One of the joys lost with working from home was sharing celebrations with colleagues, and what better way to celebrate than with cake! Receiving congratulatory emails when working from home is soulless in comparison.
So it is no surprise that the head of the Food Standards Agency’s comments on people bringing cake to work received such a backlash.
(You are sure to have read that she linked bringing cake into work for colleagues to share with passive smoking – vis-à-vis obesity and lung cancer. She suggested that a “supportive” cake-free environment would be preferable.)
Five ways to promote a healthy workplace without banning cake
Employees are responsible for their choices about eating, not the employer – so let them eat cake! There are far less intrusive ways in which you can promote healthy lifestyles, which can lead to a happier, more resilient workforce and better productivity.
Here are some of our top ideas.
1 The complimentary fruit bowl
Providing free fruit for your team is a kind-spirited and well-intentioned way in which to promote more healthy snacking. It will not break the bank for you and will help some people make healthier choices for themselves, without imposing anything on them. You can adjust quantities based on consumption.
2 A discounted or free gym membership
Gym membership is a desirable employee benefit, as there is something for everyone: from gentle trainer-led classes to intense cardiovascular and weight-lifting regimes. Paying personally is a drain on anyone’s monthly outgoings, so help with the cost can be a valuable tool for recruitment and retention.
Many gyms will be open to a conversation about how to structure a deal, from simply offering a discounted corporate membership which sees employees pay a reduced rate themselves, to something which you fund at preferential rates in a deal struck with the gym.
3 A cycle-to-work scheme
Cycle-to-work is an approved HMRC scheme which comes with tax advantages for you and employees via salary sacrifice. Simply put, you fund the up-front cost of a bike for employees and they repay you through a deduction from their monthly gross pay, yielding tax and national insurance tax savings.
It is a very tangible benefit for them as they get a shiny new bike at a cost far below what it would cost them to buy privately from a shop. Plus, it promotes exercise, is good for the environment and may solve parking problems at your workplace. What’s not to like!
4 PMI and/or health cash plans
With many aspects of the NHS sadly in crisis, medical-related employee benefits are more desirable than ever. Employees get the convenience and quick access to experts; and for you, too, you can get poorly staff back off sickness absence sooner, as well as the more general recruitment and retention boon.
There is a misconception that medical benefits have to be expensive. Sure, full private medical insurance is not cheap (although it will be a good solution for many businesses), but there are other products which do not come with the hefty price tag – ask us about health cash plans.
5 Mental health initiatives
In 2023, let’s not forget mental health either. It is a priority for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who reported that 17 million work days were lost in the UK last year as a result of stress, depression and anxiety.
Training up a mental health first aider in your business is a good first line of defence. A cost-effective Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), which includes free counselling for struggling employees will be advisable for almost every business.
Help choosing the right benefits
SME employers have enough on their plates without having to get involved in whether their employees eat cake. But health-related employee benefits are a worthwhile way of making a positive impact on their team’s health and the productivity of the business.
We can advise on tailored packages for any budget, so if of interest please contact your local HR Dept office.
