Health and wellness in the workplace is becoming increasingly crucial for companies looking to create a productive and engaged workforce. By prioritising employee well-being, companies can create a more positive and supportive workplace culture that can positively impact productivity, morale, and staff retention.

In this article, we will explore the concept of health and wellness in the workplace, why it is important for companies to prioritize it, and practical ways in which companies can improve the health and wellness of their employees.

What is Health and Wellness?

Health and wellness refer to individuals’ physical, emotional, mental, and social well-being. For example across the UK as a whole, poor mental health costs employers up to £45 billion per year.

It is important to note that these aspects of well-being are interconnected and impact one another. For example, physical activity can have a positive impact on mental health, while emotional stress can have a negative impact on physical health.

Why is Health and Wellness Important for Companies?

Creating a culture of health and wellness in the workplace can have many benefits for companies. Firstly, it can lead to a more productive workforce. When employees are healthy, they are more likely to be engaged and motivated at work, which can translate into higher productivity levels. Additionally, healthy employees are less likely to take sick days, resulting in lower absenteeism rates and reduced healthcare costs for companies.

Secondly, promoting health and wellness in the workplace can help companies attract and retain top talent. In today’s competitive job market, employees are looking for companies that prioritize employee well-being and offer benefits such as mental health support, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for physical activity.

Finally, prioritizing health and wellness in the workplace can improve the overall workplace culture. By promoting healthy habits and offering resources such as mental health support and stress management programs, companies can create a more positive and supportive workplace culture that values employee well-being.

How to Improve Health and Wellness in the Workplace?

There are several practical ways in which companies can improve the health and wellness of their employees. These include:

1. Encouraging Physical Activity & Movement: Encouraging employees to engage in physical activity can benefit physical and mental health. Companies can offer on-site fitness classes, organise walking meetings, or provide gym memberships to encourage employees to stay active.
2. Providing Nutritious Food Options: Healthy meals in the office can encourage employees to make healthier choices and maintain a balanced diet. We, of course would like to see companies promote lunch times away from the office, but this can sometimes not happen. Cognitive Athlete helps companies offer education on nutrition and healthy eating to support healthy habits.
3. Promoting Mental Health Support: Providing access to mental health resources such as counselling, coaching, or therapy can help employees manage stress and improve their emotional well-being. Companies can also offer education on stress management and mindfulness techniques to support employees’ mental health. At Cognitive Athlete, stress management is one of our biggest focuses with the clients that we work with. We love to promote simple methods to support this, check out our article on box breathing here.
4. Encouraging Work-Life Cycles: Encouraging employees to maintain a healthy work-life cycle can reduce stress and prevent burnout. Companies can offer flexible working arrangements, such as remote working or flexible hours, to support employees’ work-life balance. If you’d like to read more about work-life cycles, you can just read here.
5. Creating a Positive Workplace Culture: Building a supportive and inclusive workplace culture can improve employee morale and promote mental and emotional well-being. Companies can foster a positive workplace culture by promoting open communication, recognizing employee achievements, and providing opportunities for professional development.

In conclusion, prioritising health and wellness in the workplace is becoming increasingly important for companies looking to create a productive and engaged workforce.

By offering resources and promoting healthy habits, companies can create a more positive and supportive workplace culture that values employee well-being. This, in turn, can lead to higher productivity levels, lower absenteeism rates, and a more loyal workforce.

The first step that Cognitive Athlete takes in this is our PEC study, where we look at the company’s Performance, Engagement and Culture to create discussion surrounding health and wellness. If you are interested in this for yourself and your company, book a call with Lee Eldridge, our founder, to discuss more here.