A year’s worth of health and safety ideas

Many of us make New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, experience shows that most of us will break them by February.

So, how can you help employees improve the odds?

“Most people spend about a third of their weekday on the job, which means the workplace can have a big impact on our health and well-being,” says Liz Hill, SAIF's Total Worker Health® adviser. “Employers can help by making safe and healthy options easy and accessible.”

Supporting a healthy work environment isn’t just good for people, it’s good for business. Studies show that healthy workers get hurt less, are more productive and engaged, and have lower insurance costs.

Our new Total Worker Health® tools provide a year’s worth of resources for promoting safe and healthy workplaces. You’ll find videos, posters, and one-page guides with tips on healthy eating, stress reduction, physical activity, and more.

Ready to get started? Here are three ways to help employees turn this year’s promises into healthy practices:

Resolve to eat healthy: Provide refrigerators and microwaves in break rooms so workers can bring healthy food from home. Reduce or eliminate junk food in vending machines and subsidize healthy choices.

Resolve to get active: Make sure schedules are flexible and staffing is adequate to allow for quick walking breaks or a workout during the work day. Set an example by scheduling walking meetings.

Resolve to reduce stress: Support engagement by promoting a sense of purpose and autonomy, providing opportunities for learning and new experiences, and letting employees know they are valued.

For more ways to be well at work and at home, visit saif.com/promote health.

Learn more about the Total Worker Health® approach to preventing injuries by promoting health at saif.com/twh.