There are many things for start-up companies to focus on but there is a pressing need to create a healthy working environment. Unhealthy employees are unable to work to their maximum level when present, and if they are absent, they aren’t able to do any work at all. This can have a catastrophic impact on business, so a firm needs to do what it can to help employees feel happy and remain healthy in the workplace.
Unfortunately, there are many ways that a work environment can be unhealthy or unsafe, including:
• Low-quality chairs causing back problems
• Unclean floors which cause slip or trip hazards
• Unclean or dusty environments which may trigger allergies
• Improper use of computers causing eyestrain or headaches
• Loud noises or bangs which can affect an employee’s hearing
• A lack of training leading to employees not working in a safe and efficient manner
Good quality training is a major component in creating a healthy work environment, and firms should commit to meeting all health and safety standards. Focusing on these regulations may seem dull and based on common sense but regular and sufficient training provides employees with the information they need in order to stay safe in a range of situations.
Firms need to provide suitable equipment for employees
There is also a need for employers to provide suitable equipment that enables employees to work safely and to the best of their abilities. Employees who use monitors or Visual Display Terminals (VDTs) for large parts of their day should be encouraged to take regular breaks. Employees who have suffered eyestrain or vision problems due to the use of these devices should be provided with support to improve their eyesight.
It is important that any vision issues are dealt with promptly, and firms can play an active role in encouraging team members to arrange an appointment with an eye specialist. Allowing time off for people to meet with a LASIK Baltimore MD specialist provides many benefits. The most important benefit is that it provides people with access to the best standard of healthcare, but it also shows that the firm cares for its workers. Given the importance of sight in everyday life, any visual problems in the workplace should be attended to as quickly as possible.
Another common problem experienced by employees who sit down for large parts of their day is back injuries. A chair with coccyx cushion that is in a bad condition or which has not been set to provide the worker with the correct level of lumbar support can cause problems. Back pain can result in employees being off sick for long periods, harming a firm’s productivity and costing it money.
A combination of training to improve posture and a commitment to using a good standard of office equipment will provide a firm with short and long-term benefits on staff availability, work-rate and happiness.
Start-up companies need to ensure they create the most suitable working environment for their employees to provide the best standard of work.
