Public Health England has joined with Business in the Community, a business-community outreach group, in releasing a so-called "health toolkit" to prompt firms to reconsider how they support their workers' health and wellness. Employees usually spend about one-third of the time they are awake at work, according to the guide.
"Employers have a responsibility to provide safe workplaces that do not damage an employee's health and environments that support healthier lifestyle choices," the guide notes. "Healthy employees drive a healthy business."
One way to spare employees from too many celebratory, high-sugar workdays is to encourage shared "cake days," the guide states. Healthier options also can be offered, such as fresh fruit and vegetables. Local vendors can be tapped to deliver fresh fruit daily.
"The cost of an unhealthy workforce to the UK taxpayer has been estimated at over £60bn a year," Public Health England notes.