How do you motivate your employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle?

In many organizations, whether or not to interfere with the health of employees can be a sensitive issue. But motivating people to adopt healthier lifestyles can be a good idea, both for employees and the company.

Today's Denmark is all about creating attractive workplaces, and as employees spend a large part of their lives in the workplace, it is important to stand out as an employer in order to recruit talented employees. 

It is about creating a culture in the company where it is legitimate to exercise during working hours, that walk and talk is a recognized form of meeting, and to respect when an employee skips the cake on Thursday afternoon.

Health checks as a motivational tool?

A health check or personal health profile is an offer to the employee where you as an employer delegate part of the task to an external provider, such as Health Group.

A personal health profile focuses on the general health of the individual employee, with the employee answering a wide range of questions about well-being and self-assessed health.

The employee is then given a wide range of physiological measurements, which are followed up with sparring, coaching and motivational conversations at eye level with our skilled health consultants. The company subsequently receives a 100% anonymized report with average values on physiological measurements and well-being and any suggestions for improvement that can be used to improve health in the organization.

Set goals! And exercise more often

Most people function best when they have a goal. This increases the likelihood of getting regular exercise. Participating in sporting events as a company, such as cycling to work in a certain month and the DHL relay race in August, are great ways to improve the chances of employees exercising regularly.

A good dynamic is often created in the company by organizing this kind of social activity, where people meet in a different setting than the workplace.

As a company, you can help motivate employees to exercise in everyday life by having your own gym with various activities, or having a discount agreement with sports associations. At Health Group, we also offer company fitness, where we come out to your company and hold a fitness class. 

Small daily activities, such as walking, stretching at the workstation, and standing at a sit-stand desk for office workers can contribute to better motivation and health in the workplace.

Businesses can and should take responsibility for the food and drink offered to employees. A healthier choice of food is not necessarily boring.

It is a good idea for employees to have a say in what they eat and what forms of exercise they can do. Participation is an important factor in meeting intrinsic motivation.