Insight

Supporting healthier habits for a stronger workforce

Published

08 May 2025

Written by

Emma Capper Dr Arti Rampaul

Read time

4 minutes

Supporting healthier habits for a stronger workforce

Whether it’s a diet high in ultra-processed foods, too little exercise or not enough sleep, poor lifestyle habits can have a devastating effect on our health and wellbeing. Encouraging healthy lifestyle habits has significant benefits for employers and employees alike. 

There’s plenty of evidence supporting the link between lifestyle and health risks. Research by the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that 31% of adults worldwide are at risk of diseases such as heart attack, diabetes, and some cancers, simply because they’re not getting enough physical activity (1).
Similarly, while the effects of smoking – which kills 8 million people a year (2) – and drinking too much alcohol – a further 2.6 million deaths a year (3) – are well known, the risks associated with unhealthy diets are even more shocking. WHO data indicates that poor diet is a cause in roughly 11 million deaths globally every year (4). 

As well as triggering a ticking timebomb for serious long-term problems, poor lifestyle choices can have more immediate effects on our health and wellbeing. Getting less than seven hours of sleep a night increases the risk of depression; colds and flu due to a weakened immune system; and lead to more accidents, through fatigue and impaired judgment. 

The organisational benefits of supporting healthy habits

Given the effect of poor lifestyle choices, encouraging employees to adopt healthier habits has multiple benefits for employers too. Lifestyle medicine , a scientifically proven, evidence-based approach in treating the whole individual, can help to prevent serious long-term conditions. Additionally, and more immediately, healthier employees are less likely to take time off sick for minor health issues such as colds, headaches, and stomach upsets. 

Sickness absence statistics show this is a significant issue around the world. Research (5) found that while absence rates are 2.1% in the US, in Europe they range from 2.5% to 14%, while in Latin America and the Caribbean, as much as 10% of employees can call in sick on any given day.     

An organisation’s insurance spend can also benefit from healthier employees. Reduced claims on health-related insurance lead to lower and more sustainable premiums, while fewer workplace accidents can benefit employers’ liability cover. 

      Enabling better habits across your workforce

      Employers are in a great position when it comes to helping employees change their lifestyle habits. Running health awareness campaigns and promoting the wellbeing tools that are included in many of the health-related employee benefits products can encourage healthier behaviours across the workforce. 

      To make these changes more sustainable, organisations can also create work environments that make the healthy choice the easy choice. Here are some ideas to consider for your workplace: 

      • Support healthy diets
        Providing healthy food at work, whether in the vending machines, cafes or with a weekly fruit bowl, makes it easier for employees to eat well. This could be supplemented with healthy eating webinars and forums where employees can swap recipes and tips.    
      • Encourage physical activity
        Regular breaks, walking and running clubs, and bike storage and showers for employees who want to cycle or run to work can encourage more physical activity during the working day. Subsidised gym membership, online exercise classes and bike schemes can also support exercise.   
      • Promote good sleep
        Adopting sleep-friendly policies such as flexible working schedules, limiting after-hours emails and sharing sleep information and advice can help employees – and employers – benefit from a good night’s sleep.   
      • Build stress resilience
        Tools including employee assistance programmes, mindfulness training and stress awareness events can help organisations create a culture where employees feel their mental wellbeing is taken seriously and supported. 
      • Cultivate social connections
        Building a strong and vibrant workplace community through team activities, peer networks and regular check-ins with line managers and colleagues can enhance employees’ sense of wellbeing. 
      • Discourage risky substances
        Smoke-free policies, education and awareness around responsible alcohol use, and cessation support can help employees understand the risks and ditch their bad habits. 
      Colleagues celebrating together

      Supercharging your healthy lifestyle strategy 

      Communication is key to getting the most out of any health and wellbeing strategy. Enlisting the support of line managers, wellbeing champions, employee resource groups, and senior management can bring a workplace strategy to life.

      Understanding your employees wants and needs before you do anything is critical to ensuring that you are delivering the most relevant support to them. Finding out about their health and wellbeing concerns and what they would like to achieve can help you build a health strategy that drives real engagement and delivers measurable results.

      1. Nearly 1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity
      2. Tobacco
      3. Alcohol
      4. Nearly 1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity
      5. Edays-The-State-of-Absence-Report-2024.pdf