More and more Kiwi businesses are recognising the value of encouraging healthy practices in the workplace.
From eating well and exercising regularly to simply drinking more water or managing stress, these small daily habits can have a huge impact. Not just on our wellbeing, but also on team spirit, safety and performance.
So why should promoting and rewarding healthy behaviours be part of your workplace culture?
Here’s why:
Healthier People = Safer Teams
In those more physically demanding industries like warehousing, transport, manufacturing and construction, a worker’s physical condition can be the difference between a job well done and a serious injury.
In office-based roles; fatigue, poor nutrition and stress can result in poor judgement and reduce focus; leading to mistakes and accidents.
When you support a range of different healthier habits like healthy eating, exercise and rest, you’re not just ticking the wellness box – you’re actively reducing risk and creating a safer workplace.
Boosting Energy, Focus and Productivity
Let’s be honest; nobody does their best work when they’re running on two pies and a can of V.
When people fuel their bodies with real food, stay active and manage their stress, they show up with more energy, sharper focus and better mindset.
Creating a Culture That Cares
When you promote and reward healthy habits whether it’s through shout outs, wellness challenges, healthy shared lunches or gym subsidies, it sends a powerful message that says ‘we care about you!’
This builds trust and strengthens your company culture. People feel valued, respected and more connected to each other.
And when people feel good about where they work, they’re more likely to stay, engage and go the extra mile.
Ways to Reward Healthy Habits
You don’t need a massive budget to reward healthy habits. You just need to understand the benefits and then thank the team for jumping on board using a bit of creativity.
Here are some low-cost rewards that say a good healthy job well done:
- Step challenges with cool prizes, movie tickets, supermarket vouchers – we could all do with those right now!
- Healthy morning teas or fruit deliveries – Wonky Box for example deliver delicious veges and fruit door to door
- Run a healthy cooking class where everyone gets to share a delicious and nutritious lunch
- Run a weight loss competition – believe it or not; they’re great fun
- Hold team events like yoga, bootcamps or walking meetings
- Mental health check ins or access to support resources like EAP or Mental Health Foundation NZ tools
Promoting good health in the workplace isn’t just about kale smoothies and joining CrossFit. It’s about building a culture where people feel supported, energised and proud to be part of the team.
Most of us have been brought up with that teamwork approach, and looking out for your mates is part of who we are so encouraging healthy habits should be a no brainer. Ready, steady, go!
Need help with getting your team on board with adopting healthier habits? Let Safety Ange assist with that and you’ll be off and running in no time (pun intended)
Safety Ange has awesome solutions that are backed with evidence-based research to get your team on board, healthy and deliver increased productivity at work.
