Enhance Your Employees’ Engagement on Health and Safety Matters: 3 Sure Ways

An engaged employee is a safe employee. A study by Gallup found that employees in high engagement workplaces reported fewer accidents, with 25% of the top engaged workplaces experiencing 70% fewer incidents than those in the bottom 25%.

The importance of increased employee engagement in safety is clear. Managers should aspire to create an environment that keeps employees excited about safety. A different study by Queen’s University reveals 20% lower absenteeism in engaged workplaces. Employee turnover also decreases by 26%.

How can you reap these benefits for your company? There are steps you can take to increase employee engagement today.

1. Optimise Safety Training

Teaching adults is very different from teaching children. Participatory methods that take advantage of their life experiences will create success. When you tweak programs to suit the participants, it increases adoption. This way, you achieve integration of the training into daily work activities.

Personalise the Benefits

• A strong training program focuses on making safety as personal as possible. It should not be about helping the company meet regulatory requirements. A personal touch ensures workers are happy to protect their future. Personalisation includes:

  • Personal Perspective

    What’s in it for them? Adults are juggling many things at the same time. Show how the training can improve their lives and watch them get interested. Lead with personal benefit instead of compliance. When they understand safe work practises ensure they get to watch their kids grow, they pay attention.

  • Benefits Outweigh the Burden

    When listing the safety regulations, frame them in a way that caters to the worker’s needs. For example, if they have to wear a respirator mask, talk about the effects of inhaling dust on long term health. Once they realise the true repercussions of dangerous work are personal, things change. They’ll comply from a sense of self-preservation.

  • Compliance Benefits the Workers and the People in Their Lives

    Encourage long term thinking that prioritises safety versus getting a task done. When a worker lives for today, they can be reckless and sustain an injury that leaves them unable to work in the future. Make this clear during the training. It will shift mindsets and help them to understand the importance of staying safe.

  • Use Engaging Teaching Techniques

• Once you get your training material right, check your delivery techniques. Create a teaching plan that is mindful of instruction time. Ensure you leave participants with actionable tips and knowledge. Avoid training sessions that feel like a waste of time.

  You can improve your sessions in the following ways:

  • The Ideal Session Length

    Do you understand the psyche of an adult learner? While they’re able to sit through 90 minutes of instruction, they retain only 20. Break the training into themes and include breaks to prevent eyes from glazing over. Try toolbox talks to breakdown the material into bite-size chunks. A good example is this kit from OSHA

  • Build Behavioral Objectives

    These are training objectives that enable you to measure effectiveness. Use SMART goals which are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Timely. Strong training programs help in creating behavioural change. Set behaviour objectives that cater to the unique nature of your audience.

    Define the audience and consider whether your content matches their needs. Identify the exact behaviour that needs to change as a result of training. Use the training to fill skill deficits.

2. Adjust Your Leadership Style

The main component of participative management is collaboration. Leadership goes beyond enforcing rules and directing your workforce. It involves fostering collaboration through empowerment and problem-solving.

Consult Staff in Health & Safety Concerns

• A common mistake by managers is viewing employees only as a way to get things done. They do not give them a chance to contribute. Avoid these mistakes through the following:

  • Listen to What Employees Have to Say

    Employees feel valued and engaged when what they say is appreciated. Create an environment where you consider the issues and suggestions raised by employees. It will encourage them to take ownership of their work.

  • Engage Employees in Decision Making

    Managers assume they have all the information needed to make decisions on safety. Valuable insight comes from the intellect and experience of employees on the frontline. Learn to consult before making a decision that affects how people do their work. The best tool for improving safety is leveraging insights from the people who do the work.

  • Ask for Input

    Questions are the best tool for a good manager. Some employees never step forward with solutions yet they offer answers when asked. Ask for the thoughts of your employees to be a truly participative manager.

  • Managers Should Lead by Example

• Prove that you are trustworthy by delivering on commitments and promises. Don’t make unrealistic promises while attempting to win cooperation. Broken promises breed resentment and a wedge between management and staff. Only promise what is possible to reassure your team that you’re working for their welfare.

  Remember that your team is always watching what you’re doing. They are likely to do exactly what you do since it shows your values. When you use your position to set a positive example, everybody will follow it. The staff also know you are a person of integrity who believes in the policies they create.

  Make it a habit to interface with the staff by walking around to mingle and talk to them. It’s hard to take directives from a boss who is absent so become accessible. Take a walk around to listen and chat with your team.

• Use Positive Reinforcement to Build Habits

• Humans are creatures of habit and will always do more of the things that bring good consequences. With positive reinforcement, you encourage a culture of ownership and safety. Praise the efforts your team makes. Practice positive reinforcement through these simple steps:

  • Recognise and Reinforce Employee Achievements

    The simple things make the biggest difference. Thanking the team for a continued period of safe operations or praise for valuing safety will go a long way. Employees are happy to go above their job description when efforts are acknowledged and praised.

  • Share Information and Insights

    Create a feeling of inclusion by keeping everyone in the loop. Become a great leader by creating communication systems between all employee levels. Participative communication is the distinction between good and great leadership

  • Support Ongoing Employee Development

    Provide resources and support to help your employees succeed in their project. These can be things like sparing time for a review to lending a listening ear for a decision they need to make. Sometimes this support is a form of training that can empower them.

3. Create a Culture of Safety

Culture is how things get done in your company. It’s not enough to create a great training program and train your staff. You need systems that encourage people to include safety as a part of their day to day work. Here are some practices that you can implement to get started:

Introduce Safety From the Recruitment Stage

• The interview process is more than a chance to know the candidates. It’s a chance to show your company’s core values and priorities. From the start, prospective employees should understand that safety is your central value. Do this through simple things like safety reminders around your workplace. Include safety training in the onboarding process.

• Create Open Communication Channels

• Employers must focus on listening, considering and respecting the ideas from your employees. It encourages your team to come to you with concerns and solutions. Invest in their future by providing the safety skills that they need. When you keep your staff empowered, they become confident and foster a culture of safety. Get your staff excited about safety, to encourage them to be accountable to each other.

• Review the Safety Processes

• Are your uniforms and equipment up to date? Provide your team with the recommended tools and uniforms for your industry. To manage uniform logistics, get a reliable vendor who understands safety regulations. It will save you time and heartache.

  To encourage accountability, choose safety reps that lead their peers through safety exercises. They can be great assets in encouraging your staff to share their point of view, which in turn can prove an invaluable insight into improving your current safety processes.

Conclusion

The steps to improving safety in your organisation are fairly simple.

You need to change your leadership style, review your training materials and create a culture of safety.

With consistency and a commitment to implementation, your organisation will become safer in a sustainable way.

Article contribution by Alsco New Zealand. Alsco aims to help create a healthier and safer workplace by providing affordable yet high-quality uniform rental service and hospital-grade first aid solutions.

Photo: Wallpaper Flare

How to Build a Sustainable Safety Culture Through Employee Mind-Set Shifts

Culture eats strategy for breakfast. This phrase is a popular catchphrase but still remains true. While workplace culture has become trendy, creating a safety culture remains a struggle. It’s the cornerstone of successfully implementing an effective health and safety program.
Safety culture refers to the mindset, attitudes, and behaviors of workers, supervisors, and owners toward safety in the workplace. It is impossible to fix it in isolation. You need coordinated efforts to create a wholesome safety culture.
It can be daunting to change your safety culture due to creeping complacency. Complacency can lead to catastrophic accidents, injuries, illness and sometimes threats to life. Don’t let this thought cripple you. There is always a way out.

Creating a Safety Culture

A systematic approach to creating a safety culture is the best way to start. Management needs to be on board and supportive of safe and healthy work practices. The goal is to instill new safety-related values in both management and staff.
Remember the core responsibilities of both management and employees in an organization. These roles influence how they view the task of creating a safety culture. If you provide essential first aid kits and create safety training programs with these factors in mind, you’re likely to succeed.

Table 1

Limiting Beliefs to a Safety Culture

There are mental roadblocks that prevent employees and management from immediately adopting safety. It’s important to be aware so you can know how to handle them. While management sets the pace for culture, both workers and leaders need to believe in the need for change. These common limiting beliefs offer insight into how to get support for a safety program.

Employees

When an organization pays too much attention to processes and tools, it’s easy to forget the staff. This prevents employees from trusting their intentions. Underlying feelings are the greatest motivators of behavior. It is important to address these limiting beliefs before they show up and hinder safety in your workplace.

• Limiting Belief 1: Fear of Being Penalized

  Despite their best intentions, many training programs leave employees wary of reporting incidents. They feel like they will be penalized for reporting too many incidents. They get this impression when procedures need staff to only report serious injuries.
  When employees hold back information, the whole company loses out. Management fails to learn from the near misses and other staff members don’t learn what to avoid. Frequent reports of danger are important in building an up-to-date safety policy. It will be able to accommodate changes in weather and unexpected challenges.

• Limiting Belief 2: Feeling Disengaged From Work

  Employees feel disempowered when you enforce a safety rule that makes their work harder. They feel the same if you don’t consult or ask for their input. It’s discouraging when safety rules make work harder than necessary.
  To empower your staff is easy. When the safety team creates new rules, talk to your staff. Understand what they feel about the new regulations. They’ll give you insights you didn’t think of since they are on the frontlines. They have a better grasp of the implications of the rules.
  Managers can also try a policy called “Managed Safety” as opposed to “Regulated Safety.” “Managed safety” gives staff the leeway to wear protective clothing when it’s necessary. Strict compliance with rules is ‘regulated safety.’ It does little in ensuring safety standards improve. In environments with significant variations in operational conditions, “managed safety” is important.

• Limiting Belief 3: Valuing Productivity Over Safety

  Since employees come to work to get things done, it is easy for them to sacrifice safety for productivity. Without a clear incentive to focus on safety, no one wants to be unproductive. Management needs to signal that safety is the priority. Otherwise, employees will conclude it’s okay to focus on results at the expense of safety.
  Management can counter this mindset by creating inclusive safety processes. Take work procedures into consideration while integrating safety and productivity. It sends a message that although work goes on, safety is the priority. It’s okay to pause work to solve safety issues.

Management

All levels of management serve as an example of safety culture in any organization. How they act toward staff and each other sets the tone in a company. When upper management supports workplace safety, it helps the employees embrace it.

Sourec: safetysolutionorgin.blogspot.com

• Limiting Belief 1: Negative Perspective on Culture Change

  Half-hearted implementation happens when managers have a low expectation of the process They expect change to come in years if it ever comes at all. Some are passive while others come in with little to no expectations of change. When this happens, managers fail to gain support from key influencers, build momentum or deliver early wins.
  Managers shouldn’t wait to deliver bad news to a worker’s family to get serious about safety. Find a way to make it personal. This way, you can be able to spread the urgency of safety and cleanliness to your team.
  Change is possible in a few months of concentrated and deliberate effort. When you commit to creating change, nothing will stop you from implementing what needs to be done. Culture is intentional. When a manager is serious, the staff will know and fall in line. Simple things like increasing signage or safety posters can lead to a huge improvement in safety.

• Limiting Belief 2: Over-Reliance on Behaviour Incentives

  In isolation, a behavior-based style of changing culture is defective. It leads to a culture of accusation where people get direct blame for accidents and incidents. Without considering external factors, you lose sight of reality. Well-rounded information helps you learn and put in place improvements.
  Reliance on behavior also leads to false incentive systems. When you reward workers for minimal accidents, it prevents staff from reporting all incidents. They do so to save their jobs and avoid penalties. This prevents your organization from learning about near misses and structural irregularities.
  Introduce structural cues that improve safety. They include signage in the appropriate areas. Place first aid kits strategically around your premises. First aid kits are crucial to a fast response in case of an accident. They are also a great psychological cue that reminds staff to value safety.

• Limiting Belief 3: Treating Safety as an Afterthought

  Reactive safety management is a common problem. Managers focus only on what is measured. When your organization doesn’t reward managers for prioritizing safety, they will keep it as a low priority item. It’s natural to only focus on what will gain praise and a possible promotion.
  Most organizations use statistics like incident rates to measure safety. However, just because there are few injuries at the workplace, it doesn’t mean it is up to the appropriate standards. Change how you measure safety to ensure your workplace gets safer. Don’t expose your staff to unnecessary risk. A well-meaning manager can overlook safety if the wrong metrics are used to measure it.
  Measure safety through proactive action from both management and staff. When you keep track of what the team accomplishes, it makes safety a daily concern. This can include providing clean changing rooms for wearing protective clothing. Keep the workplace hygienic by providing lockers for both clean and soiled uniforms. Managing safety in addition to other duties can be daunting. Consider outsourcing a uniform and cleaning vendor that can save you the headache. Get one that suits your budget and needs.

Make Your Safety Culture Sustainable

Safety culture is a group effort that starts at the top and involves all employees. From the limiting beliefs explored, we realize they are a result of a miscommunication of priorities.
Leadership needs to lead from the top. All levels of management are responsible for communicating the importance of safety. Lead with actions, and your team will soon be on board. Make it personal to become persuasive.
For your employees, the key is consistent communication and engagement. They want to do a good job, and when you keep them in the loop, they feel a sense of ownership. An engaged employee is a productive employee. Work with reliable vendors to help manage the safety needs of your staff, and you can never go wrong.

Photo: Fanjianhua

6 Amazing Tips to Best Manage Fatigue-Related Risks in the Workplace

Imagine being a customer service executive who has to work the night shift. You did not sleep or rest during the day, and now you’ve got to get to work.

After a few hours on the job, you’re tired and dozing off at your desk. The calls have slowed down. And then, there’s one call that stirs you awake, and in your confusion, you are off your desk and tumbling down to the ground.

Does this scenario sound familiar? Work-related fatigue is a common problem.

The most affected group of people are those who work the night shift.

But What Is Fatigue?

Fatigue is the physical and mental state of being tired.

Physical fatigue is the inability of muscles to maintain optimal physical performance.

Mental fatigue is the decrease in maximal cognitive performance. This usually results from prolonged mental activity.

As this article points out, fatigue is more than the state of feeling tired or drowsy. In the work context, fatigue reduces a person’s ability to perform their job as they should.

Causes of fatigue:

• Lack of enough sleep
• Prolonged mental or physical activity
• Underlying medical conditions

Fatigue can be due to both work- and non-work-related conditions. It is important to note that it can accumulate over a long time, thus causing a breakdown.

Work-related fatigue is, in most cases, due to a lack of enough sleep. It is common among people who work the night shift.

Sleep problems are a risk factor for work injuries.

Research indicates that workers who did not rest enough had 1.62 times higher risk of injury.

A 2015 Southern Cross Health Care Group Survey revealed that a quarter of the New Zealand population feels fatigued every day. This number rises to 36% among people under 30.

The survey further shows 11% of New Zealand citizens have fallen asleep while behind the wheel.

It’s easy to see there is a clear link between fatigue and cases of injuries at work.

Useful Tips on How to Manage Fatigue-Related Risks in the Workplace

1. Provide Healthy Meals and Snacks

Source: Brooke Lark

There are various ways in which you can relieve employee stress at the workplace.

You can provide free and healthy meals made from wholesome foods. The food can be placed at different work stations. Employees can then snack whenever they are on their breaks.

This will keep employees healthy and prevent the consumption of junk food, which is common.

Additionally, having meals at the workplace saves time.

Verona Fossa explores food culture at work. She notes that food culture is close to an organization.

Sharing healthier foods creates a sense of connection between team members. This, in turn, boosts employee morale and productivity.

The World Moving and Storage Company offers breakfast at the workplace. Companies such as Sanitarium offer wholemeal food options. Tasman Bay Food Co. also offers healthy meal options.

Start by offering catered meals once or twice a week. You can also offer snacks, tea, water and coffee to keep your employees energized throughout the day.

2. Avoid Overexertion

The body has a way of shutting down from extreme exhaustion. Too many hours on the job can lead to fatigue in the workplace, thus posing a risk.

Working too long can lead to a decline in productivity as the body and mind slow down from exhaustion.

Reduce overtime so employees can work at their greatest levels.

Create a workplace culture that values rest. While you may not ban overtime, put a limit on the number of hours to ensure workers do not experience burnout.

In case your workers have to work long hours, ensure they also have time to take breaks, socialize, commute and spend time with family.

3. Introduce Leave and Holidays

Source: Andrea Piacquadio

Taking time away from work has immense physical and psychological benefits. People who take breaks and vacation time experience lower stress levels.

As a result, they enjoy improved physical and mental health.

Encourage employees to take their leave and holidays. If possible, ensure that such provisions are mandatory.

This will not only be beneficial to them but also to your business.

Taking breaks and holidays prevents burnout. It also ensures you have a re-energized team when they resume.

4. Provide Rest Facilities

Does your organization have a place where your employees can unwind?

Consider providing a clean, safe and comfortable environment where they can rest.

It could be a place where they sit down or nap before their shift or before their commute home.

Rest facilities could include entertainment features like television sets, games and books.

Note: Rest facilities should have good lighting, cool temperatures and tolerable noise levels.

It is a good idea to include green plants, as they reduce stress levels and provide a relaxing atmosphere.

5. Encourage Employees to ‘Work Smarter, Not Harder’

A 2018 survey of working life indicates that almost 1 in 10 New Zealanders have more than one job.

What this means is that a population of over 200,000 people work overtime.

The traditional 40-hour workweek is uncommon for those with many jobs.

Only 5% work a 40-hour week compared to 33% of single-job holders. Additionally, 20% of multiple-job holders work 60 or more hours a week across all their jobs.

Employers should ensure employees understand that working smart promotes productivity.

No matter how much time your employees spend in the workplace, what matters most is what they do.

Remember, you want the job done, but you want it done well. Too many hours at the wheel will only lead to a decline in productivity.

6. Educate Employees on Better Lifestyle Habits

The best way to keep your employees healthy is to educate them on better lifestyle habits.

Once in a while, you can also plan for training that will help in improving other aspects of their lives. Some of the lifestyle habits you can advocate for include:

Tips for Getting Better Sleep

• Reduce blue light exposure in the evening.
• Go to bed early and at the same time every day.
• Turn out the lights when going to bed.
• Remake your bed before bedtime.
• Don’t read or watch television in bed.
• Make your room dark and quiet before sleep.
• Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol, especially before bedtime.

Tips on Eating

• Do not skip meals.
• Have a healthy and balanced diet.
• Establish regular eating times.
• Avoid caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.
• Avoid overeating.
• Exercise regularly.

Take the Next Step to Reduce  Fatigue-Related Risks in Your Workplace

This article gives you six amazing tips on how to manage fatigue-related risks in the workplace. Organizations must continue working toward creating safety culture in the workplace. Provide appropriate workwear, educate and train employees on how to avoid fatigue-related risks.

Employers must also lead by example. They should involve workers in their efforts to build a safety culture.

Photo: Andrea Piacquadio

Basic Prevention Methods Against the Flu

The flu season is upon us, and you need to get prepared. The best cure is prevention, and we want to ensure you’re well-informed to protect you and your family.

There are some simple steps you can do today to improve your defence against the flu.

Causes of the Flu

It is important to know how the flu is spread so prevention tactics are more effective.

The influenza virus causes the flu by infesting the throat, lungs and nose. It spreads when people send droplets of the virus in the air through sneezing, talking or coughing. Touching surfaces with the virus on it can infect you if you touch your face with your hands.

Did you know it is possible to spread the cold before you start showing symptoms? People with weaker immune systems, like children and sick adults, are infected for a longer time.

Flu Risk Factors

There are people who are more prone to catching the flu. For these high-risk people, influenza can be deadly and lead to complications. The following people are at high risk:

• Anyone with lung illnesses like asthma or cystic fibrosis
• People with heart disease
• People with chronic kidney conditions
• Diabetics or people with metabolic disorders
• Morbidly obese people
• Anaemic people
• People with immune-suppressing diseases or treatments

Prevention Against the Flu

There’s good news! The flu is the only respiratory disease that is preventable by vaccination. Prevention measures will reduce the risk of catching the flu. When you make these part of your lifestyle, you’ll manage the flu virus.

1. Practice Good Hand Hygiene

With proper hand washing habits alone, you can avoid most respiratory diseases. These are the diseases we give ourselves when we transfer germs from our hands to our faces. The germs come from touching dirty surfaces or coming into close contact with infected people. The flu virus can live on hard surfaces for 24 hours, so it’s good to pick up the habit of washing your hands.

Essentials you need to have are hand sanitiser and antibacterial wipes. They help you keep your hands as clean as possible. You can also wipe down surfaces you need to touch. Especially in public spaces. Use your sanitiser throughout the day when you are unable to wash your hands.

In addition to washing your hands as often as possible, make an effort not to touch your face. It’s harder than you think. This is why you should keep your hands as clean as possible..

Hand Sanitisers eliminate microbes within seconds.

Proper hand washing technique recommends washing your hands for 20 seconds. Use warm soapy water if possible. Cold water works fine as well. After washing your hands, dry them with a paper towel and then dispose of it. Add helpful posters in your workplace to remind the team about hygiene.

In public areas, avoid using a hand towel because it could become a hub for germs.

Sneeze or cough strategically to avoid touching your face. Use your elbow or a disposable tissue for best results.

Do you know the proper hand washing technique? Here is what you need to keep in mind:

• Using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser:
  • Use a small amount of sanitiser and place it on your palm.
  • Rub it all over your hands until it dries off.
  • This should take around 15 seconds or more.
• At a sink:
  • Wet your hands and use liquid soap if available. You only need a coin-size amount of soap on your hands.
  • Rub your hands until the soap lathers up.
  • Rub over the top of the hands, in between fingers and around the fingernail area.
  • Be thorough and take at least 20 seconds rubbing your hands. To time yourself, sing your favorite song. A common example is the ‘Happy Birthday’ song. Sing it twice.
  • Rub your hands with a paper towel to dry them. Use the towel to turn off the tap and open the door.
  • Avoid using a hand dryer when you can. Paper towels are the most hygienic method.

2. Get a Flu Shot

A flu shot reduces the risk by about 40-60% when the vaccine is well-matched to the prevalent flu. The vaccine works by triggering antibodies within two weeks of taking the shot.

Antibodies help fight the flu strains contained in the vaccine. Although side effects are reported in some people, you cannot get the flu from a flu vaccine.

Who should get a flu shot?

The shot is available for everyone above six months. Get one every year. Discuss with your doctors beforehand to ensure it is safe for you to receive the flu shot. People with allergies and specific conditions can get bad reactions from the vaccine.

If the flu vaccine is in short supply, priority goes to expectant women, children and people with weak immunity. They are at the highest risk of developing complications and need added protection.

3. Clean and Disinfect Surfaces

Clean and disinfect surfaces at home and at work. This reduces the risk of infection since the flu virus can survive for 24 hours on hard surfaces. Disinfecting kills the flu germs and prevents cross-contamination.

Disinfect publicly used items and surfaces several times a day. They include things like doorknobs, toys, light switches and telephones. Quarantine infected people to prevent them from spreading the flu to others. This is important if your loved one becomes infected. Keep them in one part of the house until they stop being contagious.

When caring for sick people at home, wear a mask and gloves when attending to them. Disinfect surfaces to keep you safe and to help the patient recover faster. Remember to always wash your hands after caring for them.

4. Improve Your Immunity Through Diet and Exercise

As you work hard to prevent getting the flu, it is important to strengthen your immune system. In case you catch the flu, you need to be able to fight it effectively. Your lifestyle choices could have weakened your immune system, but it’s never too late to improve it.

Habits that help increase your immunity include:

• Eat a balanced diet with a rich intake of fruits and vegetables.
• Lower stress levels by starting relaxation techniques, gratitude practises and taking breaks.
• Get enough sleep to allow your body time to heal and recover from the business of living.
• Get active and ensure you have moderate daily exercise to keep your body in good shape.
• Make good hygiene a habit to prevent cross-contamination from sick people or dirty surfaces.
• Increase your vitamin D intake. If possible, get sufficient sunlight, and take supplements and eat food rich in vitamin D, like salmon and tuna.

5. Keep Confined Spaces Hygienic

Crowded or heavy-use areas like workplaces and schools are high infection zones. They can lead to the easy spread of an epidemic. A study reveals that one doorknob can spread a virus to 40-60% of workers within 2-4 hours of contamination. It’s important to go home immediately when someone has the flu. Spreading it is very easy.

The same concern should be extended to schools. People are in close proximity and use the same facilities. Avoiding crowds is difficult, but limiting contact as much as possible is advised, especially during a pandemic. If your immune system is weak, wear a facemask when in public.

‘’Good health is good business.’’ — Paul Drechsler, Chairman/CEO, Wates Group Limited

Give a little extra love to high usage washrooms. Making courtesy flushes eliminates floating odours. Maintain good circulation in your washroom and open up windows for good airflow.

If there aren’t enough good windows, invest in a good ventilation system. Air fresheners keep the air pleasant. A great washroom keeps a workplace healthy.

Clean all surfaces to get rid of spills, discolourations and potential germs. Use good quality towels to wipe the surface for maximum absorbency and effectiveness.

Schedule deep cleaning to reach the corners that daily mopping could not. It removes all residual dirt and smells.

6. Avoid Physical Contact During an Epidemic

During an epidemic, it is better to be safe than sorry. Follow the below simple steps to minimise the spread of the flu virus:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay away from work or school if you have flu-like symptoms.
• Cover your mouth with a tissue after sneezing or coughing and throw it away immediately.
• Make handwashing with water and soap a habit. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser when you cannot access soap.
• Disinfect all surfaces you have to share, whether this is at home, school or work.
• Wearing surgical masks has been proven to reduce the spread of symptoms by up to 75%. This was a study by the University of Michigan.

a. Avoid Touching Your Face

Many of us are unaware of how often we touch our faces. Start avoiding it. This is because most respiratory diseases are self-inflicted. We touch infected surfaces or people who spread the virus to us. The eyes, nose and mouth are especially sensitive because this is how germs gain entry into your body.

Learn proper respiratory hygiene by covering your mouth and nose. Best practise is using your bent elbow or tissues when you cough or sneeze. Avoid reusing tissues and dispose of them after use. This is because droplets spread the virus.

b. Avoid Physical Touch Greetings

Recent studies reveal that people fall short of the recommended hand washing time. Only 5% of people admit to regularly washing up for at least 20 seconds. With this in mind, it is wise to avoid direct physical contact until the epidemic is over.

Use alternative greetings to handshakes and hugs. Things like waving, bowing or the elbow shake avoid contact but maintain the social ritual of greetings. Whenever possible, work from home until the epidemic subsides. If you’re the one who’s sick, self-quarantine at home until you feel well.

Flu Prevention Starts With You

The flu is a viral infection that is preventable with a few lifestyle changes. Since influenza has a vaccine, take advantage and ask your doctor if you can have a flu shot. With the coronavirus, a vaccine is not yet available, but you can prevent catching it through other flu precautions.

If you have to move around during an epidemic, do not panic. The simple rule to remember is to keep your hands as clean as possible and keep them off your face. Wash your hands as often as you can and keep a hand sanitiser with you at all times. The same rules apply if you need to take care of a sick loved one at home. Cross-contamination is only possible if the germs enter your body.

Reduce stress by sleeping enough and spending time with family and friends. The laughter and community will keep your immunity high. Keeping your immune system strong is important in case you catch the flu. Coupled with a good diet and moderate exercise, you’ll get through flu season without a problem.

Photo: UFV

12 Unexpected Benefits of Workplace Wellness Programmes

The history of workplace wellness originated from Bernardini Ramazzini, an Italian physician.

He is believed to be among the first people to write about the work exposure effects that employees face, Including occupational diseases.

Bernardini believed that putting preventative measures into place would improve employees’ well-being.

Nowadays, the industrial revolution caused various new health issues and injuries due to the way work were designed and framed.

Here are 12 unexpected benefits from workplace wellness programmes.

Unexpected Benefit #1: They Enhance Behaviour and Minimise the Risk of Lifestyle-Related Illnesses

Many employees spend the better part of their days sitting at a desk. This can lead to many lifestyle-related diseases. However, wellness programs can help break that monotonous routine. Employees benefit from sport-related programmes by keeping some of these illnesses at bay.

Rand Health Quarterly published a study report on Workplace Wellness Programmes. The report concluded that a wellness program can minimise risk factors. It could also enhance healthy behaviours if it involves lifestyle management interventions.

It also found that these effects were clinically meaningful and sustainable over time. This confirms that wellness programmes can help contain a lifestyle-related illness epidemic. Lifestyle-related illnesses are a major driver of premature mortality and morbidity.

Health behaviour change is hard to meet. These programmes can motivate employees to engage in long-term behaviour change. Therefore, they are more valuable than traditional health interventions, which are less effective. Most traditional methods focus on individual willpower.

Unexpected Benefit #2: Meditation-Focused Programmes Could Minimise Stress

Many workers report dealing with a lot of stress at their workplaces, which can cause mental health problems.

Develop a wellness program that focuses on mindfulness and you’ll notice a huge reduction in workplace stress.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published a study on the benefits of meditation and concluded that people can reduce depression, stress and anxiety through meditation.

The best part is that meditation is an inexpensive art to practise. All you need is a quiet conference room and free guided mindfulness meditations.

Unexpected Benefit #3: Enhance Employment and Employees’ Retention

Many employees will want to stay at a job where their health and well-being is a priority. Employees are more motivated when their employer cares about their quality of life. This includes programs that address their financial, physical, social and emotional health.

This sort of attention encourages loyalty, and employees will be more likely to stay with your company for a long time. Make sure all your employees are aware of the programme and know how to be part of it, whether it’s via yoga classes or simply a gym discount.

Unexpected Benefit #4: Building Camaraderie Among Workers

Some wellness programmes offer employees chances to come together and form teams. When your employees interact in activities besides their job, they create strong friendships. This helps them work well when put in teams at work.

Unexpected Benefit #5: Increases Employee Morale

When your employees feel appreciated, they become enthusiastic and passionate about their job. Happy and satisfied employees equal happy clients.

Unexpected Benefit #6: Enhances the Quality of Life and Sense of Well-being

Workplace wellness programs advocate for smoke-free environments. They also help improve sleeping patterns and reduce back issues. Your workers might also benefit from weight loss and go back home in a positive state.

Some programs advocate for healthy eating. When you eat healthier foods and do relaxing exercises, you’ll feel energised and fresh.

When your employees exercise and stop smoking, they avoid some illnesses. This leaves them with a better quality of life and a healthy outlook.

Unexpected Benefit #7: Reduce Healthcare Costs

The best way to save on healthcare costs is by offering your employees lower insurance premiums. This is possible if they are willing to stay healthy. Wellness programmes can help them with that. Here are more benefits:

• Happier insurance companies: When your employees are healthier, even the insurers are happy, as they don’t have to pay for any claims.
• Lower premiums for your employees: They will get healthy and save money at the same time.
• Better health: Your employees will also enjoy longer, healthier lives. They won’t need to use a lot of money taking care of their health.
• Low health costs: Healthier employees with equal lower health care costs and insurance fees.

Unexpected Benefit #8: Better Company Culture

Wellness programs bring employees and their employers together at an informal gathering. They can feel at ease in interacting with each other outside the office. You’ll get to know your employees better and build a new company culture.

Unexpected Benefit #9: Attract Talented Employees

Talented workers are no longer chasing after money when applying for a job. They understand the importance of balancing work and personal life. Since they know wellness programmes can help with this, they are likely to apply to a job that offers them.

Unexpected Benefit #10: Employees Get Fit and Fulfill Their Goals

More than 62% of employees in New Zealand agree that wellness programs help increase productivity. When employees exercise regularly and eat healthily, they become more productive. Poor health behaviours lead to chronic diseases and higher health risks.

People set new resolutions every year. These resolutions include going to the gym and living healthier lives, but most of the time, their tight work schedules won’t allow them to follow through. They end up pushing their health-related goals onto the next year.

Wellness programmes give employees the chance to get fit by taking part in various activities. It could either be gym memberships or joining sports or walking clubs. Such activities help them get their mind and body healthier and achieve their goals. With fulfilled goals, your employees will concentrate more on their job.

Unexpected Benefit #11: High Job Satisfaction

Workplace wellness programs influence worker satisfaction. In fact, 3 out of 4 employers agree that their programmes have improved worker satisfaction.

70% of employees participating in these programs were more satisfied with their jobs.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans also carried out another Survey Report. They found out that employees were 67% more satisfied when offered these programmes.

Unexpected Benefit #12: Boost Market Valuation

A report published by the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine concludes that companies that invest in their workers’ health and well-being had higher market valuation. They compared them with other firms that were publicly traded. Wall Street investors affirmed these findings. Their argument is that these programmes may play a role in a company’s stock performance.

Invest in a wellness programme to enjoy an outstanding financial performance. Such initiatives take time, which is why you need to plan and put them in place now.

The Sum and Substance

Should you invest in workplace wellness programmes? The above 12 benefits make it appear so.

Healthy and happy employees are more productive. This is a win-win situation for your business. Workplace wellness initiatives increase employee morale, productivity, retention and reduce health risks.

There is a clear connection between your business performance and good employee performance. An effective programme should take care of your workers’ total well-being. All these benefits surpass the costs.

As you invest in a good wellness programme, remember what matters more: providing a clean and hygienic workplace for your employees is crucial.

Maintaining clean and hygienic washrooms motivates your workers to maintain the hygienic levels. They also pay attention to their personal hygiene. This has a positive effect of boosting staff morale, wellness and productivity. Your brand reputation and culture will also benefit.

Image: Freepik by @yanalya
Image: Freepik by @yanalya
Image: Freepik by @yanalya
Image: Freepik by @pressfoto

7 Great Tips For Providing Healthy Working Environment

Long working hours, tight deadlines, and ever-growing demands can lead to stress that can greatly affect your employees’ health.

Add to this strict procedures, demanding bosses, or commuting. It is easy to see how these can take a toll on your employees.

It’s also hardly surprising that all of these lead to health problems, such as back pains, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels.

Of course, there are a lot of benefits to office work as well.

Paycheck is stable, you get to work in teams of great colleagues, and many businesses have additional perks that make it worth the ride.

New Zealanders have the reputation for working hard, and comparing how long they work each week to people in other countries proves this. They are working more weekly full-time hours (43.3) than people in Australia (42.6) or in the UK (42.7).

With so many hours spent at work, it is understandable why you as an employer should keep your employees’ health and safety in the forefront. Here are 7 ideas how to make your workplace a healthier and happier place.

1. Encourage Bring-Your-Own Lunches

At work, we are usually too busy to think about what to eat. More often than not, that means we will turn to fast food as an easy and convenient option. But, unhealthy too.

Encouraging employees to prepare their own meals forces them to think about what they eat and choose healthier options.

Additionally, if they already have a ready meal at their desks, this will reduce the stress of having to go out to buy a meal in the middle of a busy day and leave more time for a rush-free meal.

2. Invest In Healthy Snacks

Many employees use snacking as a way to reduce stress at work. Others do it out of boredom because they cannot stand doing nothing, and chewing gives them a sense of taking action.

Unfortunately, this usually means reaching out for a bag of crisps or candy bars. Neither one is particularly good for the body.

Stock your pantry with a bag of almonds, fresh fruits, or maybe even some celery with a tasty dip.

Although some might not appreciate these healthy snacks, they will not be able to turn them down because they are totally free.

3. Light(en) Up Their Lives

Or, should we say, let the sunshine in! Forget about the old misguided idea that artificial light is better than natural light when it comes to illuminating offices. Forget about windowless offices that nobody wants to be stuck in for eight or more hours. Encourage greater use of natural lighting whether by installing full walls of windows or installing skylights, for example.

Of course, make sure you take into account possible glare and a change of indoor temperature. What you really need is a well-designed office that will best meet your employees’ health needs without hurting their comfort.

4. Make Room For Exercise

Nowadays, many companies offer free gym membership to their employees. After all, many are those who want to exercise, but few are those willing to invest time and money into it. But, since offered gym memberships are out of the office, people won’t always take advantage of it.

That’s why it’s a great idea to install a small gym or yoga room, or even host events. Regular exercise with occasional special events, such as Zumba or Salsa Nights will definitely contribute to your employees’ health, but also to the sense of community.

5. Take That Meeting Outside

It’s simple and it costs nothing. No fancy yoga pants, or expensive gym equipment. But it counts as exercise and encourages creative thinking.

Small walking meetings work best as bigger groups are more difficult to manage and might end up as a waste of time. They are perfect for brainstorming new ideas and processes, but not for going through your company’s sales figures.

Not only are these meetings a great change of pace and scenery for your employees, but they also allow them to stretch their legs.

The change of environment also encourages greater openness. It draws people away from the restrictive, entirely professional confines of office spaces.

6. Create Varied Work Areas

Sitting all day in your office is slowly but surely killing you. Think of it as a modern version of smoking. It affects your back, heart, blood flow, as well as the entire cardiovascular system.

That’s why it is important to provide varied work zones that give your employees different options.

Standing-room-only lofts let them ease the strain on their backs. A pod and couch area allows them to relax a little and take a breather. This will not promote laziness, as many think, but will actually encourage freedom of work movement.

7. Invest In A Clean Office

Last but not the least, investing in cleanliness and hygiene of your workplace is one of the best ways to keep it healthy. That especially holds true for your office washrooms. With Alsco’s Hygiene Systems, you have the perfect option for washroom sanitation.

Our Odour Control System is designed to dispense subtle fragrances on a regular schedule, that keep your washroom fresh. The Hand Care Programme includes high-end products that are effective in getting rid of dirt and potentially harmful microbes.

If you add to this safety and first aid options, you’re sure to keep your employees well and healthy.

At Alsco, it is our priority to help you meet your employees’ many needs. For many years, we have been providing businesses in New Zealand with quality products and services to help improve their workplaces and their employees’ lives.

We aim at ensuring a healthy and productive working environment. One of the ways to achieve this goal is by using sanitation products for the most sensitive areas of your office space. Contact us so we can work out the best plan and offer products specifically customised for your needs.

Call us today and we will do our best to help you get your workplace in shape.

3 Reasons Why You Should Introduce Healthy Snacks At Work

We all know how busy and stressful things can get at work. As an easy and quick way of releasing stress, many employees turn to snacks.

More often than not, that means grabbing a bag of crisps, sugar-loaded candy bars, cookies, or some other unhealthy snack.

Apart from stress-related eating, employees are also prone to eating out of boredom. Sometimes, we just can’t stand doing anything, and munching on a bag of crisps gives us a sense of taking action.

Many employers tend to forget that a workplace can have a critical role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. First, we spend at least a quarter of our day at work almost every day, and second, we are often influenced by our co-workers. Many employees find it hard to eat healthily at work while others blame their work and colleagues for their diet failures.

Choosing healthy options for your employees is a great way to promote productivity and support good food choices.

Not many people understand that healthy snacks can be just as tasty as unhealthy ones. Old habits seem to die hard and many employees are not immediately willing to give up on the snacks they are used to.

So then, is it useful for investing in healthy snacks? And can they turn your office into a healthy workplace for your employees?

3 Reasons Why You Should Consider Stocking Up On Healthy Office Snacks

1. Healthy Office Snacks Are Food For The Brain

It’s no secret: common snacks are low-nutrient foods that hurt our mental performance and health. By choosing unhealthy snacks, we deny our brains the fuel it needs to work properly.

Healthy snacks are usually a perfect mix of nutrients containing brain foods that boost our memory and overall health. They also give us enough energy for the rest of the day with the little risk of burnout or crashing.

You can expect your employees to be more focused on their work, as well as to have more energy during work hours than if they were on unhealthy snacks.

2. Healthy Snacks Boost Everyone’s Moods

Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates provide a quick shot of energy that burns out quickly. That’s why those who love candy bars and crisps tend to be hyper before crashing somewhere around the afternoon, leaving them feeling tired, unmotivated and craving more sugar. Obviously, this is not good for productivity.

Unhealthy snacks negatively affect the mood of your employees. This is understandable because of the sugar crash experienced after the body has burned all of the possible energy. When you crash, you experience a dramatic shift from happy and up to down and out.

These mood swings can cause a chain reaction with one employee feeling down affecting others in the workplace as well. This is why healthy snacks are a better option for the entire office. They lead to higher energy levels which in turn engender positive emotions that can affect those around them as well. No one can deny the power of positive vibes on productivity and motivation.

3. Healthy Snacks Provide Opportunities For Bonding

Supporting healthy diets at your workplace is also an excellent chance for your company to host social and educational events.

One way to introduce your employees to healthy snacks is to organise tastings. Find a few easy and healthy snack recipes. Serve them to your employees for the tasting. It is also useful to provide an info sheet above each snack that contains the recipe and the list of benefits that snack offers.

The tastings will also provide you with valuable information on which healthy snacks are popular and which are not worth investing in.

You can take this even further by creating a full-scale information campaign with lectures, group activities, and posters reinforcing the benefits of healthy foods and diets.

Employees should be encouraged to participate by giving their suggestions and recipes. This is the way to reinforce healthy habits and support teamwork.

Top Off Your Campaign With Overall Employee Safety

Ensuring a healthy office environment is a great addition to your campaign supporting healthy food choices. Alsco provides a wide range of products and services that satisfy specific safety and sanitation needs of different companies.

Our Hygiene Systems cater to the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene. From high-end hand care products to odour eliminators and deep cleaning services, it is our ultimate goal to help you ensure a healthy working environment that boosts productivity and motivation among your employees.

For many years, thousands of New Zealand business have chosen us the top provider of the widest range of services. Our products are known for their quality, reliability, and efficiency.

Call us now and we will help you choose the rental programmes or purchases that will best meet your company’s specific needs.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @yanalya

8 Signs Your Employees May Be Fatigued

Fatigued employees are never capable of offering one hundred per cent at work. No matter what you try to do and how you try to help them and motivate them, you won’t succeed unless you help them rest.

Some disorders like the work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) can cause people to become exhausted, to miss out on work and to even injure themselves in the workplace.

MSD should be taken very seriously – it’s been identified as a very serious disorder. Ergonomics, proper rest time, all of these things can help out in preventing (or alleviating) issues like these.

Integrating and presenting ergonomic solutions in the workplace can do wonders. You should even invest in some quality ergonomic products that aim to reduce employee fatigue.

In case you are wondering how ergonomic products may help you and your employees:

• They improve employee work quality. Workers that perform manual labour duties that really tire them out will really enjoy ergonomic products. It will not only make their jobs less painful but will even help them rest more effectively.
• They improve productivity. Employees will become much more efficient. They will be in less pain, have less joint aches and issues, and this will, in turn, get them to accomplish much more at work.
• They lessen and reduce expenses. MSD can be prevented, and quite easily. All the costs associated with this disorder can be nullified by just getting proper ergonomic gear.
• They help to create a culture of safety. By having ergonomic items and products, you send out a message not only to your competitors but to your employees and customers as well. A message that centers around safety and employee care.
• They improve employee morale. By having this stuff, you show that you care. This will do wonders for the employees, their moods, and their morale.

So, we hope this section has been informative. If it indeed was, then we would like you to think about something else. Namely, do any of your co-workers or employees look tired? Fatigued? Exhausted?

We advise you to check out the following early warning signs of work-related fatigue. This may save someone from serious injury.

1. Their Productivity Is Falling

While they seem to be working longer hours, employees experiencing fatigue tend to be less and less productive over time.

So even if you add all these extra hours, the net total is that you won’t get as much productivity as you want, as well as getting low-quality work and unhappy employees.

If you notice that your employees’ productivity has hit an all-time low, then there’s definitely something wrong going on with them.

2. They Are Never In A Good Mood

Closely observe employees who seem not to be their usual selves and are acting out of character. Moodiness, emotional distress, or having a bad attitude in the workplace are telling signs that something is wrong.

3. They Get Fidgety

Now, people have their own needs and want. But, most understand that they can and should tolerate a certain amount of discomfort at the office. Now, this may be fine and dandy, but sometimes, they can go overboard and put on a tough façade.

If you notice them fidgeting at their workstations, or that they are very uncomfortable, you should problem get them to do something that is not related to their work. This may seem silly, but it can, in fact, be a sign of some subconscious stress, or simply some pain that they are not willing to share with people.

It is, however, an early sign of fatigue, and you should do everything in your power to alleviate it until it gets worse.

4. They Seem Distant

Everyone experiences forgetfulness at some point but employees with fatigue may suffer from ongoing forgetfulness and complete disregard for their work and their team at large.

This will not only affect their performance, but it can also waste other employees’ time. It’s an obvious sign that the employee has a lot on his plate and is struggling to get on top of their workload so it is best to find out what’s causing this behaviour.

5. They Are Always Late

There are employees who are habitual late comers – those who run late in every aspect of their lives. But once you notice someone in your team, who usually comes on-time, if not an hour early, to work every morning, arrive late for consecutive days or weeks, then that is a clear indicator of fatigue or poor work-life balance.

6. They Often Don’t Show Up

Employees experiencing fatigue will always find ways to justify not getting out of bed in the morning. When you start to notice an alarming increase in your employees’ absences, then maybe it’s about time to ask if work-related fatigue has taken over people in your office.

Again, talking to employees involved is critical, but it’s also important to do something about those factors making it hard for them to perform their duties efficiently.

You can also actually walk in their shoes and try out their job for a day yourself. If you find that you hate it and everything is, in fact, uncomfortable to use, the safe bet is that therein lies the problem – one that needs an ergonomic solution.

7. Their Hygiene Is Problematic

Always pay attention to your employees’ workstations and desks. A messy desk can be a sign of stress that may have been caused by overwork.

8. They Keep Complaining

People headed towards fatigue aren’t going to keep it in. Whether it’s straight out complaining about it with their friends during lunch breaks or even just a long drawn out sigh of relief when they get up for a stretch, these are the most obvious clues that fatigue might be just about to set in.

Of course, it’s never a safe thing to assume. So, an effective next step would be to talk about it, or at least to encourage sharing. You’ll be surprised how much more smoothly this conversation will actually go. When it concerns comfort, no one is ever too shy.

At Alsco, we have several ideas that can be simple, subtle, and passive solutions against employee fatigue.

Foremost among these are the Anti-Fatigue Mats that can be placed in strategic areas around the office and work areas. These are guaranteed to provide comfort as your employees move about their workplace.

On top of that comfort, they also maximize safety and convenience as your employees go about their day. Paired with truly comfortable equipment, they can nip fatigue right in the bud.

Contact Alsco New Zealand and our friendly representatives will help you to work out how to get enough Anti-Fatigue Mats without breaking the bank. Help your employees prevent their fatigue and pay only a fixed monthly fee.

Photo courtesy of Freepik by @yanalya

13 Great Ways To Stop Work-Related Back Pain

Work-related back pain is one of the most common workplace injuries. It is usually caused by common work activities, such as sitting in your office chair or heavy lifting.

Of course, a lot depends on various personal factors, such as genetics, shape, and lifestyle. Also, not all back pains are the same. You can have pains in your pelvis, lumbar, or neck.

Among the most common causes of backaches suffered at work are poor posture and prolonged periods of sitting, especially in positions that are unhealthy for your back, such as slouching in an office chair.

Back pain is usually an annoying condition, but it can also be a crippling condition that renders you unable to perform regular daily tasks. That is why you should do everything in your power to prevent this from happening to your employees.

At the same time, preventing work-related back pain can reduce absenteeism and increase your company’s productivity. Among all the simple steps that can be taken in fighting back pain, the most important ones relate to proper posture and exercise.

Here are some ideas how to prevent and fight work-related back pain.

1. Set Up An Ergonomic Workplace

Your employees spend a better part of the day in their office chairs. This means that they are critical in providing a proper support to spines and back muscles.

Ergonomic chairs are rather common these days as a lot of businesses have recognized their great effects on employees’ health and safety.

Since they have become a common office item, you should be able to find them at affordable prices. But you should always keep in mind that a good ergonomic chair should enable the correct sitting posture of its user at all times.

It needs to have appropriate lumbar support, adjustable backrest and seat tilt. This will prevent painful episodes because the chair prevents back muscles and ligaments from being too strained.

2. Instruct Your Employees On How To Correct Their Posture

Here are some things to do while sitting and working:

• lean your back on the backrest
• hold your back straight and relax your shoulders
• bend your knees under 90 degrees and rest them on the floor
• avoid slouching or bending forward
• keep your elbows in line with your wrists while typing

The easiest way to figure out the best standing posture is to stand with the back of your head against a wall. Place your heels approximately 15 cm away from the wall. Your buttocks and shoulders should be touching the wall. Draw in your abs. This is how a good posture feels. Keep that in mind and mime it until it becomes your habit.

Correct posture at all times prevents vertebra from slipping from their natural position. This can turn into a crippling condition if not prevented and treated.

3. Consider Installing Standing Workstations

Experts these days say that sitting is the new smoking and that too much sitting can kill you. As dramatic as it may seem, sitting places more pressure on your lower back than standing does. So, it is worthwhile considering the option of standing while working. The ideal option is to change between standing and sitting while working.

Standing stations don’t take up much of your office space. As there are great benefits to your employees’ health, so should definitely consider placing them in your office.

4. Consider Moving Desks

Old habits die hard and some employees will no be keen on using standing desks. Another great option to consider is moving desks.

Moving desks are forcing your employees to change positions which does wonders for their spine and prevents back pains. These adjustable height desks automatically raise and lower the desk, forcing people to stretch their legs and back.

5. Properly Position The Computer Monitor

One frequent cause of recurring back pains and headaches is the way you hold your neck. If you bend it forward too much, you prevent the blood from circulating and you press on the nerves.

People usually do this while trying to look at their computer screen. This is why it needs to be positioned properly so you can clearly read the screen without bending your head, neck or trunk forward or backward. Any awkward position should be avoided. Also, make sure that the monitor is positioned at your eye level so that you are not forced to look down or up to use it.

6. Use Document Clip Holder For Computers If Necessary

Your employees might sometimes be required to look at their papers and a computer screen at the same time. This involves a lot of neck twisting and turning, which consequently results in neck pain, headaches and back pain.

By fixing a document clip holder onto a computer screen, this can be prevented by providing your employees with a comfortable position for working on their computers.

7. Provide Posters With Proper Lifting Techniques

Although lifting heavy objects is not usually a part of the everyday routine in the office, it is still better to have your employees informed about proper lifting techniques. If the need arises, they will be ready for it and some serious injuries will be prevented.

Posters illustrating proper ways to lift objects are visual everyday reminders that come in handy in making your employees aware that a lot of injuries and back pain can be prevented.

8. Make Use Of Cushions

Spending a lot of time in the office requires proper lumbar support. Ergonomic chairs usually have it and you don’t have to worry about that if you choose to buy them for your office.

However, if you cannot afford to buy ergonomic chairs, you can always use cushions or even a simple folded towel. All of these are good for maintaining your proper sitting position as proper lumbar support will be ensured.

9. Encourage Employees To Practice Yoga

Apart from having many great benefits on the human body and mind, it is also healing for your back. It makes your ligaments, muscles, and bones more flexible and prevents strains and back injuries.

There are many ways to encourage your employees to practice yoga. You can offer a free membership at a yoga centre, or work out a discount. Or even better, hire a yoga teacher to come to your office and practice there.

10. Teach Your Employees Breathing Techniques

The importance of breathing is easily overlooked because it’s something we all do, all day, every day. However, few do it correctly. Learning breathing techniques is important as it improves many health aspects of people’s lives. Proper breathing is a simple way to relieve stress, lower your heart rate and blood pressure, and leave yourself energised to carry on with your day. But it also builds your abdomen muscles, which makes it a great prevention strategy for back pain.

Abdomen muscles help you keep your body straight. They also relieve the pressure your entire body puts on the spine. Proper breathing strengthens them and it also forces your body to assume a proper posture.

11. Emphasize The Importance Of Regular Stretches

At least hourly, and ideally every 15 minutes, stop, drop and shake. Stretching exercises will help you get rid of any tension in your muscles and boost your energy levels and productivity.

Regular stretches don’t have to last long. Even a short break will do if exercises are done properly and at regular intervals. Your body is designed to move. On the plus side, regular stretches and exercises reduce absenteeism due to back pain and boost productivity. They are definitely worth the trouble.

12. Provide Headsets For Telephone Conversations

Using a proper headset on a daily basis will reduce unnecessary back pain and fatigue caused by cradling the phone between your head and shoulder. By not holding an actual telephone receiver, you can freely move your head, neck, and shoulders, and both of your hands are free. This significantly reduces muscle tension and allows longer job performance. This is why you should make sure that everybody in your office has proper headsets.

This will allow your employees to maintain healthy posture while talking over the phone. This especially applies to employees who work in call centres and use phones in their everyday work constantly as this can badly reflect on their health.

13. Have A First Aid Kit And Ice Packs Ready And Easily Accessible

Apart from the usual back pains and aches, bad posture and inactivity are causes of many injuries and accidents. In this case, you’ll need to have a first aid kit and ready ice packs to alleviate the pain and damage caused by an injury.

Employers are required to have adequate and appropriate first aid kits that are easily accessible through the venue. They need to be compliant with the rules and regulations and restocked on a regular basis.

Give us a call and we will offer you our rented first aid kits that are carefully tailored to your needs. We will also make sure they are compliant and well-stocked at all times.

Photo courtesy of Freepik Images by Yanalya

5 Easy Steps To Improve Employee Wellness

A company, no matter how successful and rich, is nothing without its employees.

That is why it is essential to take care of their health and overall happiness in the company.

One of the most important parts of the modern company management is the management of human resources.

The phrase “human resources management” may sound a bit dehumanising, but what’s behind it is a set of measures that every company needs to take if they want their workers to feel like they are treated with respect.

Wellness refers to the overall health of employees covering all aspects: from the physical, mental, to the emotional and psychological.

Employers who tend to their employee’s wellness will benefit from the greater productivity it brings. Aside from lowering health care costs, wellness programs in the workplace can also help in reducing employee absenteeism.

Whatever the company’s size, these wellness programs for employees make a great impact on the bottom line. In fact, the American Journal of Health Promotion has published a study on workplace wellness programs that showed 26% lower healthcare costs, 26% less sick leaves, and 32% showed a decline on workers’ request for disability claims and compensation.

In this piece, we look at five lazy ways to get a leg-up on workplace wellness. We call it lazy because we don’t believe you have to stress out over wellness! That, after all, won’t make you all too well, now would it?

1. Understand The Problem

The first thing to do in order to plan your wellness programs properly is to establish the current state of affairs. If you don’t know how your employees feel, you won’t be able to solve their problems in an effective way.

A good way to start is by creating a questionnaire and asking some physical wellness questions followed by questions about their psychological and emotional well being. This way you will have covered all the important points and you will get a clear picture of the current condition your workers are in.

2. Start Small

Get your workplace wellness program started with simple steps. These can include stuff like disseminating useful information on healthy diet and exercise, or providing healthier options for meals in the cafeteria.

These may seem like baby steps that your employees may not take seriously at first but they are better than not having started anything at all.

Come up with fun and creative ways to promote your wellness advocacy in the workplace and you can expect your employees to start reconsidering their lifestyles. The next thing you know, cigarette breaks will no longer be a thing and your employees just might start living active, healthy lifestyles.

3. Empowered Employees Are Better Employees

Part of wellness includes making your employees feel empowered. In order to be better at their leadership and other skills, a lot of employees go for seminars or classes. Those that can help them be better workers for the company.

Unfortunately, they often go for classes that are still work-related thinking that can boost productivity and enhance their employee’s lives. While that surely does one of those things, serious work-related seminars will only remind them of their work.

Why don’t you try something different? Something they probably didn’t think they need but is actually very useful. A First Aid course with Alsco not only takes them out of the cycle of perpetual work, it also gives them important life skills.

4. Pay Attention To Environmental Aspects Of Wellness

If you are still unsure about where to start with improving your employees’ hours at work, try making their work environment cleaner and healthier. Hygiene is an extremely important factor in the workplace. If your company is a breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and other germs, nothing else you do will make any difference.

But making sure your office is clean and environmentally friendly is not only important for physical health of your employees. It will also make them happier and more willing to come to work regularly. This will, in turn, reduce sick leaves and absenteeism rates, positively affecting your finances.

The best places in your building to start your clean office effort are washrooms. Alsco’s range of washroom products enables you to always have eco-clean premises no one will be weary of visiting.

Another area in which Alsco can be of great help is odour control. Use this in areas that are the most frequented! Our system can be customised to release subtle fragrances at timed intervals.
These two little tweaks combined provide great passive sources of wellness.

5. Be Friendly And Learn To Listen

Lastly, a great thing you can start doing for overall wellness in your workplace is keeping your door open for when your people need to talk to someone.

It might take some time to get them comfortable enough to open up completely so be encouraging but not forceful, friendly but still professional, and eventually, you will find them coming in more and more to open up about what frustrates them.

Naturally, it’s just as important to act on their concerns if possible. Especially, if it actually involves the workplace. You’ll find that something this simple works wonders.

Alsco can help you go a long way in ensuring your employees’ well being.

Our products and services are designed to create a friendly environment at work and make doing business a pleasure. Call Alsco today and find out about all the ways in which we can help you make your company even better.

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