Did you know there’s a direct relationship between employee perks and benefits and job satisfaction? It’s true. MetLife’s U.S. Employee Benefit Trends Survey is conducted annually, and they consistently find that employees indicate that a benefits package often tips the scales when it comes to making the decision to choose a specific employer.

The companies with the happiest and healthiest employees also have employees who remain with the company for longer periods of time. But what do these companies have in common? Customized benefits plans that meet the diverse needs of their employees, including providing a wide array of employee perks that aren’t directly related to insurance or finances.

Tired, Stressed, and Grouchy at Work?

If you’re like most people, occasional nagging aches and pains can make you cranky and less productive at work; after all, you’re not at your most productive when you’re physically uncomfortable. Take a moment to consider the aches and pains you may regularly experience. How many of them are related to how your desk is set up? If you don’t have an ergonomic workstation, your posture may suffer, and your risk of injury may increase—and that’s sure to raise your stress level!

Imagine how your productivity would be affected if you were always fatigued, in pain, or otherwise uncomfortable during the workday. Now extend that to your whole team. When no one is at their best, everyone’s stress increases, while overall productivity plummets. Keeping workplace ergonomics in mind—like controlling screen glare, reducing motion, improving posture, and positioning equipment at ideal heights and reaches—can help increase efficiency along with employee engagement and retention.

Reducing Workplace Stress

Here’s a tip that can help reduce workplace stress: increase your overall physical activity. One way to add activity to your workday is to make sure you and your team take regular breaks to walk around or stretch for a few moments every hour or two. When you vary your body’s position, you help protect against musculoskeletal injuries as well as increasing blood flow, which can give you a little energy boost.

Lower workplace stress while boosting creativity and productivity by improving workplace ergonomics. Take some time to evaluate your workstations, and talk to your coworkers to get input into how you work together to reduce workplace stress. Making it a team effort gets everyone involved, which can raise morale. And improving morale can help inspire employees to stay with the company.

Improving workplace ergonomics can also lower stress by reducing sick days, injuries, and long-term health problems that can negatively affect a person’s career. After all, if your team isn’t distracted by physical discomfort, they can better focus on doing their jobs. And that benefits everyone’s bottom line.

Extended Employee Perks

The typical benefits package of health, dental, vision, and life insurance may not be enough in today’s workplace. Over the past several years, employee perks—like onsite gyms, flexible schedules, games and lounges, wellness programs, unlimited vacation time, and in-office meals and drinks—have become an integral part of the overall benefits package that employees consider.

Even more recently, employers have begun to recognize the health, productivity, and employee engagement benefits of providing ergonomic solutions—like height-adjustable ergonomic computer desks. Companies that aren’t large enough to afford shuttle bus service to the office or onsite dry cleaning can provide their employees with the best ergonomic products to help them avoid injuries while keeping them healthier.

Workplace Ergonomics

Instead of straight-backed office chairs and carpal tunnel-inducing office desks, an increasing number of workplaces are adding ergonomic office furniture to not only modernize their décor, but also to improve workplace ergonomics.

Workplace ergonomics fosters a safety and health culture as a core value. People recognize the value of walking into a safe workplace; with the knowledge that their employer wants to keep their team healthy, employees are likely to be happier at work. Reducing ergonomic problems leads to fewer sick days, fewer injuries, and can reduce long-term, cumulative issues that can shorten a worker’s career.

Invest in Ergonomics and Your Employees

Ergonomic furniture, tools, and aids can be a hefty investment, but those investments can be well worth it over time. Effective workplace ergonomics help create a healthier workplace, which in turn can boost employee engagement.

The best ergonomic products improve productivity and employee engagement. Poor workplace ergonomics leads to fatigue, aches and pains, and injury. When employees are physically uncomfortable, they won’t perform well—and they may even begin cutting corners, which could put product quality at risk.

Companies that incorporate products like ergonomic computer desks into their offices demonstrate that they care about their employees, proving that their health and well-being are important. Savvy companies know that it pays to improve workplace ergonomics. It’s not just an employee perk—it’s a tangible benefit that enhances employee’s lives.