As 2013 comes to a close, it will soon be time for the annual tradition of making New Year’s resolutions. Since many of us indulge over the holiday season, our resolutions centre on health. Improvements to diet and physical fitness are important lifestyle changes that can pay huge health dividends—and healthier employees can also make a difference to a company’s bottom line.
A number of studies in recent years have shown that healthy, active people are happier and more productive—at work and at home. They have more energy and are better able to manage stress. This all fosters better engagement with co-workers, families and friends. And, of course, good health also translates into missing fewer days of work.
So, as an employer, how can you help your employees keep their resolutions to improve their health?
Begin by talking to them about healthy options and how they can make better choices. Here are some ideas.
Promote positive changes to nutrition. Employers can further encourage their staff to eat well-balanced meals by placing a Canada’s Food Guide poster in common areas, kitchens and/or cafeterias. It’s available to download or order on Health Canada’s .
Share information about healthy food choices on the employee portal/intranet or newsletter. If nutritionist and/or registered dietitian visits are included in your health benefits plans, remind employees so they can take advantage.
Provide them with a copy of Just the Basics, a guideline for healthy eating published by the Canadian Diabetes Association. It can help those at risk of contracting the disease.
Promote activity. Recommend activities such as brisk walking, cycling, jogging and cross-country skiing. The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology has produced the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines, which recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week, in sessions that last 10 minutes or more. Regular activity can help employees prevent and control risk factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, certain types of cancer and obesity.
People who fail to take medications as prescribed often suffer unnecessary complications and generate additional costs for employers and health benefits plans. These costs come in the form of additional treatment, such as hospital care, specialist care, additional medication and time away from work. Adherence to prescribed medication is important not only to controlling an ongoing medical condition but also to make sure it doesn’t get worse.
Creating a healthy lifestyle doesn’t always have to mean making drastic changes. In most cases, the best way to help employees stay on track is to plan for success and remind them that a quick phone call to a doctor or pharmacist can ensure they are making the right changes to their diet or exercise program. Those quick calls will help avoid obstacles to reaching health goals and keep them on the right path to a lasting healthy lifestyle.
Alan Strashok, B.Sc. Pharm., is pharmacy manager at Express Scripts Canada Pharmacy, Atlantic. The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Benefits Canada.