# 4 Tips for Maintaining Workplace Health
Employee wellness directly impacts productivity, creativity, and retention. When your team feels their best, your business performs at its peak. Here are four practical strategies to create a healthier workplace environment that benefits everyone.
## Prioritize Cleanliness and Hygiene
A clean workspace isn't just about appearances—it's about preventing the spread of illness that can derail productivity. Focus on high-touch surfaces that multiple employees use throughout the day:
- **Computer equipment**: Keyboards, mice, and monitors collect germs quickly - **Common areas**: Door handles, elevator buttons, and conference room furniture - **Personal workstations**: Desks, phones, and office supplies
Place hand sanitizer stations at key locations like entrances, break rooms, and meeting spaces. Make cleaning supplies easily accessible so employees can maintain their own workstations. Consider implementing a daily cleaning protocol for shared equipment and spaces.
## Foster Positive Workplace Relationships
Psychological wellness plays a crucial role in overall employee health. The physical design of your space can either encourage or hinder positive interactions:
- **Open communication zones**: Create spaces where employees naturally cross paths and can have spontaneous conversations - **Natural lighting**: Bright, well-lit environments boost mood and energy levels - **Flexible meeting areas**: Provide various settings for both formal and informal discussions - **Quiet retreats**: Balance open areas with spaces for focused work and mental breaks
When employees feel valued and connected to their colleagues, stress levels decrease and job satisfaction increases. Your space should reflect and support these positive relationships.
## Protect Eye Health
With most office workers spending 6-8 hours daily looking at screens, eye strain has become a significant workplace health concern. Simple environmental adjustments can make a substantial difference:
**The 20-20-20 rule**: Encourage employees to look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Design your space to make this easy—position workstations near windows or create sight lines to distant objects.
**Optimize lighting conditions**: - Maximize natural light while controlling glare - Position monitors perpendicular to windows - Provide adjustable task lighting for individual preferences - Consider blue light filtering options for artificial lighting
Some employees benefit from computer glasses or monitor filters. Create an environment where these accommodations are normalized and supported.
## Support Active, Healthy Lifestyles
Your workplace design can actively encourage healthier choices throughout the day:
**Movement integration**: - Standing desk options or adjustable workstations - Centrally located stairs that are appealing to use - Walking meeting routes or outdoor spaces - Dedicated areas for stretching or brief exercise
**Nutrition support**: - Well-equipped break rooms with refrigeration for healthy meals - Water stations throughout the office - Space for healthy snacks and fresh fruit - Comfortable eating areas that encourage proper meal breaks
**Community wellness**: - Bulletin boards or digital displays sharing local fitness resources - Bike storage and changing facilities - Wellness challenge spaces or tracking areas
The key is making healthy choices the easy choices through thoughtful design.
## Creating Lasting Change
Implementing these strategies requires more than good intentions—it demands intentional design decisions that support employee wellness at every level. Start with small changes that have immediate impact, then build toward more comprehensive wellness-focused workplace design.
Remember, every dollar invested in employee wellness returns through increased productivity, reduced sick days, and improved retention. When your space actively supports health and wellbeing, everyone wins.
Ready to transform your workplace into a wellness-focused environment? The right design partner can help you create spaces that truly support your team's health and your business goals.
