Winter Survival Guide: How to Keep Your Employees Healthy & Thriving
This is a hot topic in the office right now. As the winter season sets in, ensuring the health and well-being of our team is more important than ever. A healthy team is a happy and productive team. So we set out to make a plan to support our team through this winter season.
Here are a few practices and policies we have adopted to see our team healthy and thriving.
1. Mental Health Support
Winter blues are a real thing. To support our team’s mental health, we use the Xero Assistance Programme (XAP), which provides Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services. This program is available to our whole team and their families, offering confidential counselling and support. Additionally, Southern Cross members on our team are eligible for three Raise mental health sessions per claims year. Regular mental well-being check-ins are highly beneficial.
Idea for You: Consider partnering with an EAP provider to offer similar support to your team. Regularly remind employees about these resources and encourage their use.
2. Addressing Physical Health
We have recently brought in an Occupational Therapist to address any regular or ongoing discomforts related to occupational overuse. With the cold weather exacerbating some symptoms, it has been a timely intervention.
Idea for You: Invite a health professional to conduct ergonomic assessments and provide personalised advice to your team. This proactive approach can prevent minor issues from becoming major problems.
3. Flexibility for Hybrid Working
We recognise the importance of flexibility during winter and encourage our team to work from home if they feel slightly unwell. This prevents the spread of illness in the office and ensures that employees do not feel pressured to come to work when they’re not at their best.
Idea for You: Consider implementing a hybrid working policy. Encourage employees to stay home if they feel unwell and ensure they have the necessary tools to work effectively from home.
4. Regular Check-ins and Team Meetings
We prioritise all-team meetings and regular check-ins to monitor everyone’s well-being. In our weekly all-team meeting, we’ve created a space for team members to share how they’re doing and to give each other tips on managing through the cold days.
Idea for You: Establish regular check-ins during team meetings to foster communication and support within your team. Create an open environment where employees feel comfortable sharing their challenges and successes.
5. Encouraging Healthy Habits
We encourage our team to maintain healthy habits during winter, such as staying hydrated, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep.
Idea for You: Provide your team with tips and resources for staying healthy during winter. This can include nutritional advice, hydration reminders, and information on the importance of good sleep hygiene.
Wrapping up
By implementing these strategies, we aim to create a supportive and healthy work environment where everyone can thrive, even during the coldest months. We hope these ideas inspire you to develop or enhance your own winter well-being plan.