The Reading List: Health, Happiness and Wellbeing
Our reading list this week provides some ideas on how to promote a healthy and happy environment in (and out of) the office, and also highlights some of the discussions going on today, surrounding staff wellbeing.
- “We need less work on our plates, not more cake”
‘Cake culture’ in the workplace seems to have grown from the odd shared treat around the office, to an insurmountable stack of goodies, that aren’t exactly conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
“Gone are the days of the occasional birthday sponges, and our offices are starting to look more like patisseries. This comes at a time when we are facing a national obesity crisis: the UK is on track to have the highest obesity levels in Europe.”
This Guardian article reminds us of the dangers of sharing sugary treats in the office, and also gives some suggestions on other ways to promote ‘togetherness’, without the calorific snacks.
Read it now: Office cake pushers – we need less work on our plates, not sweets
- Promoting a healthier lifestyle for staff can benefit the business
Healthier staff are happier staff, and this can mean a range of benefits for you and your organisation.
“A healthy lifestyle is one of the leading factors contributing to an individual’s happiness. If you can implement a corporate fitness programme to improve employee’s health, chances are that you can increase overall productivity levels within your organisation.”
An interesting blog from HR Review not only explores the benefits of encouraging your staff to lead healthier lifestyles, but also gives advice on how to ensure that your workplace does the best it can to support them in doing so.
Read it now: How your company can benefit from a healthy workforce
- Better work-life balance in city workers
It’s becoming apparent that city workers are no longer spending the long hours in the office that were expected of them in years gone by. With a new emphasis on healthy work-life balances, and a ‘work smarter, not harder’ attitude, employees are now being encouraged to spend more time on their personal lives, to keep them productive in the time they do spend in the office.
“City firms are actively encouraging staff to have a life outside of work, so that they can manage other commitments and have outside interests and hobbies. Some are implementing innovative initiatives to help reduce work pressures while keeping them motivated and productive”.
The Global Recruiter provides the latest statistics on the hours that office workers are (and were) putting in, and also their thoughts on why these numbers are changing.
Read it now: Better Balance: City workers no longer in long hours culture
- Is answering out of hours work emails detrimental to staff wellbeing?
Work-life balance is a tricky line to navigate, especially in this age of technology, when it can be hard to switch off.
“Recently, French legislators even proposed a reform to the country’s labour law that would guarantee employees a “right to disconnect”.
The reform has provoked a debate about how modern technology is affecting our working lives, and whether the state should step in to protect citizens’ work-life balance.”
This article on The Guardian explores how leaving work emails unanswered outside of office hours might improve our wellbeing, and discusses whose responsibility it is to ensure that we aren’t suffering from “email overload”.
Read it now: On holiday one minute, answering rude office emails the next
About the author
Tristan Potter
Tristan has a decade's worth of experience writing content and copy for organisations across Bristol and the Southwest of England. He has written on a diverse range of topics, including technology, philosophy, politics, and recruitment. His writing has appeared in The Drum, HR Grapevine, and The Guardian, among other publications. He joined Hireserve in March 2022.