Within the scope of health promotion at workplaces, employers can help their employees to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle. They can support their employees living with chronic diseases to stay at the workplaces and prevent further deterioration in their state.
Currently, this endeavor points behind the prevailing legal responsibilities of employers and employees. The cooperation of employers and employees is important to preserve health, to decrease the number of sick-leaves and to make work more efficient. Employees can work for their health individually, too, however it is more effective, if the employer establishes organizational changes in order to preserve all their employees’ health.
The main fields of health promotion at the workplace:
- alimentation,
- physical activity,
- ergonomics,
- mental health and wellbeing,
- regeneration after work,
- work ambiance and community spirit,
- supporting anti-smoker and quitting campaigns,
- reducing alcohol abuse.
Alimentation
In order to create a healthy diet, it is important to stick to some principles in order to achieve results. Therefore…
It is advised to increase the intake of the following foods:
fruits, berries, vegetables, legumes, seeds, whole wheats, unsaturated fats.
It is recommended to decrease the intake of the followings:
refined sugar, added salts, saturated and trans-fats.
Useful tips for workplaces:
- Create greater variety of healthy meals at workplace cafeterias.
- At work-related events, assemble a menu containing healthy meals and drinks.
Physical activity
Regular physical exercises are important not only to keep one healthy, but also to improve sleep quality and to make one feel better, and it also helps to concentrate. Every kind of physical activity is important and useful that interrupts or decreases the amount of sedentary time.
For those without sedentary jobs, it is advised too to have some refreshening physical work occasionally, during work.
Useful tips for workplaces:
- create the possibility for employees to consult with a physiotherapist and physiotherapist (e.g. during employee health visits),
- automatic, pre-set alarms that remind you to workout,
- small notes supporting taking the stairs instead of the elevator and making the stairwell friendlier,
- providing bicycles for employees for commuting to work.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is the science of the interaction of the individual and the workplace.
Its three main fields are:
- physical ergonomics (e.g. posture during work),
- cognitive ergonomics (e.g. mental stress),
- organizational ergonomics (e.g. teamwork, scheduling).
It is important to create a work environment that fits the employees’ needs, where the work equipments and the work processes are convenient and “handy”.
Useful tips for the workplaces:
- purchase ergonomic commodities (e.g. desks with adjustable height, equipment that helps lifting, etc.,)
- involving employees in the furnishing and development of the work environment,
- create flexible working conditions (e.g. flexible working hours, home office),
- rotating responsibilities: have your employees try new tasks/responsibilities for 3-6 months.
Mental health and wellbeing
Employees work hard and efficiently if they are feeling well mentally. Strengthening working conditions and discrimination worsen mental health, while freedom of choice and a supporting work atmosphere improve that. It is crucial to decrease work-related stress both for the employee and the workplace.
Useful tips for the workplace:
- employ psychologists at the workplace to whom employees can turn with their problems,
- communicational trainings for employees and their leaders,
- interactive workshops to help to create a supporting atmosphere and to aid each other’s recognition,
- stress-management trainings at the workplace (individually in person or online).
Regeneration after work
Finding and maintaining work-private life balance is important to lead a balanced life and it is the interest of the employers’, too, since employees can work more efficiently if they can rest and regenerate at home after a hard day of work, or they can have some rest during breaks among harder parts of the work process.
Dealing with work-related problems in the free time impedes regeneration and the quality of sleep, hence leading to worsening performance and the development of chronic diseases.
Useful tips for the workplace:
- create quite areas at the workplace where employees can regenerate,
- organise community events out of work,
- setting the mailing system so that e-mails sent after the working hours arrive only next they, after the start of the working hours.
Community spirit and ambiance
Positive work ambiance decreases anxiety and work-related stress, aids teamwork and hence, performance. Besides, encouraging working atmosphere increases the motivation of the employees, too.
Useful tips for the workplaces:
- organize short community get-togethers at the beginning of end of weeks,
- ask for professional’s help if you encounter more serious problems at the workplace,
- participating in workshops that help establishing a positive work environment.
Support quitting harmful habits
Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption may cause several chronic diseases; therefore it is worth quitting these habits.
Useful tips for the workplaces:
- prohibit smoking and alcohol consumption at the workplace,
- provide the possibility of participation in counseling activities (in person or in a group),
- financial support for participation in nicotine-supplementary therapies.
