Long hours, digital exhaustion, limited physical activity, and high levels of pressure. Sound familiar? These are the modern standards for the workplace, where people sit for hours at a screen, whether they’re working from home or in-office and only standing to grab a cup of coffee, or perhaps to take a quick lunch break. And the pandemic didn’t help, with workers forced to suddenly adapt to a whole new way of working, not knowing how long it would last or if they’d ever go back to how things were, it’s no wonder the general health and wellbeing of so many has been affected.
Keeping your workforce mentally, physically, and emotionally healthy has never been more important. Workers in Australia are at high risk for chronic disease, mostly due to our sedentary lifestyles. According to a 2016 government report, the cost of our workplace conditions is far greater than its immediate impact on individual health and wellbeing. Businesses suffer financially when employees are unwell, with poor health and wellbeing affecting productivity, accuracy, job presence, and staff turnover. Workers are affected by stress, mental and physical fatigue, and sickness, as well as chronic conditions associated with inactivity.
For the sake of both businesses and individuals, it makes sense to adopt healthier practices in the workplace.
Let Food Be Thy Medicine
According to the Australia Institute and BeyondBlue, 3.8 million Australian workers regularly skip lunch breaks. Food is so much more than a convenience. Our televisions are full of gourmet cooking shows and social activities centered around dining, whether a backyard barbecue or a fine restaurant. So why do so many people choose fast-food and microwave ready-meals?
There is a common misconception that healthy eating is either expensive or a hassle to prepare. In reality, people are tired, time-poor, and miseducated about how easy healthy eating can be. As most nutritional experts will agree, a few small changes can have a much greater impact on health and wellbeing than a full dietary overhaul, as they are easier habits to implement and maintain. According to research by the UK’s Fruitful Office, providing fresh fruit at people’s desks boosts productivity and energy levels by more than 10 percent, and encourages employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Providing employees an on-site healthy snacking solution is an effective way to encourage meaningful breaks while saving the costs associated with employees leaving the workplace in search of food or coffee.
- Provide fresh fruit for over 51 percent of workers nationwide who have inadequate fruit intake. Get rid of the biscuits and offer apples, oranges and kiwifruit instead
- Organise a department cooking lesson
- Offer whole food options in the staff canteen
- Stocking nutritious foods, such as trail mix, as well as healthy brekkie options such as “grab and go” breakfast bars and nutritious cereals.
- Encourage proper lunch breaks
- Provide fresh drinking water and encourage regular hydration
What we put into our bodies has a direct effect on our health and wellbeing, and our energy levels. While takeaway and ready-meals are easy options, the long-term impact can show in areas such as pain, inflammation, fatigue, and chronic conditions like diabetes. A few minutes spent preparing fresh meals will not only improve health and wellbeing and energy, it will also positively affect productivity and efficiency in the workplace.
Workplace events are also an opportunity to promote healthy eating. Replacing alcohol-heavy nights and sugar-laden morning teas with activities that focus on social bonding is a positive step towards overall wellbeing. Consider a ten-pin bowling outing, an escape room, or a healthy pot-luck picnic as alternatives to the traditional booze-and-schmooze events of the business world.
“Workers are affected by stress, mental and physical fatigue, and sickness, as well as chronic conditions associated with inactivity.”
Think About It
So much of our mental wellbeing appears to be limited due to working from home or in-office for long periods of time. Staying late to meet deadlines, taking a smoke break to relieve stress, or skipping lunch are all symptoms of a stressful workplace. With so much change in our working environments, now is the perfect moment to make sure businesses are aware of workplace mental health risk factors so they can avoid them.
Around 20 percent of all Australians between 16–85 experience a mental illness in any one year. And, according to Black Dog Institute, over half of these people don’t seek any treatment, meaning there are a lot of people in the workplace who are quietly suffering. Cultivating a positive, supportive work culture takes time, but the payoff is worth it in terms of staff satisfaction, productivity, and reduced absenteeism.
- Designate a team leader for workplace wellbeing and provide solid support and commitment to the new program
- Engage staff to directly address causes and factors affecting mental wellbeing at work. This can be done anonymously
- Organise posters, brochures, and presentations on the promotion of good mental health
- Train managers to understand the impact of the workplace on staff wellbeing
- Take the time to have a one-on-one conversation with your employees, who are feeling isolated
- Address bullying and related behaviour and reward positive workplace contributions
Get Moving
If you’re one of the 50 percent of Australians who sit down for work, then you’re automatically at higher risk of musculoskeletal disorders, heart disease, obesity, poor mental health, and diabetes. According to the British Journal of Sports Medicine, employers must adapt their working culture and social conventions around the sedentary office. It is recommended that desk-based office workers stand or move for at least two hours each day, progressively increasing to four hours.
There are so many options for encouraging more movement in the workplace or for those who are working from home, each with different advantages. Employers need to provide alternative ways of working to those who have become so ingrained in modern workplaces. Consider the office environment, distance from work, ergonomic office setup, and facilities either at work or nearby. It’s also helpful to think about the physical ability of those in the workplace by creating options that are inclusive for all.
- Encourage regular stretching, standing, and strolling
- Stand up to take phone calls
- Start a workplace sports club such as a lunchtime walk, and after-work soccer game or yoga session
- Offer staff perks such as gym membership and showering facilities for those who walk or cycle to work
In an ideal workplace, everyone would have access to a height-adjustable desk. Given the constraints of budget and space, it’s a good idea to get creative about the way movement is introduced into the office. Imagine finishing a Monday meeting with a simple stretch session. Convert the cafeteria into a yoga space for an hour or pop in some tunes to lift the mood. Think outside the box to get everyone moving!
Ultimately, there’s a huge overlap between mental and physical health and the productivity of employees. Businesses that provide focus and support for the well-being of their staff are more likely to retain talent and perform better, making this a massive consideration for the overall health of a business. Reduced sick days, higher engagement, and happier staff all translate into a high-performing business. Your business is only as good as the people in it, so make health and wellbeing a priority and everyone wins.
