July is corporate wellness month and it is very important for employees to have control over their work lives. People who have a balanced work-life feel less stressed out and pressured at work. They are driven and positive which increases productivity – something every company needs. Employers who encourage a balanced work-life end up with loyal, motivated and hard-working employees. Every employer needs to build and maintain a good relationship with his/her employees as this will create a pleasant working environment for everyone.
It becomes more difficult to find time to act on wellness goals due to longer working days and higher stress levels. Being on a well balanced diet means finding time to plan and prepare healthy meals which can become challenging.
Gert Coetzee, Pharmacist and Diet pioneer who founded The Diet Everyone Talks About believes that it is important for companies to encourage their staff to live healthy lifestyles. Below he lists ways in which employees can encourage work-life balance for their employees.
Encourage a healthy working environment
Employers should make sure that their employees are exposed to a clean and healthy working environment. Workers need to be exposed to clean drinking water, clean toilets, hand washing facilities and clean workstations designed so that they can out their work comfortably and with ease. A clean and healthy environment contributes positively to the wellness of employees which can help increase productivity, staff morale and business performance. As corporates, investing in a corporate wellness programme shows that you care about your most important asset – your employees.
Team Building Exercises
This can be in the form of physical activity which is essential for the body. It is said that the average adult should exercise at least 30min per day but how many of us get time to do this? Go hiking as a team or find a 5km walk/ run in your community and offer to cover entry fee for anyone who chooses to participate. You can also invite a yoga instructor into your office every couple of days to assist and guide the team through a yoga class. Team building will also create a sense of team work in the office.
Have healthy food available in the office
Sometimes people like to nibble on something while doing their work. Healthier options such as fruit and freshly prepared foods should be available. Get rid of the sweets, crisps, doughnuts and drinks that are high in sugar. Bring in the healthy filling snacks such as nuts, biltong, fruits and salads as well as bottled water. This will boost energy, aid in weight as well as reduce the amount of sick days taken. Employees can also take turns in bringing their favourite healthy foods which they can share with their co-workers.
Have a time out area
We all have a bad day every now and then so this should be a space that staff can go to when they need a mental break. This space should have reading material, comfortable seats as well as some flora to create a calming and peaceful environment. It’s nice to have a place where you can have a peace of mind when you’re having a bad day.
For more information about The Diet Everyone Talks About, and where it is offered in your area:
Tel: (016) 362 4890
E-mail: info@the-diet.co.za
Website: http://www.the-diet.co.za/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/thediet.co.za/about/?tab=overview
Twitter: @dietsa
