The Coolest Healthy Workplaces

Everyday, more and more big-name corporates around the world are finding new ways to invest in the health of their staff in creative ways – all in an effort to improve their team’s well being, increase productivity, reduce turnover and position themselves as an employer of choice.

If you want to be at the top of your game as an employer – competing for outstanding talent while fighting to keep your staff members, it’s time to overhaul how things are done around your workplace.

Here are some outstanding office features from around the world that all business leaders can draw some inspiration from.

Rock climbing wall at Insurance company Acuity based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Image – Acuity.

At Google, Apple and Linkedin, employees travel between buildings and campuses using on corporate bike fleets – these fleets have been popping up in Silicon Valley campuses over the past decade. Image- Business Insider. 

A place to stretch and reconnect with nature for the staff at ad agency of TBWA Hakuhodo. Image- TBWA. 

A Ford Mustang pool table, basketball court, and in-office scooters keeps the team at Quicken Loans, headquartered in Detroit on their feet. Image – Glassdoor. 

Indoor exercise court at OnBase. Image – Hyland Software.

Pixar California campus includes a basketball court and swimming pool! Image –  Oh my Disney.

Healthy vending machines, slides and motivational signs are all part of a typical day at The Toms Office in California. Image – Glassdoor. 

Just another lunch time at Facebook in California! Image- Daniel Goodman, Business Insider. 

An impressive office design back home in Australia by Architects Harcott is the recently developed Medibank in Melbourne, designed to be the healthiest workplace in the world by keeping employees moving and engaged with each other. With more than 26 different office spaces, exercise courts, an indoor bike ramp, stairs galore, and plants covering more than 10 per cent of the building, this office resembles more of a health retreat than a workplace! Image – Earl Carter. 

How to create a healthy workplace

Don’t worry! You haven’t missed the boat. With more options than ever, now is the perfect time to revamp how your workplace, well… works – so you can invest in the health of your team in the long term.

Of course, some ventures will be more expensive than others. It’s simply not economical for small businesses to implement an outdoor ergonomic space, gym or state-of-the-art yoga retreat.

But no matter the size of your company, you can make a number of small but high-impact changes to help create a healthier workplace for your team.

Remember, it’s the little things that count. 

· Provide healthy vending machines
· Offer alternative available treats such as a fruit platter or dark chocolate
· Convert that office space to a temporary workout zone during lunch time. Encourage as many people as possible to come along. Play an exercise youtube video – it’s completely free, easy to set up and no equipment is needed.
· Try running internal competitions for how many steps taken in a week/ lunch time workouts completed.
. Check out this extensive list of ideas compiled by the QLD Government.

Make a visual change, without the huge price tag

Tour de Office participant, Employment Office, has just split the cost with their staff in purchasing stand up desks – almost everybody in the Brisbane based office now has a stand up desk – and the staff love it! Check out Tour de Office partner, Jason.L Furniture’s range of quality Australian-made stand up desks.