Employee work better when they feel better

If employees feel better at work, do they work better?

More than likely.

What does a healthy work environment look like though? Lots of variations. Safety, healthy food options, walk breaks, stretching, help to quit smoking, time to pause for a moment and breathe, a private spot for nursing mothers returning to work, and the list could go on and on.

Yes, the availability and feasibility depends on each business, but there are always possibilities and room for improvements. One step at a time is better than no steps at all.

Some very free or inexpensive examples could be walk breaks at lunch. Fifteen minutes of walking can get you away from the desk - good physically and mentally - and perk up your energy level for the afternoon. Depending on the business, employers can encourage employees to bike to work as well. There are also stretching exercises for people to do ¬ anything to get up from the desk for breaks.

A healthy snack station is an example of a small project that can lead to a large improvement.

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, providing healthy snacks for employees can increase fruit, vegetable and whole grain intake; eat snacks that will make them feel more alert, be more productive and have more energy; save time by not having to plan and pack snacks from home or leave work to find a healthy snack; save money by not having to purchase snacks at convenience stores, restaurants or from other outside establishments.

Another middle of the road investment in employee health would be discounts to fitness classes, like Zumba or Pilates.

There are also the more expensive investments, but may also have the bigger payoffs. Some of those would include height adjustable desks and treadmills at the desk.

For larger businesses with cafeterias, there are always healthy options for meals. To encourage those choices, there can be food labels posted by each food, or green and red stickers on the serving spoons to indicate if the entrée is healthy or not.

While it is every person's responsibility to take care of themselves, who wouldn't like a little encouragement and help along the way?

According to the Department of Health, 63 percent of Minnesotans are overweight or obese, 79 percent of Minnesotans don't get enough physical activity (aerobic and strength activity), 78 percent of Minnesotans don't eat enough fruits and vegetables, and the annual health care costs of obesity in the U.S. has doubled in less than a decade.

Yes, we can all see the benefit to the employees, but there are benefits to employers as well. Healthier employees translate into happier employees. Healthier employees also means less money spent on healthcare costs.

Studies associate poor health with reduced employee performance, safety and morale; higher health care (medical and pharmacy), disability and workers' compensation expenses; 3 in 10 Americans entering workforce will become disabled before they retire; decreased productivity at work; elevated absenteeism; elevated employee turnover.

It's time to change things around and work together to support healthier employees.

PartnerSHIP4Health can help any business interested in working on their worksite wellness. Visit the website for a start www.partnership4health.org and get some ideas. It's the perfect time to get happier and healthier employees.