Treehouse Partners

Hard to believe it, but the holidays are here yet again! We know you’re in a whirlwind of shopping and decorating so why not take a breather and enjoy the holidays in the workplace? We spend so much of our time there that a little holiday cheer can go a long way! This can also be a great way to bring co-workers together and give people a break from the daily grind.

However, it is important to always keep it appropriate and professional. We have some tips on how to be festive at work without taking it too far!

– Holiday Cookie Tasting: Ask all employees to bring a batch of their favorite cookies to share with the office. The cookies can be either homemade or store bought (no judgment!). Make it even more fun by giving people a break from work to enjoy and playing some holiday tunes.

– Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest: This has become a well-known holiday party theme that is always fun! Why not give it a try at work? Choose a slower day and have all the employees come in wearing their ugliest holiday sweater. It will give employees the chance to express themselves and bring some laughter into the office.

– Trim the Office:  Even something as small as a few twinkling lights in the restroom or at the reception desk can lift employees’ spirits! Employers should encourage employees to decorate their doors and windows too. This gives everybody a chance to celebrate the holidays in their own way. You can even promote some friendly competition and give out awards to whoever decorates the best!

– Exchange Gifts (the easy way): Avoid the stress of buying co-workers individual gifts and hold a White Elephant Gift Exchange. Employees don’t have to worry about buying a gift for somebody they don’t know well and can bring something more general. Also, set a price limit so employees don’t have to worry about spending too much or too little. Employees can have fun with this and of course, everyone gets something!

With very little planning, the holiday season can be successfully celebrated in at work. Here at the Treehouse. we love to play (and, admittedly, sing) holiday music, decorate and have a fun holiday party with a surprise destination! It is important to take “work” out of the equation sometimes in order to have a more productive office the rest of the time!

How does your office celebrate this great time of year? We would love to hear some great new ideas!

Spending eight hours a day at a desk isn’t the most effective route to wellness. Plus, who really wants to hit the gym after a stressful day at work? In our busy “chained to our desk” lives, sometimes wellness just isn’t our priority…even though it might be the most important thing we can do.

Luckily, some smart minds have come together and created the institution of “corporate wellness.” These are programs implemented in the workplace designed to nurture wellness in employees during the workday. According to the Harvard Business Review, employees who participate in corporate wellness programs have a higher rate of productivity, sharper focus and are more likely to stay with the company.

The benefits for employers are huge: healthy employees cost the company less. It has been proven that typically every dollar invested in a wellness program yields about $6 in healthcare savings. Add this to the increased productivity and lower turnover rates – corporate wellness initiatives are a no-brainer.

Even small companies without the budget to invest in a widespread corporate wellness program have the option to implement small things to promote wellness at work. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

– Promote Preventative Care: Think about flu season. Why risk employees being out for a week after coming down with the flu? Instead, encourage and maybe even fund vaccinations for employees. You could even bring an onsite vaccination clinic to the workplace!

– Walking Meetings: Encourage managers to schedule meetings with a little movement. Employees can take a stroll around the block while discussing important business topics. This is still productive but will also get employees outside for at least some of their day.

– Participate in Community Events: You can encourage employees to team up and participate in charity walks or runs in the community together. You can even give them time during the workday to meet and plan their efforts as an incentive.

– Healthy Luncheon: Have a nutritionist come in and provide a healthy lunch for employees. The employees get a free lunch and can learn great trips on how to stick to healthy lunches going forward.

– Be Mindful: Corporate wellness includes mental wellness. Give employees breaks during the workday to recharge. You could even bring in a yoga instructor to teach a lunchtime session and give tips on how to “breathe through stress” in the workplace.

– Doctor Visits: Have a doctor come in one day and give employees the chance to schedule a routine check-up without having to take off of work. This is a growing trend that has typically been very successful and could reduce medical costs in the long run.

Here at Treehouse Partners, we always try to make wellness a priority. We often ride bikes or walk to lunch and we always let employees take an hour here or there to attend a fitness class or run to the gym. We also try to keep the windows opened and the sun streaming into the Treehouse – because we all know sunshine always makes you feel better!

We would love to hear how you are promoting wellness in the workplace! Let us know programs your company has implemented or if you have an idea for a great program.

Source: https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employee-wellness-programs