Professional Wellness: How to Create a Healthy Work Environment for Employees

Posted on November 20, 2023 in Healthy Living

Creating a healthy work environment has become a priority for many companies, and for good reason. A healthy work environment can make all the difference when it comes to employee satisfaction and company image.

What is a healthy work environment? 

There are many ways to define a healthy work environment. The American Psychological Association (APA) says “A healthy workplace fosters employee health and well-being and enhances organizational performance.”

In general, a healthy work environment goes beyond just the physical safety of employees. The APA recommends the following to foster a healthy and productive workplace: “employee involvement, growth and development opportunities, health and safety initiatives, work-life balance and flexibility, employee recognition, and effective two-way communication in an organization.”

Benefits of a healthy work environment

Employees and employers both benefit from a healthy work environment. Employees are more productive, motivated, excited, and engaged when they are comfortable in their workplace. In turn, companies may also experience lower turnover rates, less absences, increased staff morale, and an overall better company image compared to those with less desirable working conditions.

How to create a healthy work environment

There are many ways organizations can create a healthy work environment. Improving office aesthetics, focusing on mental and physical health, and providing ways to develop professionally are all options companies have for supporting their employees.

Improving the office aesthetic

• Add live plants
  • Though it may seem insignificant, the addition of plants can make a huge difference in an office setting. Studies show that adding greenery to a workplace could increase productivity by nearly 15 percent.
  • Pro tip: Here are some good options for indoor plants.
• Incorporate colors
  • The addition of colors is a great way to influence the moods in an office. A pop of color can change the entire environment.  For example, the color blue has been shown to increase focus and concentration. Yellow can inspire creativity and happiness. Purple can help create feelings of confidence and mental clarity. 
• Cut the clutter
  • If your workplace is full of clutter, it may be impacting your employee’s mental health. According to the Speaking of Psychology podcast from the American Psychological Association, “living and working in cluttered spaces causes stress and anxiety and can harm both our mental health and our productivity.”

Focusing on mental and physical health

• Use standing desks
  • It’s no secret that sitting all day long is detrimental to everyone’s health. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Too much sitting overall and prolonged periods of sitting also seem to increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer.” One of the best ways to look out for an employee’s physical health is to provide a standing desk and encourage movement throughout the work day.
• Recognition and rewards
  • Recognizing and rewarding is a great way to keep spirits and engagement up in a healthy work environment. A simple “thank you” or “good job” can be an easy way to show appreciation. A recognition email to a team when they have met a goal or even providing lunch can boost morale.
• Be understanding
  • One of the biggest stressors employees face is finding a good work-life balance. In one survey, 57 percent of job seekers said they wouldn’t accept a job that had poor work/life balance. It’s important for companies to be understanding and empathetic to their employees to prevent burnout and promote a healthier work environment.
• Encourage wellness
  • Companies that encourage overall wellness tend to have more productivity and fewer long-term health care costs. Examples of this include encouraging exercise, offering healthy snacks in the office, and providing incentivized discounts on health care plans.
• Earn trust from employees
  • According to Adecco, 90 percent of working people say that honesty, trust, and fairness are the most important factors in a workplace. Some ways that companies can build trust with their employees are to show compassion, admit when a mistake has been made, and keep a promise after making it.

Professional development opportunities

• Employees want to learn
  • The ability to learn and grow while working at a company is significant to most employees. A Gallup poll found that 87 percent of millennials say that development is important in a job. Learning and mastering new skills not only keeps companies up-to-date but also can reduce boredom, instill confidence, and create happiness in the workplace.
• Focus on education 
  • Education is key when it comes to a healthy work environment. Whether it is offering classes on topics relevant to the company, providing high-quality training materials, or paying for degrees/certifications, focusing on furthering education can improve employee satisfaction and performance.

Healthy work environments mean successful businesses

Workplaces with a toxic environment are more likely to have employees that are drained, unmotivated, and have low morale. This can lead to high turnover rates and companies losing money. Focusing on creating a healthy work environment is beneficial for both employers and employees by improving company image, higher employee engagement, lower rates of turnover, and more.