The health of your small business depends on a number of factors, one of which is of course your employees.
If you are the only employee at your small business, then your health is obviously paramount to the company doing well. On the other hand, making sure your workers come to work relatively healthy and leave that way is a big responsibility too.
With that being the case, how healthy would you say your small business truly is?
If you’re not sure, make it one of your priorities the remainder of 2016 and beyond.
Looking at the Heart of the Matter
Start off by reviewing the overall health of the employees in your office.
Do many of them smoke? Are some more than just a little overweight? How many of them have had issues with their hearts and other related concerns. Is exercise a big part of their lives?
Even though you must be careful not to discriminate against your workers (nor should you), it is important to gauge the overall health at your workplace.
Keep in mind that not only should you care about your employees’ well-being, but having sick workers (more than just the common cold) around your office can end up costing your small business money over time. Given you likely have a smaller budget than the larger-sized companies; you could find those sicknesses eating away at your revenue.
Without coming across as an overly bossy business owner, determine if you are doing the following to make your workplace healthy and happier:
- Medical check-ups – Encourage your employees to go for yearly physicals if they’re already not doing so. While it is not your job to be their big brother or big sister, it benefits them and you when they are able to work and their top capacity. If your small business offers health insurance, that is all the more reasons for employees to take advantage of the financial savings;
- Office training – Some companies don’t overlook the benefits of having their employees trained in certain procedures, thereby allowing them to act if someone is stricken in or out of the workplace in their presence. You can help them in this process by letting them attend (at no charge to them) courses in CPR certification and other health-related matters. Doing so will help them in the event one of their co-workers, a client, a family member or friend, or even a stranger falls ill with heart-related issues. Keep in mind that such course certification can help them not only now if need be, but down the road;
- Diet and exercise – Although you are running a small business and not a cafeteria, you can help educate and encourage your workers when it comes to their eating habits. Do you have vending machines around your office? If so, is it filled with mostly junk food or healthier options? Does your workplace typically offer donuts one or more mornings a week? What about pizza parties for lunch? No one is telling you that you have to eliminate foods that are not in everyone’s best interests, just keep them to a minimum. As it relates to fitness, do you encourage your team to get out and exercise on a regular basis? One way to go about this is by providing free gym memberships for your employees to a local fitness center. If that isn’t an option, how about offering some gym equipment at your workplace? In some cases, smaller companies will share rental spaces with other businesses. When they do, sometimes there is a central cafeteria, gym etc. in the building. Again, no matter how you have to do it, let your workers know that you’re all for them exercising on a regular basis.
With all you have to do in running a small business, knowing you have a dedicated, healthy and happy team under you can make all the difference in the world.
Do a review soon, looking to see where you may be coming up short in the health department at work.
You might be surprised at what you had been missing out on.
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers small business topics on the web.