Help Your Employees Avoid the Summer Cold

The “summer cold” is caused by a virus infection in the nose that can produce cold symptoms such as sneezing, soreness in the throat, a headache and/or fever. The summer cold is actually the exact the same as a cold you’d get any other time of the year, but may affect you differently because of the warmer temperatures.

The cold virus has over 100 strains so it may be difficult to avoid entirely, but there are several ways to help your employees avoid the summer cold and fight it off faster.

Your employees may be more likely and more at risk of catching a summer cold if they travel for work. Travelling via airplanes (or trains) will greatly increase the risk of contaminating people with the cold virus. People traveling to other countries or those who suffer from allergies are also more likely to get colds.

By encouraging your staff to keep good nutrition and maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, this can help them fight off colds faster and keep a strong immune system.

If an employee feels a cold coming, encourage them to go home and drink fluids such as herbal teas, juices and plenty of water. Someone with a cold needs to be sure to stay hydrated but also keep their nutrition up with extra Vitamin C.

Strong immune systems can also flourish from regular exercise. However, if an employee feels a cold coming on, encourage them to rest.

In order to maintain a healthy environment and keep your employees free of colds and therefore maintaining their productivity, promote healthy habits. Try weekly potluck lunches with healthy dishes or have the office sign up for a 5k race together for charity.

The summer cold can be just as miserable as the winter cold, so take small steps as an employer to keep everyone healthy and at work.

Steps to Healthier Office

Is your office seeming a little … sluggish these days? Over the past several years, a down economy has produced a tired workforce. Many are working longer hours with higher stress levels just in the hopes to keep their jobs. And while it may not be taking a hit on your production or profits, it may very well be taking a hit on your employees’ physical health.

Why Worry about Employee Health?

Although it may seem like the health of your employees isn’t really your concern, that’s not exactly true. For one, it can impact your productivity and absenteeism. And two, if you offer health benefits, it can dramatically impact your premiums. A healthier employee isn’t only happier but is also a greater contributor to the workplace. So whatever hesitation you have about encouraging employee health, push past that. Because studies show, the more healthy your employees, the more healthy your business.

Get moving! is just one way to make healthier employees

How Can I Help my Employees Be Healthier?

In the end, yes, it will come down to each employee’s personal choice to be healthier. Whether they choose an apple over chips at the restaurant – you don’t really have any control over that. However, there are a few things you CAN do as a manager to encourage health and healthy living. And who knows, after all of the affirmation and intentionality toward your employees, you might see it pay off in the end! Here are a few places to start:

Movement Around the Workplace

If your employees sit at desks all day, encourage a 3pm “walk-around.” Make employees get up, take a walk, and stretch. You could also host fun things like scavenger hunts or give rewards for using the stairs. Run a 5k together, get outside and play kickball… just find some ways to get your workplace moving.

Offer Employee Health Screenings

By having a company come in and provide health screens, your employees can have a good idea of how healthy they really are. Wellness tests like cholesterol checks, thyroid, allergy, STD and more can let your employees know if they have any potential or current health concerns. Wellness testing companies like ARCpoint Labs can even come to you and offer on-site testing.

Encourage your Insurance Company’s Programs

Several insurance carriers have programs in place to “reward” members who take steps toward a healthy lifestyle. However, many members have no idea these programs exist. When working with your benefits administrator, ask about these wellness programs and promote them to your employees.

Offer Healthy Choices for Vending & Parties

You don’t HAVE to use the vending machine company that packs the spirals full of chips, chocolate and cakes. You could choose to find a healthy vending machine for your office instead. Or, when hosting a company party, always offer healthy options as snacks, along with plenty of water.

Get a Water Cooler

This isn’t for office gossip, but instead, for employee hydration! Water is a great way to keep concentration and lose weight. Encourage your employees to stay hydrated through complementary filtered water.

Offer Incentives Through an Office Weight Loss Program

Some organizations have put on challenges where each employee pledges to lose weight and then ‘weighs in” each week. Having co-workers work toward a similar goal can not only boost morale, but it can also help achieve those goals! For those who achieve their goals, you could give healthy lifestyle prizes such as yoga mats, baskets of fruit, healthy snacks and more.

These are just a few ways to get your workplace healthier! You might find too that once you get into it – not only does it feel right, but it’s actually a lot of fun, too!