A healthy work environment is a productive work environment. Employees that feel raring to go will always produce the best results and appreciate their jobs and colleagues as much as possible!
Still, workplaces are typically falling under more scrutiny, especially when it comes to health. There are employees out there who are prepared to partake in ‘quiet quitting’, for instance, which some speculate is done to draw up healthier work-life boundaries.
People are willing to put up with less, and rightly so in many cases! A healthy attitude to work is essential to retain your staff and ensure high productivity levels.
Part of that attitude manifests in how you maintain a healthy work environment. So, without further adieu, here are some tips to boost your efforts with that particular aim!
Smart Sensors
Smart sensors cover multiple functions for promoting a healthy work environment. One could argue their inclusion in the workplace is essential.
After all, these technologies can oversee the following:
- Monitoring the lighting conditions in the workplace – Illumination levels can affect employee well-being, with inadequate levels giving them eye strain, headaches, and general fatigue. Smart sensors can simulate natural lighting patterns, recommend adjustments, and generally promote healthier usage.
- Instructing on posture – Some smart sensors can be integrated into workplace furniture like desks and chairs. After that, they can provide feedback on employee posture and activity, helping to prevent aches, pains, and in the worst cases, musculoskeletal disorders. Suggestions are personalized, and they offer advice on breaks and stretching techniques. These types of smart sensors are also wearable.
- Providing data on temperature settings and humidity – Once again, smart sensors can recommend alterations here after analyzing past and present conditions.
- Assessing the level of air quality on the premises – monitoring things like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon dioxide (CO2) and other particles and pollutants.
All of this data can be supplied to you and your colleagues directly in real-time. Of course, analytics will only get you so far – you must utilize the data to create the most optimum and healthy work environment possible. Some smart sensors alert users when opening a window, or turning on ventilation systems, is essential.
HVAC Systems
Speaking of air quality, a commercial HVAC company can help workplaces stay warm or cool and generally clear the air. However, trustworthy distributors will go the extra mile here.
For example, the HTS New England service is multifaceted, providing help with the selection, design, purchase, installation, and maintenance of their top-of-the-line HVAC systems. Their units are built-to-order, with their industry experience spanning multiple markets and sectors. Real-time efficiency is supplied on the system’s efficiency, and issues can be identified and resolved quickly.
If you have an HVAC system already, perhaps it’s time to consider updating it. We don’t say that lightly, but models can be outdated and more prone to issues and malfunctions. Like all technology, upgrades are sometimes required, so keep an open mind about that regarding your HVAC systems.
Noise Monitoring Systems
Some workplaces are noisy, and that’s the nature of the work. However, even these areas can be too noisy, especially around malfunctioning equipment or misbehaving employees. Of course, for environments that are supposed to be quiet and calm, any serious intrusion of noise can be highly disruptive and stressful to encounter as well.
Technologies like sound level meters can be helpful here. They are handheld devices and easy-to-use, designed to analyze noise level measurements in different work areas in decibels. Their insights can be highly detailed and acute.
Some sound-monitoring devices can be worn by employees, tracking their exposure to disruptive sounds. They’re called noise dosimeters and can provide thorough assessments regarding sound exposure.
There’s software that can produce in-depth analytics on noise levels as well. They use the microphone on select devices to monitor noise levels, displaying everything from historical reports to real-time data. Either way, comprehensive reports can be generated to breakdown use.
Mental Well-being Support Software
Mental and emotional well-being is essential to a job well done. Both create clarity of thought and confidence.
Sadly, mental well-being is still a much-debated topic, especially in a workplace context. In reality, it’s a crisis of unprecedented proportions. Still, not all bosses are empathetic towards their workers and may be less likely to believe in problems they can’t see for themselves. It’s rough terrain, and not all businesses can rationalize what’s required of them.
While bosses should listen to their workers, and while HR should be equipped with services and training to support employees, many mental well-being solutions for the workplace can be derived from technology. If there’s demand for your HR services, the use of technology may help to ease it.
Numerous apps and digital platforms promote and provide stress management guidance, meditation techniques, and various other mental well-being resources. Counselling services can be accessed the same way. It all gives workers some privacy and discretion in looking after themselves. At the same time, if you subscribe to these services on behalf of the employee, workers can understand that they’re cared about.