How to detox the office to improve employee wellbeing
Though we may not always realise it, influences in our environment have a big impact on our physical and mental health. If shoulders are looking a little slumped around the office, try these small changes to bring a big breath of fresh air into your workplace.
Invoke a little flower power
Biophilia: Does Visual Contact with Nature Impact on Health and Well-Being? (2009) considers the amazing power nature has on our mental and physical wellbeing. Plants are a proven way to reduce formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and other harmful indoor toxins that could have damaging long term consequences on your health.
Plus, they’re great for productivity. According to Global Human Spaces Report (2015) a global study by Human Spaces, researchers found a six per cent increase in productivity and a 15 per cent increase in creativity in employees who worked in an office including natural elements.
But if you can't afford to cover the walls in greenery, don't worry. Just invest in a few potted plants to place near each team or department. Or place a couple of fresh flowers on your employees’ desks for a gorgeous way to brighten the office and make your people feel great.
Embrace the new school of ergonomics
Think ergonomics is just about sitting up straight? Think again.
Leading edge ergonomics experts are moving beyond the traditional scope of ergonomics to include not only good posture, but also agile working environments designed to encourage frequent movement and offset the devastating health risks of sitting for too long.
That’s pretty crucial considering people who sit for more than 90 minutes at a stretch are at almost 200 per cent greater risk of early death than those who usually sit for less than 90 minutes at a time, found Patterns of Sedentary Behaviour and Mortality in U.S. Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A National Cohort Study (2017). Not only that, the new and improved approach to ergonomics also covers some of the common risk factors associated with eye strain and mental health.
Don’t be afraid to go above and beyond stand up desks. Designate stand up meetings or introduce a meditation room, use exercise balls instead of chairs, and encourage people to stare into the distance to give their eyes a break.
Have more fun
Try as we might to make the office a happy place, sometimes things get tense. Schedule a team lunch (in the outdoors if possible) to watch a funny video and have a laugh as a team.
Focus on your CREW
At the end of the day, work is a social construct. Any perceived lack of fairness can be a big source of toxicity, and can also harm your employees’ mental health.
Interventions such as CREW (Civility, Respect, & Engagement at Work) and SCORE (Strengthening a Culture of Respect & Engagement), have been shown to improve office cultures and reduce the stress, burnout and absenteeism associated with toxic work environments.
Ready to make your employees feel better than ever?
This article was provided by Babylon Health.
Babylon Health is sponsoring REBA's Employee Wellbeing Congress 2018, which is being held on 5 July in London.
In partnership with babylon
babylon is the UK's leading digital healthcare company.
