Let’s talk about healthy, happy staff – it’s what every employer is striving for! Employers are increasingly having to offer extra perks as part of their employment packages to demonstrate that they care and to stand out from their competition and of course it will encourage their staff to be motivated and therefore working hard!

For an employee it’s not all about salary. Flexible working that assists with work/life balance has been a hot topic for a while but now it’s about ‘wellness’. Wellness perks shouldn’t really be related to performance – making them available to all will give the message that the employees are well thought off, respected and above all they will feel they are getting something extra.

The best way of judging what your staff would want is probably to ask them. It is likely that your location and their age group will influence their ideas – however what sort of things should you be ready to suggest? You want to be able to deliver without breaking the bank!

A simple and quick wellness example is fresh fruit, bottled water, diet drinks and various types of milk for hot drinks. Supply quality hand soap and other toiletries in the bathrooms.  

Other free but fun ideas include having themed days to encourage increased fitness and health:

• Take the Stairs Tuesdays (reduce the use of the lift)
• Walk this way Wednesdays (make a 15 min walk a compulsory group event)
• No Fry up Friday (healthy breakfast day)

Consider providing a healthy breakfast once a week and make it part of the working day – not an extra early commitment that will cause issues and resentment. Encourage the exchange of healthy recipes – perhaps even creating a cookbook or notice board full of recipes and pictures (the successes and fails!) that are healthy! Talk to the local dry cleaners, the cobblers and a local ironing service – would they provide collection and delivery to the office?

Ensure that your staff leave their desks to eat their lunch, making the breakout area comfortable, practical and welcoming – and a ‘Work-Free Zone’. Ideally encourage all to take a walking break every day to give a chance for exercise and fresh air. Liaise with local gyms and see what they can offer for group memberships and liaise with companies that provide healthy snack boxes or lunches and see what they can deliver.

If you have some money to spend then look at what services could come into the office, it is increasing popular to have sessions for reflexology, massage, yoga and beauty treatments happening during the working day, subsidised by the company. Look at water bottles with the company logo on to encourage more water drinking, standing desks, ergonomic chairs or dress down days.

The next big thing is going to be ‘Office Exercise’ with a Personal Trainer instructing on exercises that can be done in the office environment – both suitable for doing whilst sitting down and standing up, so work can continue whilst employees ‘work out’. 

Consider giving employees the day off for their birthday, closing early on Friday afternoons if the sun is shining or even closing for the day to all be involved in volunteering in a charity project. That could be a double whammy as it will involve team work!

Finally, visit www.daysoftheyear.com. Every single day of the year has at least one theme day being celebrated somewhere – from ‘Chocolate Appreciation Day’ to ‘Give your Boss a Hug Day’ (ask permission for this one before hugging!) and find your wellness inspiration.