Surely you've noticed: when you feel good, you work better. If we take this to a company, the factors that affect the well-being of the entire team increase, but when this is achieved, individual and group performance is greater. The organization that promotes this well-being and has people as its main value is a healthy company..

What is a healthy company: paradigm shift and main keys

The generations that have joined the labor market in recent years, such as Millennials, They provide a new vision about work that goes beyond salary. In the office we spend a large number of hours throughout the week, month and year: It is essential to feel comfortable with your colleagues, valued and happy.

Companies must be able to read this new paradigm to attract talent and become a space valued by the youngest. Having close superiors, continuous feedback, authentic teamwork and motivating perspectives are key to achieving this.

In this context and with these objectives, the idea of ​​a healthy company must be understood, which the WHO defines as "one in which workers and managers collaborate in a process of continuous improvement to protect and promote the health, safety and well-being of all workers, as well as the sustainability of the workplace.

For this the WHO also defines four aspects that the company must guarantee:

• La physical health and safety at work.
• Health, safety and well-being at a psychosocial level, which takes into account how work is organized and company culture.
• The personal health resources provided by the company, which implies promote healthy lifestyle habits.
• Foment the health of workers, families and other community members through participatory activities for all of them.

If we follow the order of these four sections, Some examples of concrete actions to work together in search of a healthy company would be:

• The most basic but not always obvious, analyze if there are physical problems in the workspace., whether due to chemical components, ergonomic problems or occupational risks due to the use of heavy machinery. Eliminating potentially harmful elements, providing comfortable furniture and protective equipment, as well as organizing training workshops in this regard, are key actions that the company can carry out. If the company opts for teleworking, it may also worry about ensuring comfortable furniture for the worker, as well as ensuring that they have all the material and equipment they need.
• Generate an environment based on psychological safety, as we address in this post. An open culture that facilitates collaborative relationships, respect for the diversity of team members, leadership based on continuous feedback and employee recognition are vital to achieve this. In the new era of teleworking, it is also key to promote disconnection and the reconciliation of work and personal life.
• To promote employee health, sports and well-being can be promoted by offering, for example, benefits in wellness centers or gyms close to employees' homes. It is also possible to offer workshops or online activities related to sports or food aimed at improving the well-being of workers.
• Become aware that the company operates within a community and that it can promote its well-being, it is also a key part for workers and families. Taking steps to achieve equity, encouraging educational activities for youth, or helping to develop positive initiatives for the community are examples of actions that are valuable to all parties.

What benefits does a healthy company provide?

The first reason why working for a healthy company is ethical: it arises from the managers' own empathy towards their collaborators, who seek their well-being out of mere human interest.

But it is that, in addition, These measures provide a series of benefits for the company itself that affect its operation and profitability.. The most prominent are:

• Reduction of occupational accidents and illnesses, absenteeism, presenteeism and all the costs that this generates.
• It improves the work environment, morale, commitment and involvement with the company, while reducing stress levels.
• It increases productivity, which directly affects both the economic and emotional balance.
• An employer brand image is developed until it becomes a reference in the sector and in society.
• As a result of all of the above, the healthy company attracts (and retains) talent, clients and investments, differentiating itself from the others.

La ambition to achieve a healthy company where people feel committed and at ease, It is not an easy task! Even so, the path is very rewarding, especially if it is done with the participation and involvement of the staff.

Furthermore, in Ready for People you will find activities and workshops to promote actions in this regard that will help managers and collaborators walk along this path that benefits everyone. What are you waiting for to transform your company into a truly healthy company?