With a return on investment of $2.00 -$7.00 on every dollar spent, addressing your employees’ health is critical in remaining productive and profitable in today’s economic times.

Here are five proactive strategies that will boost wellness in your workplace:

1. Healthy food options

Ensuring your employees have good healthy choices for food and beverages can improve absenteeism and production rates, as well as minimize and prevent illnesses. Take an inventory as to what is available in your vending machines and/or cafeteria and switch to more nutritional choices.

Here are tips that will help everyone eat well at work, including healthier options for team meetings.

In this video, we hear how the team at Northern Health BC cultivates healthy eating at their workplace.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4evFm5ml4o[/youtube]

2. Warm up

Commence a daily warm-up program prior to starting work on all shifts. Warming up the body can decrease and/or prevent workplace injuries. Here are some sample warm-up and stretching routines.

3. Walking program

Provide fitness choices such as a walking program on the work site. Begin a healthy competition between departments to motivate your workforce. Read more about the benefits of a workplace walking program, and some ideas for integrating walking into a corporate environment.

4. Quiet space

Dedicate a de-stressing room for employees that require some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of breaks and lunch hours. Read more about what to include in a workplace quiet room.

5. Elect an employee health and wellness advocate

Ask for a volunteer or hold an election for a Health & Wellness champion or better yet, add it to the agenda for your Health & Safety committee. Starting with an employee survey is beneficial for maximum participation. This article explores the benefits of having employee wellness ambassadors.

Looking for inspiration to say goodbye to unhealthy influences in your workplace? Watch how one Canadian school launched into a new era of real food:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1U3ZAzhshfo[/youtube]

Which of these strategies will you try first in your workplace?

Not sure where to start? Learn more about our Health & Wellness programs and let us help!