Helping Employees Stay Healthy

Helping-Employees-Stay-Healthy

 

It’s widely acknowledged that jobs which involve a lot of sitting have an impact on an individual’s health. This sedentary behaviour can potentially cause musculoskeletal problems such as neck, shoulder and lower back pain and also increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and certain types of cancer.

 

However, there are a number of ways to combat the health risks associated with a sedentary job. In particular, this involves moving the body more often, regardless of its intensity and duration. Employers should encourage physical activity and ensure the health of their staff isn’t compromised, especially in the post-Christmas return to the office.

 

Building movement into the work day can be a major step towards increased health and productivity. Implementing some of these habits into the workplace will help employees stay healthy, both physically and mentally:

 

  1. Simply standing up every half hour and stretching can make a difference.

 

  1. Make a habit out of standing up when talking on the phone.

 

  1. Drink plenty of water. An employee will need to use the toilet more frequently and also gives them a reason to get up and refill their bottle.

 

  1. Build a routine around a coffee/tea break for example, a 10am coffee and a 3pm tea. The body will crave these breaks and it will become an important part of the work day.

 

  1. Walk over and speak to a colleague rather than sending an email.

 

  1. Gather colleagues together to partake in some general exercise, whether it is a yoga class or a quick 15-minute walk.

 

  1. Make your meetings standing or walking ones. This may not always be practical however if whiteboards, audio-visual aids or note-taking is required.

 

  1. Incorporate exercise into the daily commute by walking to and from work or the train / bus stop, or parking further away.

 

If you require assistance with maintaining a healthy workplace, please contact ProcessWorx on (08) 9316 9896 or email enquiries@processworx.com.au

 

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