Being proactive about employee fitness is the latest development at many workplaces – and for all the right reasons.

Employers are realizing the importance of incorporating this important aspect of life into their organisations and one of the primary reasons for this development is to improve productivity. 

A fit and healthy employee can do more tasks more efficiently than one who is not physically and mentally fit and not suffer from the absenteeism often resulting from poor mental and physical health with its resultant impact on productivity.

However, busy people pursuing their careers and balancing a family life can make health and fitness goals a secondary priority due to time constraints.

Statistics

The stats about work and fitness tell it all. Did you know that 61% of employees are mentally and physically drained in their jobs?

Most of them suffer from this condition as a result of continuous work without taking rests or any other form of physical or mental relief.

In a study it was found that the top five causes of missed workdays are fatigue, sleeplessness, general body aches, anxiety and weight gain. Companies are spending billions of money dealing with all these work-related health issues. When asked about workplace fitness programs, 77% of employees said that they would work out more if their employer introduced fitness equipment such as treadmills in their workplace.

These types of statistics have motivated employers to introduce work and wellness programs at their workplaces. Such programs are designed to meet diverse needs of employees, keeping in mind that different people have different health needs.

Let’s look at some of the health and fitness programs that are popular with employees.

Workplace fitness centres

Forget the commercial fitness centre in town. Companies are now improvising on the little spare room they have to incorporate on-site fitness centres. Although these centres may not be spacious, they have adequate space that can accommodate a sizable number of
employees.

In addition to the standard workout equipment, such centres can also have rock climbing walls and even swimming pools. To enhance their usage, companies employ specialized fitness trainers to give their employees the much-needed support.

Smoking prevention programs

It’s clear that most companies still have employees who smoke cigarettes. Although it may look like a non-essential issue, the results can be quite damaging, especially to the company’s
productivity due to the health issues that are associated with smoking. The smoking programs that many companies have introduced are aimed at sensitising employees on economic and ethical issues related to smoking.

Yoga programs

Yoga has numerous benefits both to the physical and mental state of the person practicing it. A good percentage of employers have considered including it in their workplace fitness programs. The best thing about yoga classes is that any empty room at the workplace can be used for this program. The classes can be conducted in unoccupied conference rooms, unused offices, and if the weather allows, the rooftops can be perfect venues.

Yoga classes help employees to develop better postures, heal back pain, get rid of stress, and recharge their bodies among others.

Summary

There are many workplace fitness programs and we have just highlighted three of the most popular in this article, but many organisations, both big and small are benefitting from a focus upon employee health and fitness. The good news is that most of them report positive results on how the programs have influenced their productivity and the general performance of their organization.

Mayfair – we care.

With acknowledgements to:

http://press.careerbuilder.com/2017-05-23-Do-American-Workers-Need-a-Vacation-New-CareerBuilder-Data-Shows-Majority-Are-Burned-Out-at-Work-While-Some-Are-Highly-Stressed-or-Both

http://www.treadmillreviews.net/working-out-during-the-workweek/

https://www.yogajournal.com/practice/beginners/how-to/office-yoga

Top Tips for Exercising at Your Office Desk

The Challenge

Many people who spend their time at office desk find that they may either have trouble losing weight, staying in shape, or they may feel as though some of their muscles are tight due to sitting at the desk all the day.

Solutions

Some businesses actually have a gym membership plan that either goes through their health insurance policy or their business insurance policy. For people who do have gym memberships provided by their company, getting exercise may not be a challenge.

However, for those who don't have this option or simply don't have time, their only time to exercise may be at workplace or at their office desk. There are some simple office desk workouts that you can do right at your desk to help you lose weight, stay in shape, and relax a little while on your job.

Deskercise

People who spend long hours sitting at their desk or in front of a computer may find that after a while it can cause muscle pain and lead to injury.

Shoulder muscles and neck become tense and sometimes painful after sitting a certain way every day. The posture you have at the workplace is the first thing you can try to fix in order to get in shape while at your office desk.

For many office workers, the normal posture while at workplace is having a strained neck, hunched shoulders, and your head is slightly forward.

The posture you should have is sitting up straight to where your shoulders are in line with your hips, and you head and neck are in light with the rest of your body.

Achieve this by making sure your computer screen is eye level so you aren't constantly looking down or up, causing a strain on your neck.

Your thighs should be parallel to the floor, so adjust your office chair to the proper height if it isn’t already.

Some people even choose to sit on an exercise ball instead of a desk chair since it will not only help you maintain the proper posture, but will also give your core a work out from you trying to maintain balance and posture.

Be sure to stretch your body regularly if you sit at your office desk for long hours.

You can do some simple neck rolls. Roll your head down as if you are touching your chin to chest, then tilt your head towards the right then back to the centre, repeat towards the left. You can do these a few times to help loosen the muscles in your neck.

To stretch your shoulders and arms, stretch the arms out, and then bend them at the elbow your hands are touching the top of the shoulders. You can then try to touch your elbows together, and then move them back to the side, repeat about 10 times.

From the same position, with your hands or finger tips touching the top of your shoulders and your elbows pointed out to the side. Proceed to pull your elbows down, then back up till they are parallel with the floor.

Repeat this flapping motion about 10 times.

Stretch your back by grabbing your right arm rest with your left arm, and then twist your body towards the right. Repeat on the left. These stretching exercises should keep muscles loose and relaxed.

Who needs a Gym?!

And remember, Mayfair Cares.

Workplace health insurance programs are enormously popular because they offer numerous mutual benefits for both the employee and the employer. The best healthcare packages combine both individual and organizational strategies if it is to benefit the employees, their families and the company as a whole.

4 Benefits to employers offering health insurance  

From an employer’s perspective, it is unfortunate that a majority of publicity relating to providing healthcare perks to employees mostly focuses on the added burden that these benefits impose to a company.

However, it is important to look beyond the liability and focus on the overall benefits that come with offering the cover to your employees.

·        Good for the company image

One of the most important components of your company's brand is its public image. By offering a good benefits package including health insurance to employees, you help increase your company's visibility to potential future employees and the general public. Most people use this measure to gauge the company's desirability when seeking employment. To them, this in part shows your commitment as a caring employer.  

·        Reduces absenteeism

Healthy employees, satisfied with their salary package are far more likely to value their jobs and less likely to take days off sick. This is good for productivity and overall job satisfaction. A healthy employee with peace of mind who practices preventative health care is a tremendous asset to any employer and the health care package helps create this virtuous circle.

·        Saves the employer money

The cost of providing healthcare packages, whilst a major investment, is still likely to provide the employer with savings over the cost of sick pay, the cost of holiday accrual during sickness, the cost of temporary staff to cover the sick employee and the cost of managing the sick employee.

 ·        Helps you retain your best employees

Having a strong benefits package that incorporates health insurance will help the employer when it comes to retaining or attracting good employees. It is often the deciding factor when a competitor is head hunting your best people. If you have looked after them well the loyalty factor will usually repay you.

3 Benefits of health insurance to employees

·        It is a valuable perk

At a time when we are always looking to maximise our salary, the healthcare perk is a very attractive one when offered as part of the employment package. Such a benefit offers employees and their families the reassurance of being quickly and efficiently seen in the event of health worries.

·        Enhances job satisfaction

Employees appreciate the care and sacrifice that their employers make by offering them, and often their family, comprehensive health cover. This gives peace of mind that has a positive impact on job satisfaction. It is said that a happy employee is a more productive employee.

·        It’s more convenient

Job-sponsored health cover will help ease pressure of waiting anxiously for doctor’s appointments and enables health issues to be tackled quickly, efficiently and at a time to suit you.

Conclusion

A staff benefits package that includes healthcare insurance delivers benefits for both employees and employers in equal measure. It can be argued that a company is more likely to experience success and profitability for longer with a workforce that is looked after properly by a caring employer.