Every organization runs better when employees are healthy. Whether you work in a food service kitchen, manage a nutrition program, or support operations in the office, your health plays a key role in how well your program functions. Healthy staff members are more productive, make fewer mistakes, and create a safer, more positive environment for everyone. By supporting the health of your team, you’re also protecting the health of those you serve—whether that’s children, adults, or other community members.
Clean Hands, Healthy Staff
Washing hands regularly is one of the simplest and most effective ways to prevent the spread of germs in any workplace. Employees should wash their hands:
- Before handling food or equipment
- After using the restroom
- After touching trash, cleaning supplies, or shared surfaces
- After coughing, sneezing, or touching their face
Using soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the best method. If soap and water aren’t available, hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol can be a good alternative.
Encouraging good hand hygiene helps reduce the chance of spreading illness among coworkers and anyone your team interacts with. Clean hands protect everyone.
Staying Home When Sick
One of the most important ways to keep everyone healthy is for employees to stay home when they are feeling sick. Even mild symptoms like a cough, sore throat, or runny nose can spread germs to coworkers, customers, or clients. When sick employees come to work, it can cause others to get sick too, leading to more absences and lower productivity across the entire team.
It’s important for workplaces to create a culture where employees feel comfortable taking the time they need to recover without fear of losing pay or facing negative consequences. Encouraging staff to rest and fully recover before returning to work helps prevent the spread of illness and supports a healthier workplace overall.
Employers should also provide clear guidelines about when it’s safe to return to work after being sick, based on symptoms and any medical advice. This way, everyone knows what to expect and can make decisions that protect their own health and the health of those around them.
Healthy Habits Outside of Work
Employee health doesn’t start and stop at the workplace—it also depends on what happens at home and in daily life. Encouraging staff to maintain healthy habits like eating nutritious foods, getting regular exercise, managing stress, and getting enough sleep can make a big difference in overall well-being. When employees take care of themselves outside of work, they are less likely to get sick and more likely to bring energy and focus to their jobs.
Employers can support these habits by sharing health resources, offering wellness programs, or simply promoting a positive work-life balance. A healthy lifestyle helps create a stronger, more resilient team that can meet challenges with greater ease.
Health Checks and Policies
It helps to have clear rules about employee health. Some programs do quick health checks at the start of a shift. This might include checking for fever, cough, or other signs of illness. Programs should also follow local health department rules about when employees can return to work after being sick.
Healthy Employees = Happy Programs
A healthy team is the foundation of any successful program or business. When employees take care of their health, they can focus better, work more efficiently, and contribute to a positive work environment. This leads to smoother operations, better customer or client experiences, and improved overall results.
Supporting employee health is an investment in your organization’s future. By promoting wellness and providing the right tools and policies, you create a workplace where everyone can thrive and do their best work.