way is by encouraging and promoting physical activity.

The importance of physical activity for employee health and wellbeing

There are many contributing factors to good employee health and wellbeing. This will include maintaining a healthy work life balance, avoiding burnout, flexible hours, and hybrid working. Physical activity should also be included when we discuss wellbeing at work, as it is a vital part of maintaining good health.

The benefits of physical activity at work for the individual

People who work at desks for long periods can suffer from a range of health problems, mostly associated with being in one position for too long. This puts extra stress on specific muscle groups, which will result in aches, pains, and injuries. Health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and certain cancers can also be associated with physical inactivity. Keeping employees active, therefore, can be of huge benefit to their health.

Physical activity can have a positive impact on mental health as well as physical health. Physical activity can help mental health in many ways, including helping to manage stress, managing depression, managing anxiety, improving mood and improving sleep.

The benefits of physical activity at work for the business

Overall, active employees are likely to be happier and healthier individuals. For the business, this can have positive results too. Healthier employees are less likely to need to take sick days. They’re more likely to be focused and engaged, with increased productivity. The working environment will generally be more positive, with motivated employees and improved communication. This often means services and products produced will be of better quality.

Companies that show they are committed to their employer duty of care can create a positive working atmosphere. This can reduce staff turnover and also help to improve recruitment, giving the business an upper hand so it can find the best talent. It can also help to improve the business reputation overall, making it more attractive to potential clients and customers.

How to encourage physical activity in the workplace

There are numerous ways that an employer can help encourage and promote physical activity in the workplace.

Sit stand desks

Sit stand desks are a simple way of encouraging movement throughout the working day. Sitting for long periods can result in injuries, but using solely standing desks can lead to the same issues, putting stress on the legs and back. The key to good health is to improve posture and keep active. A standing desk converter will enable your employees to seamlessly switch their workstation between sitting and standing, giving them the benefits of both.

It's advised to spend around one hour standing for every one to two hours spent sitting, although each individual may have a different preference. The Leitz Ergo Cosy Standing Desk Converter can be easily lifted or lowered in its own footprint, so your employees can simply switch positions whenever they feel the need, with minimal disruption to their working day.

To help support employee health and wellbeing further, you could provide an anti fatigue mat for use with their sit stand desk. A mat will provide extra support for feet, reducing fatigue and leg and foot pain.

Alternative ergonomic office chairs

It’s important that each employee has a suitable ergonomic office chair that provides adequate lumbar support while they work. To encourage activity, you could also offer alternative office chairs to be used alongside a traditional chair, such as an ergonomic office stool or sitting ball.

An active sitting ball is a great way to encourage movement while working at a desk. The sitting ball promotes movement in the core and back, strengthening muscles and improving posture. This can all result in reduced risk of injury, as well as improved circulation. Individuals should alternate between a ball and chair every 30 minutes to avoid fatigue.

For employees that use a sit stand desk, an ergonomic office stool can be a great addition to their ergonomic workstation. The Leitz Ergo Cosy Active Sit Stand Stool can be used at both sitting and standing desks. Designed to be used alongside a traditional office chair, our stool has a rounded bases which encourage movement while you work, strengthening the core and increasing energy levels. Our stool can be adjusted to multiple heights, so you can find the optimum position whether your desk is raised or lowered. If you’re standing, the stool is perfect for providing additional support and reducing fatigue.

Travel to work schemes

There are numerous schemes available for employers to encourage employees to travel to work by bicycle rather than car. These cycle to work schemes give the individual discounts for purchasing or hiring a bike and accessories. Typically, these schemes can split the cost over a period of months and paid for via salary sacrifice, ultimately saving the individual money. If you take part in a cycle to work scheme, it can be helpful to have facilities on site to support this, such as showers, changing rooms, and secure bike racks.

You can also encourage employees to walk to work if your office is accessible. You could distribute information about the benefits of walking to work rather than driving, which should include physical benefits but also the benefits of not using a car. Walking to work instead of driving can save fuel costs, car maintenance costs, parking costs, and also time as people won’t get stuck in traffic jams.

Company sports teams

Organising a company sports team can help to boost morale, improve team bonds, and also improve physical wellbeing. You could conduct a survey amongst employees to see what sports team is most wanted, such as football, netball, or basketball. You could then organise a league with other businesses in the area to play matches against.

If there is little appetite from other local businesses, you could keep the league in-house. If you have enough interest from staff, you could organise sports events or days for internal teams to play against each other.

Lunchtime activities and exercise classes

If you find many employees are taking their lunch at their desks, this could be a great opportunity to organise lunchtime activities. Not only will this help to get people active in the workday, but it can also crucially encourage people to take a break from their work, which can be good for their general wellbeing and overall productivity.

A lunchtime activity can be as simple as going for a group walk. This can be a good option if your office is based in a rural area, as it will help people to get out into nature as well as get them moving.

Alternatively, if you have the right facilities, you could offer an exercise class over lunch. This could be yoga, aerobics, or just about anything that can be done in an hour. If you have remote and hybrid employees, you could also stream the lesson online, so everyone can take part and keep active.

 

Leitz has a huge range of ergonomic office equipment to support productive and comfortable working both at home and in the office.

You can read more about employee health and wellbeing below:

What Are The Benefits of Sit Stand Desks?

How to Set Up The Perfect Ergonomic Workstation

Ergonomics for Office Workers – Employer Considerations