Does employee wellness matter?
Employees spend between 40 to 60 hours a week at work. Some take their tea and lunch breaks but others opt to eat at their desks.
As time seems to fly by, we are left grabbing a quick meal or snack so that we can meet our deadlines.
“Employees may not think about it, but, wellness in the workplace is not only a means to keep employees happy, but has tremendous effects on absenteeism, presentism and productivity,” said registered dietitian, Lerato Radebe.
Nathalie Mat, another registered dietitian, advised that nutrition is one of the easiest modifiable factors that controls a person’s energy levels and productivity.
“A company’s culture can perpetuate or inhibit healthy eating. I have experience of many companies where health is still not prioritised, leading to poor nutrition and health overall,” said Mat.
Radebe added that wellness is more than being free from illness, it is a dynamic process of change and growth.
As nutrition is at the centre of wellness, some guidelines are:
- Create and maintain wellness awareness programmes through advocacy, engaging a dietitian and other wellness professionals.
- Generate interest in employee wellness programmes (EWP) by adding value and that inspires employees to make lifestyle changes.
- Have healthy options accessible and change to healthier options in the canteen. Ditch the biscuits and muffins for meeting and replace with bowls of fresh fruit and, ultimately, make water the primary drink of choice.
- Encourage line managers to discuss health with their teams and bring in professional dieticians for staff that ask for assistance.
