Productivity requires much more than the ability to sit for long hours at a workstation, fingers flying and eyes trained on the computer screen, perhaps wired with head phones and a microphone to take calls. In fact the virtual chains that hold many workers in their cubicle or at their desk may very well be cutting into the productivity of your company, creating an unhealthy environment.
Fortunately, with a few easy to implement changes, your employees will enjoy a much healthier experience working for you, creating both loyalty and a more energetic working climate.. Business owners who encourage their workers to adopt these practices will find productivity will soar, as will creative thinking, leading to surprising solutions to issues, and innovations that will take the entire company forward.
Movement Matters
Find every opportunity you can to incorporate physical movement into your own day and into the routines of your employees. Consider adding standing workstations or treadmill work desks as options for interested employees. An affordable first step might be to issue exercise balls rather than office chairs for staff who sit much of the day, to facilitate movement. Pay for staff parking at a lot several blocks away from your company and make it simple to use the stairs rather than the elevator.
Centralize printing and copying equipment away from work areas so employees need to take a stroll to collect their work product. Encourage coworkers to walk to each others’ desks to talk rather than constantly emailing every message. As the business owner, be a role model -- try to drop by employees’ work areas to discuss matters on a frequent basis so that it is seen as appropriate to move about the office to share information.
Change Of Scenery
Encourage your staff to physically leave the office to reinvigorate and refresh. Take some of your business meetings on the road, or maybe the path, discussing challenges and developing new ideas while walking through a nearby park or even lapping the business campus. Be the business owner who knows that the best minds benefit from stimulation away from the rigors of the job several times within a work day. According to one study, even viewing nature scenes on a computer or allowing sanctioned web surfing during the day is a healthy break for your employees that will inspire productivity.
Hydration - Make It Happen
Activity will spur your employees to seek hydration, and drinking water is essential to keep all the body’s systems functioning at peak efficiency. One of the symptoms of dehydration is lethargy, and a much better answer for beating the production-sapping effects of sleepiness is to drink water, not caffeinated beverages or energy drinks. Make water freely available to your staff, including a return to the old-fashioned water cooler to reduce waste when staff fill their own water cups or bottles from it.
Healthy Eating
Eating well before and during the work day keeps staff healthier. Encourage a filling breakfast of protein and low glycemic carbs. Rather than buying the traditional box of doughnuts to raise morale, stock the break room with instant oatmeal, fruit, hard boiled eggs and cheese. Limit office birthday parties or other celebrations with sugary treats to once a month at most, when all the birthday folks from that month have a mini party. Make it easy for staff to pack, store and reheat healthy lunches they bring from home in an inviting and well maintained break or lunch room.
Sleep, And Sensible Sick Leave Policies
Although you cannot mandate adequate sleep for your employees, at a bare minimum get enough sleep for yourself and avoid giving mixed messages about the importance of rest and proper health care. If you or an employee is ill, it's better that the sickness be managed away from the office so as to limit the spread to others and to ensure every day at work is a truly productive one. So, try not be stingy about sick leave.
Refreshed and at the top of the game is best for you, for your employees and for your company and customers.
