Most jobs in the construction industry are physically demanding. Workers carrying added weight around the waist are in jeopardy of injury. It also causes them difficulty in performing the essential functions of their job. Unfortunately, 60 percent or more of the American workforce is either overweight or obese.
My concern is for everyone. For those workers who have a healthy body weight, I want to make sure they do not become an obesity statistic. Most Americans who are obese didn’t become obese overnight. They became obese by gaining four pounds a year for 15 years and now weigh 60 pounds too much. So despite the amount of work a person does each day in terms of burning calories, it is important to keep track of the amount of food consumed.
A TOUCHY ISSUE
When your employees are busy, they are probably making quick stops at fast-food restaurants for foods that are high in calories. Encourage them to make better choices like drinking water and snacking on fruits and veggies. Simply cutting back on the amount of food consumed will also result in weight loss.
Your employees may be surprised at what a difference adding more activity to their daily routine makes. A weight-training program is a great way to burn more calories and keep the fat off. Keeping the body strong will also help them perform their job more safely.
If any of your employees are overweight or obese, tell them to be patient while trying to lose weight. Crash diets don’t work. If they need to lose 40 or 60 pounds, they should plan on doing it over a two-year period or longer. Remind them that it took years to put all that extra weight on - now they should give themselves time to lose it.
Encouraging employees to lose weight can be a touchy issue. Managers think, “Well, it’s a personal matter, and how much someone weighs is his or her own business.” The whole subject can make a boss uncomfortable. But the truth is, if you pay health insurance for your employees, obesity is your business. It directly relates to your economic health, which affects all of your employees.
So how do you go about getting overweight workers to slim down? Here are several suggestions:
Be honest with people about the impact of their excess weight. It’s natural to dread these types of conversations, but remember that your employees are adults. They can handle it. Tell employees honestly and directly that it’s difficult to provide higher wages and better benefits when so much of the company’s money is going to support illnesses that could be prevented. If you’re implementing a companywide weight loss initiative, you can make these points in a letter or a kickoff meeting.
Commit to helping them lose weight. It’s easy to make any lifestyle change if you have support. And having the backing of the company you work for is a significant benefit. Try structured weight loss programs. They make the process more “official” and offer techniques to increase the likelihood of success. But it’s certainly possible to “wing it” and create your own program, especially if you’re a small company. Just be sure to invite all employees to participate.
Offer incentives. Incentives can vary. Some companies may give small cash bonuses or gift certificates for reaching pre-determined milestones. Others may offer discounted insurance premiums. Still others make it a “team thing” and set up friendly competitions between departments; the team that collectively loses the most weight gets rewarded. People like working toward a concrete reward. Make it fun.
Teach employees the basics of weight loss. The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to consume a moderate, nutritious diet and exercise regularly. Period. Fad diets, fitness gadgets and other get-thin-quick schemes won’t work. Educate your employees on the realities of weight loss.
Get your employees excited about good nutrition. Create a “recipe” bulletin board - the “cork board” kind or the online kind - so employees can share the details of their delicious finds and their own culinary creations. Host a potluck lunch to which everyone brings a favorite healthful dish. Or ask employees to take turns bringing in fresh fruits, veggie trays or other low-fat snacks for people to munch on during break. Remove all junk food from the premises. It’s hard to stay on track when vending machines packed with grease and sugar beckon.
Encourage exercise groups. People are much more likely to sustain an exercise program if they have company. Hire an aerobics instructor to come in several times a week - during pre- or post-work hours - to lead everyone in a workout. Start a lunch-hour walking group. You might even put a treadmill, stair-step machine and weight bench in a vacant room so that employees can have their own “gym.”
Link weight loss to larger family issues. No one wants to be obese. But most people want their children to be obese even less. Offering to help employees set a healthy example for their children can be a powerful motivator. I’ve found that when you say to people, “Look, every time you open a new bag of potato chips and collapse in front of the TV, your kids are watching you,” they pay attention. Guilt can be a very useful tool. Ask any mother.
IMPROVING THE BUSINESS
Ultimately, prodding employees to take control of their weight can start a cascade of positive results for companies - many of which may surprise you.
Losing weight can be a life-affirming experience. People gain confidence. They get happier. They see firsthand the rewards of working hard to meet goals. Ultimately, this translates to more effective, productive employees who are likely to feel intense loyalty to you for helping them turn things around. A company that empowers people to lose weight may not only see an improvement in healthcare costs, it may gain better employees. And that, in and of itself, is a good reason to make the commitment.
