Creating a healthy environment for employees can improve staff retention, increase productivity and generate a positive culture of wellbeing in the workplace. With all of these potential benefits, it makes sense for employers to invest time and money in ensuring their company meets the needs of its workforce and promotes health wherever possible.Let’s look at a few ways employers can create health-friendly workplaces.
Consider Ergonomics
Ergonomics is designing and creating environments to be the best possible fit for the people who work in them. There are several ways you can factor ergonomics into your company space:
- Desks that can be adjusted to suit people of different sizes and heights. Standing desks are becoming more popular as we understand more about the health benefits of switching your body position throughout the day.
- Chairs that are designed to support the back and promote good posture, with multiple adjustable points so each user can find their best fit.
- Curved keyboards enable users to have their hands in a more natural position as they type to protect the wrists and avoid strain or aggravation of issues like carpel tunnel syndrome.
- Laptop screens or monitors should be at the correct height so the user can hold their head and neck in a neutral position to avoid neck strain or injury.
Use Screen Filters
Employees who spend extended time in front of a screen are more at risk of developing eye strain. Anti-glare screen filters that clip to the front of a screen or monitor offer a cheap and simple way to reduce the impact on the eyes. Some screens have in-built features that can support eye health, such as glare reduction, blue light filter and anti-flicker. You can also access online tools, like the Blue Light Filter Google Chrome extension, to alter your screen display and reduce eye strain. Read more about eye health at work in our article Screen Time and Eye Health.
Review Lighting
Some specific types of lighting have been shown to have detrimental effects on people’s health. Fluorescent strip lighting is one of the main culprits, and as it is the preferred choice in many workplaces around the world due to its low cost and durability, many of us are exposed to this light on a daily basis.
Fluorescent lighting impacts health in a few ways: it generates blue light that can interfere with your body clock and sleep patterns, cause eye strain and headaches or migraines, and some lights flicker and hum, overloading our senses with constant stimuli.
If your workplace has fluorescent lighting, consider replacing it with a more health-friendly alternative. In the meantime, encourage as much natural light as possible into your space – open blinds, sit employees close to windows and consider moving desks into rooms with more windows.
Avoid Presenteeism
Presenteeism is the culture of expecting employees to be physically present in the workplace as much as possible. Some industries, like law and finance, have a strong history of presenteeism, expecting people to be at their desks from early in the morning until very late at night.
Thankfully, this practice is becoming less common as we realise the benefits of rest and respect people’s need for downtime. Ironically, presenteeism can reduce productivity and lead to burnout, negatively affecting the company and employees in the long run. A workplace that promotes health should encourage time off and sensible working hours.
Promote Overall Wellbeing
Companies committed to championing health can bring in external support to provide wellbeing services to their employees. For example:
- Holding a weekly lunchtime yoga or meditation class
- Offering subsidised gym memberships to a local gym
- Hiring local venues for after-work social events to help nurture professional relationships
- Participating in the Cycle to Work scheme to encourage biking into work
- Organising for a local caterer to provide a fresh, healthy lunch once a month
- Working with a mental health provider to offer free or subsidised confidential workplace counselling
- Entering (optional) fitness challenges to promote team building
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