We all know that eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day is the recommended way to stay healthy and many countries believe it should be even more than this, but this isn’t always easy to achieve in a busy world where many people have lunch at their desk and grab snacks that are quick and easy. As an employer, you can create opportunities for your staff to make healthy choices in the diets and lifestyles by providing a ready supply of fruit for them to enjoy whilst at work.
Healthy employees
Supporting the health of your employees is vital for every business, and something as simple as having fruit on hand can help with this. A well-balanced diet is the lynchpin of overall health, and by providing fresh fruit you offer an alternative to the typical bag of crisps or chocolate bar that many people tend to reach for, particularly during that afternoon lull. The brain needs approximately 25 grams of glucose in the bloodstream and this is roughly the same amount that is found in a banana.
It might seem that the diet of your workforce is not your problem, but a good diet supports the optimal functioning of the skin, endocrine system, immune system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, digestive system, nervous system and cognitive function. By putting the right nutrients into our bodies, we can have an effect on metabolism, energy, performance and concentration, which are all things that you will want to see on top form.
It is believed that healthy workers can achieve 20% more work than unhealthy ones, and healthy snacks can boost employee engagement. The fact that fruit is readily available can help to keep hunger at bay, which is known to reduce decision making skills by as much as 62%.
A better workplace
One study revealed that as many as four in five employees would prefer better workplace benefits to a pay increase. This is likely to be appealing to many employers, as it not only stands a chance of being lower cost, but also creates somewhere that people actually want to work. This can help with recruiting the best talent and also holding onto good staff in a very competitive jobs market.
By helping your employees to make healthy choices and take care of themselves your business can benefit from staff who are more productive and less likely to need sick days. This can impact on creativity, efficiency, concentration and works towards creating a better working atmosphere. Traditionally, employees reach for unhealthy options, particularly if they are short of time, so offering an alternative to this can be welcomed by all.
Workplace wellness is something that should be taken seriously to avoid serious health issues, whether they are physical illnesses or mental health conditions such as stress, depression and anxiety. This is often as a result of workload pressures, tight deadlines and increased responsibility, and can deplete important vitamins, so helping to restore them with regular fresh fruit can be essential. Doing what you can to support all aspects of your employees health can help them to help themselves.
Your employees are one of your most valuable commodities, so looking after them is massively beneficial for your business. Having fresh fruit on hand in the workplace might seem like a small gesture but it is an effective way to help your staff and help them to feel important and valued. It really is true that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, so why not play your part in this?
Author Bio
Emma Preece is the general manager at R+R Hub, a leading supplier of healthy food and micro market solutions to offices and businesses.
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Source: http://hrnews.co.uk/why-having-fresh-fruit-in-the-workplace-can-improve-wellbeing/
