Most employees spend a large chunk of their waking hours in the workplace which means what they eat at the office significantly contributes to their overall health. This reality allows employers to positively influence their employees towards healthier eating habits. This can be a very challenging endeavor but it is not an impossible one.
The reality is that not all employees will welcome their boss telling them what to eat or not eat. So, what can a company do to encourage healthy eating without forcing everyone to eat salad and banning candy bars in the office? Listed are some recommendations that could help.
Incentivise but don’t penalise
The popular TV show “The Biggest Loser” has inspired many companies and organisations to create their own version of the weight loss program. The rule is often the same: the employee who loses the most weight gets the top prize. If you have the budget for it, giving out such rewards can be effective in encouraging employees to watch what they eat.
But while these exciting weight loss gimmicks are great to jumpstart the company’s health and wellness campaign, it is equally important to make such programs sustainable. One way to do this is to promote an overall healthy lifestyle by offering health-related benefits and incentives to employees.
According to a study, health-related benefits are some of the top perks valued by employees. The research stated that these benefits are even preferred over monetary benefits. Examples of such benefits include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental coverage, free gym memberships, spa and wellness access, and providing free nutritious food.
Incentives can inspire employees and make it easier for them to follow a healthier lifestyle. These can also underline that the company places importance on the health of its employees. However, when giving out such incentives, make sure that they are available to all employees and not just select ones. Avoid programs wherein employees who gain weight or eat unhealthy food get penalised. Instead of being motivational, penalties can cause employees to resent the health program altogether.
Be more creative in offering free office meals
Is your company guilty of bringing free doughnuts for breakfast or ordering pizza for employees during an all-nighter? These food items are very practical because they are fast, cheap, and easy. The problem, however, is that they are not very healthy. You can’t really tell your employees that you want them to eat healthier, then feed them something that is filled with empty calories. If you want to encourage healthier eating ways, this has to be reflected in how you choose meals for your employees.
However, offering healthy meals do not mean that everyone has to eat salad or fruit cups. Encouraging healthy eating is not necessarily equal to asking employees to lose weight. Keep in mind that they also need substantial meals so they can function well at work. Instead of ordering fast-food like burgers and pizza, check out local restaurants where you can order meals instead.
If you’re worried about the cost, you’d be surprised that many restaurants would be happy to offer a lower rate to cater to a bigger group. Some good options that won’t break your budget include restaurants offering international cuisine like Indian, Japanese, Southeast Asian, and Mexican food.
Offer healthy options in vending machines
Vending machines have a reputation for being a junk food havens. If your office vending machine is a typical one, then chances are, it is also filled with candy bars, sugary drinks, crisps, and other junk food. There might be the predictable granola bar but most of these bars are also often filled with sugar and empty calories.
However, there is no denying the fact that vending machines are very convenient, especially in offices that operate 24/7. So how can you get the benefit from vending machines while at the same time discourage unhealthy eating among employees?
In the United States, there is a rule by the Food and Drug Administration requiring food in vending machines to have clear and consistent nutrition information so that consumers can make informed dietary choices. However, the reality is, most people who resort to vending machines are either too hungry or too busy to really take a good look at the food that they’re about to eat. The solution, therefore, is to offer more healthful options in the machine itself.
You can incorporate healthier options like fiber-rich snacks, nuts, coconut water, and nutrition bars in the vending machine. There are now companies that can even supply fresh food like fruit and sandwiches. This will give your employees a much wider range of choices.
However, in doing so, don’t go overboard by replacing every single product with unfamiliar food items like kale chips or weird-tasting snacks. Keep in mind that there will be employees who expect to find a chocolate bar in there or a bag of crisps. By completely eliminating familiar products, employees might feel forced and complain. Instead, aim for at least 50% of the vending machine products replaced with healthier choices. Another alternative is to offer healthier chocolate bars or crisps that have less sugar and saturated fat. This way, they can still enjoy their usual snacks but in a healthier manner.
Respect the lunch hour
Many employees skip the lunch hour and instead, they eat on their desks while multitasking. The usual reason is that they have too much to do and they don’t have time to take a break. Employees taking the extra effort and time to devote to their work may sound like it’s benefiting the company; however, it might just be hurting instead of helping company productivity.
Employees who eat at their desks are not focused on their meals so they tend to develop mindless eating habits. This means eating more than they should or eating unhealthy food without really realising it. This can cause weight gain, low energy levels, and sluggishness. Instead of getting more done, employees will most likely feel sleepy and make more mistakes.
To avoid this, companies must encourage employees to take their lunch hour and avoid eating on their desks. Make sure there is a pantry or break room where employees can eat and stay comfortably. In addition, encouraging employees to take breaks can also contribute to workplace productivity. Studies have shown that taking breaks can help employees recharge so they can focus more on their tasks.
Healthier employees are happier employees
Having a healthy workforce is an important asset any company must value. When your employees are healthy, there will be less employees who will call in sick and they will be more effective in their work. This can result in happier employees and can greatly increase your company’s productivity.