| Every employer wants a productive motivated | | | | It also reduces costs by minimizing waste. By |
| workforce and one of the ways to increase | | | | going green employees will be less exposed to |
| productivity and morale in the workplace is to | | | | harmful pollutants that in the long run may have |
| promote health. When you decide to focus on | | | | harmful effects on health. You can take steps to |
| health promotion, you should look into | | | | get a green environment by monitoring the |
| well-rounded options, options that promote | | | | buildings' air quality, temperature, lighting, humidity |
| healthy bodies and minds in awareness and | | | | and pollutant concentration to ensure that your |
| increase personal self-improvement at little or no | | | | employees are both comfortable and risk free. |
| cost. It is also important that senior management | | | | Some other go green steps you can take include |
| be involved and committed to health promotion as | | | | recycling plastics, cans, bottles, electronics etc, |
| this encourages employee participation. Improved | | | | using green lighting and cleaning products, providing |
| employee health and wellness also equals less | | | | your employees with mugs and eliminating |
| absenteeism, increased focus and increased | | | | disposables. |
| efficiency. Here are just a few tips on how you | | | | Employee participation. Encourage employee |
| can improve employee health and wellness. | | | | participation in company sports teams or leagues. |
| Employee Assistance Programs (EAP). EAP is a | | | | Allow employees to create and lead softball |
| great addition to your benefit package. This | | | | teams or 'walkercize' programs for example. |
| program allows employees to have access to a | | | | Teams such as softball may meet after work for |
| third-party whose goal is to enhance wellness for | | | | practice and events. 'Walkercize' groups could |
| employees and their families. With this program | | | | meet at lunchtime for 30-45 minute walk and talk |
| they can receive confidential advice/assistance | | | | sessions. Projects can be discussed at this time or |
| with marital or family problems, addictions, stress, | | | | the time could be used to network with other |
| loss, finances, parenting and many more | | | | teams. Walks will also encourage employees to |
| depending on the program. This type of support | | | | take a much needed break throughout the day. |
| helps your employees focus on their mental | | | | Taking a break from work allows the employee |
| emotional health in order to be more productive | | | | to return refreshed and more focused. Its a win |
| not only in the workplace but also at home. With | | | | win. |
| EAP's you can provide informational lunch and | | | | Charity begins at home. Any company involved |
| learns on topics that are important to your | | | | within their community encourages employees to |
| workforce. Conduct a survey to find out what | | | | give back to their community in one way or |
| most employees want to hear about - handling | | | | another. Employees can walk, run or golf for |
| teenagers, tobacco cessation, depression, anxiety | | | | charities within the community or get involved |
| etc. and use these sessions to raise awareness. | | | | with charities that focus on health and wellness, |
| Discounts to fitness programs. Partner with a | | | | there are numerous conditions out there of which |
| fitness club in the neighborhood and offer an | | | | employees may not otherwise be aware. Other |
| employee discount to join the club. Alternatively if | | | | than the benefit of satisfaction from helping |
| you have the space, create an in-house gym with | | | | others they also get more knowledgeable about |
| a minimal membership fee. Once both or either | | | | their health and tend to take steps to keep |
| program is set up, schedule an informational | | | | healthy. Such participation would encourage them |
| session that includes a tour of the facility. People | | | | to focus on prevention a step that decreases |
| are more inclined to take the next step once | | | | absenteeism. |
| they have all the information they need to get | | | | Improved employee health and wellness does |
| started. | | | | increase productivity and morale in the workforce. |
| Go Green. Yes going green does have a positive | | | | Think about it. |
| impact on health, thereby increasing productivity. | | | | |