Could Providing Supplements Keep Companies ‘Healthy’?

According to research, 16% of 18-30-year-olds in the United States took more than 10 sick days in 2017, while only 14% of the same age bracket didn’t take a day off. When looking across all age ranges, 52% of the American workforce took up to five days sick leave in a year.

Should business be supplying supplements?

However, this number could be reduced if companies brought the right nutritional approaches into play:

“Companies are all for enhancing their employees’ wellbeing. Whether it’s providing free gym facilities or fruit bowls, looking after your workforce’s health can prove beneficial for their productivity and morale.

Supplements are a great way to boost your team’s health and nutrition, which will in turn enhance their performance. By offering supplements to your colleagues, they will also benefit from the knowledge that you care for their wellbeing.” – Frankie Brogan, Senior Nutritionist at Pharma Nord

Which supplements should you have on offer?

Stress-related illness is one of the major concerns for businesses. Data has found that three out of four Americans experience at least one stress symptom a month. Key reasons include health care, the future of the United States, money and work.  There are many supplements that could help relieve your stress levels.

Magnesium

For example, magnesium is a great supplement to have on offer as it helps muscle and nerve function. Studies have found that this mineral supports sleep and stress can sometimes be caused by tiredness. While many workforces offer free tea and coffee facilities, magnesium supplements could be a great opportunity to reduce fatigue in the workplace.

Vitamin D

It’s also important to consider seasonal changes. For those who work in an office-based role, winter can leave employees with significantly low levels of vitamin D due to the lack of sunlight, meaning there is a higher chance the immune system may falter as it’s not getting the nutritional benefits required.

Vitamin D is one supplement that can help with this, therefore maintaining a healthy workforce. In fact, public health advice even recommended this supplement for a ‘top up’. Staggeringly, 42% of Americans are Vitamin D deficient. For many of us, our diet simply won’t provide enough levels of the nutrient, so the supplement can be a quick and easy way to enhance our intake.

Omega 7

Working in an office may also see employees suffer from dry eyes from staring at a screen all day. While regular breaks from the screen are recommended, Omega 7 can improve overall hydration and help combat the irritation of dry eyes.

“While supplements aren’t a ‘replacement’, they can be beneficial and provide nutritional goodness. They are a cost-effective way to support your immune system and enhance your overall well-being.” – Frankie Brogan, Senior Nutritionist at Pharma Nord

So what’s the answer?

While the United States can boast some of the most productive workforces, they still lag behind the likes of Luxembourg, Ireland and Norway. The wellbeing process in place by companies simply isn’t engaging their staff in a way to make them productive. Of course, just offering supplements isn’t enough, but it can certainly help towards creating a healthier workplace.

An effective wellbeing plan is crucial for companies to engage with their employees fully. While supplements may go under the radar (compared to flexible and/or remote working) as being one of the ‘top perks’ offered, they could be one of the most important.  After all, a healthy workforce contributes to a happy workforce, and a happy workforce is a more productive one.