Being unhealthy is not just bad for you, it’s bad for business.
New research from the NSW Government reveals staff who are inactive and stressed are three times more likely to have high rates of absenteeism — which can cost small business up to $100,000 over five years.
It also found that inactive staff were 35 percent less likely to take breaks from their desks and staff who spent most of their time sitting were twice as likely to be considered overweight.
Other reports suggest more than 88 million days are lost to the Australian economy due to absenteeism.
But there’s good news ahead, with the report showing that effective workplace health programs can deliver improved employee morale, increased productivity, staff retention and a return of between $3-$6 for every $1 invested.
The NSW Government has released a free Workplace Health Savings Calculator as part of the report so businesses can do the numbers before implementing health programs.
Some Aussie companies such as Deliveroo, Jennifer Kate, Cohen Handler and OFX are already implementing health initiatives via exercise classes and group activities.
“Staying healthy is as important as breathing for me and I like to ensure that all my employees maintain a healthy work-life balance too,” Cohen Handler CEO Ben Handler told The Huffington Post Australia.
“We provide employees across our offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane with relaxing activities like yoga and meditation to help them de-stress and give them an opportunity to bond.”
Awareness of the repercussions of ill health and demand for services has grown so fast that it has also sparked the rise of startups devoted to getting workers moving, motivated and healthy.
From: The Huffington Post