Submitted by: Arati Shah

The workplace is like a second home for every employee. Creating an on-site wellness program is important because the majority of an employees time is spent at the workplace. Statistics from the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention show that an average a healthy individual misses three days every year while an overweight or obese individual misses five days. Not to forget the employee productivity, and the cost to the company. This is precisely why many corporates are adopting ways to look after their work-force. It is also one of the ways to attract talent, create bonding between the employees and decrease the employee turnover.

Good health begins with good food. And what can be better than introducing healthy menu options for the employees in the workplace cafeteria. It is a proven fact that scarcity of time often compels the employee to eat the options available at hand and that usually turns out to be the options from the cafeteria. An in-house company menu which allows the employees to make healthy food choices and not resort to junk eating is an ideal value-add. Moreover, as many company profiles demand travelling, educating the staff about what kind of food selection to make on the go, reading the label can help them immensely.

Empowering the employees with the understanding of healthy balanced diet is a smart way to help them eat mindfully. Nutrition consultations, camps to educate the employees about the various health aspects like portions sizes, essential nutrients, assessing the body composition, workshops to discuss the concerns of the employees, and health assessments would all create an environment of awareness within the organization. Health updates through various newsletters or online updates can be a fun way to educate them too. Outsourcing nutrition experts to design a diet considering the likes, dislikes, allergies, lifestyle, economic status, health conditions, blood parameters, age, gender of the employee can be a tool to motivate employees to look after their health and fitness.

A lot of fun-based wellness activities can also be undertaken by the employer at the workplace. Conducting regular medical check-ups and preventive wellness screenings to diagnose any health conditions on time can be organized. Encouraging employer- sponsored athlete teams is another interesting way to bring employees under a health platform. Measuring the distances in the halls and compounds of the company to set walking goals for the employees can make the employees more active during the day. Many organizations also decide on a theme for the month like no sweets month, a 30 minute walk daily month, a low sugar month, or a salt-awareness month that keeps the excitement going.

Onsite fitness activities like yoga, Zumba, and aerobics can be another step. Research shows that employees who are given these facilities are better at managing stress and can improve their work productivity. Figuring out the rewards for the top achievers not only for the work targets but also for the health goals can further motivate employees to work towards a healthier being.

Occasional absenteeism is inevitable. But habitual absences are the ones that can cost a lot to the employers and compromise on the overall productivity of the company and what better way can there be than introducing health and wellness activities for the employees?

About the Author: Arati Shah is one of the best dietitians in Mumbai (

cafenutrition.com/

) who can also guide one through effective weight loss and corporate wellness programs at her weight loss centre in Mumbai (

cafenutrition.com/weight-loss-consultants-mumbai/

) with same efficacy. She takes personal interest in each and every client of Caf Nutrition.

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