You already know that eating healthy is good for personal health, but did you also know it benefits the workplace? Studies show that employees who adopt healthy eating habits at work are 25 percent more likely to have better job performance. When combined with 30 minutes of exercise three times per week, measurable job performance increases an additional 15 percent.
A recent U.S. Chamber of Commerce report indicated that businesses are the largest providers of health coverage to 148 million American workers. With employee health having such a significant impact on healthcare costs, employers are looking for ways to reduce these costs while creating a healthier workforce. In addition to controlling healthcare costs, preventative wellness programs can ultimately improve work productivity and reduce absenteeism by up to 27 percent among employees who eat healthy and exercise on a regular basis.
One way in which businesses are achieving this goal is by investing in preventative measures, such as encouraging healthy eating while at work. Since the average full-time employee spends 40 hours or more at work each week, that typically means eating at least one meal plus a few snacks during the workday. Encouraging healthy eating habits at work has never been more important.
Sensible snacking is an important part of every healthy eating plan. It can prevent overeating and is a great way to prevent the mid-afternoon energy slump. One simple change companies can make available to employees, at no cost to the company, is the availability of healthier food options in healthy vending machines. Healthy vending machines at work bring the benefits of healthy snacking to employees by offering a variety of healthier food options but with all of the convenience of traditional workplace vending machines.
Benefits of healthy eating at work include:
Improved focus and productivity: Studies show that what employees eat during the workday has an impact on mental acuity, energy, and overall job performance.
Convenience: People tend to consume the foods that are readily available in the workplace. Healthy vending machines at work stocked with nutritious, organic, low-fat, low-calorie, gluten-free or kosher options can be a simple and cost-effective part of any company wellness program.
A healthier bottom line: Employees who participate in wellness programs at work reported improved physical health and healthcare costs decrease by $3.27 for every dollar spent on workplace wellness programs. That’s a major impact on any company’s bottom line.
Good health has become a performance driver in the workplace, and employers have begun to realize that they have a responsibility to invest in their most important asset—their people. As such, employers are taking steps to create a culture of wellness that may ultimately drive healthcare costs down and improve employee health and job performance.
