How can workplaces promote health?
As explained in the previous theme, your employer is obliged to provide you with a safe and healthy work environment. But employers can go a step further and address health in a broader way, through
Workplace health promotion is the combined efforts of employers, employees and society to improve the health and well-being of people at work. This can be achieved through a combination of (1) improving the work organisation and the working environment; (2) promoting active participation; and (3) encouraging personal development. (Source)
. Simply put, this means that they promote a healthy lifestyle by providing a health-promoting work environment and working conditions conducive to health.Examples of how employers can promote health are:
- Providing health education, training on health related topics;
- Ensuring a good work-life balance, e.g. by allowing flexible working arrangements such as work from home (teleworking);
- Promoting a healthy diet, e.g. by providing healthy food options in the canteen;
- Promoting physical activity, e.g. by installing showers so that you can go for a run during lunch break, or offering financial assistance for recreational activities;
- Promoting professional development; and
- Organising training on time management.
Do you have some ideas about ways your employer could help you to stay healthy? Why not share them and encourage your employer to implement a
Workplace health promotion is the combined efforts of employers, employees and society to improve the health and well-being of people at work. This can be achieved through a combination of (1) improving the work organisation and the working environment; (2) promoting active participation; and (3) encouraging personal development. (Source)
programme?What can I do to age healthily? (Next section)
Examples of
Workplace health promotion is the combined efforts of employers, employees and society to improve the health and well-being of people at work. This can be achieved through a combination of (1) improving the work organisation and the working environment; (2) promoting active participation; and (3) encouraging personal development. (Source)
programmes