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.

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.

Reduce Stress

You can lower overall 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.

Involve Your Team

Training your employees on workplace ergonomics can boost problem-solving skills and overall creativity while reducing mistakes. In other words, your team will be better able to do their jobs because they won’t be distracted by muscle strain or other physical discomfort. Another tip that can help reduce workplace stress is increasing physical activity. Be 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.

When the workplace keeps ergonomics like good posture, controlling screen glare, ideal heights and reaches, and reduced motions in mind, the worker becomes more efficient and more engaged. When your team isn’t fatigued and uncomfortable while performing their job functions, employee engagement increases, because they have more energy during the workday.

Improving workplace ergonomics can boost problem-solving skills and overall creativity while reducing mistakes. In other words, your team will be better able to do their jobs because they won’t be distracted by muscle strain or other physical discomfort. And if you engage your team in the process of evaluating how to improve ergonomics in the workplace, they’ll know that you value their feedback and contributions—which in turn can improve overall morale. You may be surprised to find that your employees have insights into improving the workplace that you never considered.

Your employees are your company’s greatest investment. It pays to improve workplace ergonomics because it’s a tangible benefit that enhances employee’s lives. Reducing ergonomic problems leads to fewer sick days, fewer injuries, and can reduce long-term, cumulative issues that can shorten a worker’s career. Over time, investing in workplace ergonomics more than pays for itself.