So, how are you doing on your new year resolutions? I'm feeling smug, I've lost 7lbs since the 2 January after making an effort to cook from scratch every evening and bring in leftovers for lunch using fresh, organic vegetables. I'm now sidelining the kiosk on the train platform where I normally buy a latte first thing in the morning. However, to keep employees on the right track, research from Reed found that 73% of staff felt their companies should be doing more to look after their health and wellbeing by offering gym membership discounts, free fruit, stop smoking schemes or even lunchtime yoga sessions to help reduce stress levels... 

Lewis Woodward, head of Network Marketing, Reed

Reed has noted that more companies are beginning to revise their existing health packages and put in place perks that are designed to improve the well being of their staff. This is a sensible move as research from in December 2007 showed that such benefits were in great demand. With many people vowing to get fit and healthy as part of their new year’s resolutions, what better time for employers to review existing health benefits and make some changes that might revitalize the health of your workforce in 2008.

Case study:
One example of a company that has already taken steps to improve its employee’s health and fitness is Toshiba in Weybridge. It has converted its smoking room into a mini-gym and provides staff with a personal trainer, free fruit, and on-site massages. It also has launched a cycle to work scheme where staff can pay for a bike in installments. The company has also launched a campaign to ensure their staff are not dehydrated, and even encourages staff to check the colour of their urine to see whether they were drinking enough water.

Unhealthy workplaces are companies where there is a high rate of staff turnover and where low morale and absenteeism is rife. Being a health conscious employer helps to attract candidates, who seem to be more aware than ever of the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle. The company benefits in other ways too, with increased staff satisfaction, higher levels of motivation, reduced stress and an overall healthier workforce, leading to less staff downtime through absenteeism.

According to the CBI, sick days cost the economy over £13bn in 2006. More worrying still, the annual Human Resources Workplace Stress survey in 2007 showed that stress is rife within 70% of UK organizations, with this figure rising to 88% of public sector organisations. Just a third of those companies questioned have put in place policies to manage stress. 

What should companies do to improve the wellbeing of their staff? 
Creating a healthier workplace doesn’t have to be expensive – there are simple ways to make great head way without spending a penny – start a five a side football team or buy some herbals teas or fruit – simple changes will go a long way towards your employees feeling that you are concerned about their health.

10 healthy tips

1. Encourage staff to work out, either by building an on-site gym or linking up with a fitness centre in your area and subsidising memberships.

2. Buy a box of fruit for the office each week, or encourage colleagues to start up a kitty to share the responsibility of keeping the team healthy

3. Set up a company sports team such as football or softball

4. Offer flexible hours to enable staff to visit the gym outside of peak times

5. Order healthier snacks for meetings and company events

6. Encourage staff to drink lots of water during the day

7. Be creative about staff reward systems, for example by offering massages
to thank employees after big company successes or new business win

8. Run a cycle-to-work scheme, in which staff are assisted in buying
bicycles

9. Provide a range of herbal teas alongside the traditional tea and coffee

10. Participate in awareness campaigns, such as diabetes week or *** cancer
awareness month by sending informative memos out on the intranet.

Also, encourage team sporting activities that raise money for charity such as Cancer Research’s Race for Life – this encourages team building, raises money for a good cause and gets your staff fit, and don't forget to remind team members to use their holiday entitlement rather than leave it until the last minute or cashing it in.