It’s The Little Things That Make A Big Difference

The amount of money spent on health, fitness and weight-loss in the United States remains staggering and only continues to climb. Today it is more common than ever for companies to contribute to their employee’s overall health and wellness far beyond just providing insurance coverage. Here is a sampling of the myriad of ways you can support employee wellness within your company:

1. Install water filling stations/drinking fountains for fresh filtered non-bottled drinking water. BONUS points if you get one that can also refill personal water bottles!
2. Change out the offerings in the vending machine by replacing the high-sugar/high-fat/high-calorie items for healthier options. (Even just ½ of them to start!) Provide plenty of non-soda alternatives such as water, coffee and teas.
3. Start a walking or biking club. Mark trails or create routes to track distance and set times employees can meet up before work, during lunch, or after work.
4. Organize a weight-loss or fitness challenge. There are so many variations and fun programs you can choose from – or you can create your own!
5. Coordinate and sponsor your employees to play on community sports teams such as bowling, softball, volleyball, or basketball.
6. Swap the dusty, silk ferns for live office-friendly greenery. Having real plants throughout the office cleans the air and lifts people’s moods!
7. Provide a visually stimulating workplace with interesting artwork, nature photography, stimulating wallpaper or vibrant paint colors that increase energy and stimulate mood.
8. Partner with local fitness instructors to offer onsite classes for your employees such as Yoga, Pilates, or Zumba.
9. Bring in speakers to educate your staff on topics such as meditation, nutrition, goal-setting, or strategy planning.
10. Schedule offsite retreats or trainings that combine the above two items (# 9 & 10) while making great strides towards achieving business goals.
11. Find organizations within your community that resonate with your business and your employees that you can partner with to encourage and create a culture of philanthropy and volunteerism.
12. Begin an employee book club. Specific books needn’t be dictated by the company, but parameters around topic selection can definitely be established.
13. Create a meditation space that your employees can go to unplug, unwind and refocus for a few moments to stay centered and productive.

In addition to improved health and wellness, many of the above activities also serve to foster improved teamwork, employee relations and company loyalty especially when activities mix management and non-management employees together.