According to Harvard Health, men are more likely to:
Unfortunately, men’s health statistics also show men die younger than women. They also tend to have more chronic illnesses than women, too.
Luckily, employers can easily address these issues during Men’s Health Week. This year, Men’s Health Week is June 15-21.
June is also recognized as Men’s Health Month, so if you miss Men’s Health Week, you still can bring men’s health issues to the spotlight. While the topic variety is endless, covering health issues like the importance of regular exercise and annual check-ups are easy promo ideas.
Need a little bit more guidance on how to cover it in the workplace?
Below, we share how to highlight your male employees’ health during Men’s Health Week. You’ll find statistics to share, along with daily activities to promote men’s health.
Read on to get planning!
While overall, both sexes are living longer compared to decades ago, men still fall short when it comes to life longevity. Research shows men die younger than women and that more than half of all women older than 65 are widows. Additionally, widows outnumber widowers by at least three to one.
Researchers have found a variety of reasons that may be, including the following:
Additionally, the leading causes of death in men are heart disease, cancer, and accidents deemed as unintentional injuries.
In the workplace, you can use Men’s Health Week as an opportunity to engage the males in your workplace on specific health concerns. Or, you can promote overall well-being and health that may be of interest to your male population.
Use this month to raise awareness of easily preventable health problems — like obesity — and encourage annual doctor’s visits to detect and treat common diseases among men.
And not all material needs to be geared toward men. Your workplace is full of spouses and individuals who have men in their lives who they can pass the information onto as well.
Not sure where to start?
Below we outline seven days’ worth of activities for the workplace:
Since Men’s Health Week begins on a Monday, you can start this activity the Thursday or Friday before. Take the time to encourage employees to evaluate their overall health and set goals.
It’s easier to make healthy changes when you have a goal to work toward and a “why” to focus on.
Send out worksheets or a thought-provoking survey via email with the following details:
Your health is your most important and precious asset. As you consider the following information, think about how you can improve your health.
Encourage employees to set SMART goals. A specific and measurable goal might look like: “lose x pounds by X date by exercising 3x a week in the morning and limiting calories on two meals a day.”
There are so many silent killers that can only be detected by blood work and regular physicals. Use this information to encourage male employees to schedule an exam. Employees should have a list of questions ready to discuss with their doctor not only about their physical condition but also about the doctor’s treatment approach.
Activities to do:
As workplaces start to open back up, most employees are quite health-conscious at the moment. It may be a good time to get a baseline of the overall health of your workers. A biometric screening company like ours can help you with that.
Encourage employees to evaluate their weight to determine if they need to make lifestyle changes. This can be as simple as checking an online BMI calculator or checking in with their doctor. Excess weight tends to be more of an issue in men, especially as they age.
Activities to do:
Share easy ways to get started: Small changes in diet, finding enjoyable exercises, taking walks at lunch, finding an accountability buddy, etc. are tips that your employees can implement ASAP.
While incidents of mental health tend to be lower in men, they are also less likely than women to seek treatment, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Mental health is as important as physical health and should not be ignored. Reducing stress, dealing with trauma, and working through life events are all important and no one has to do alone — including men.
Activities to do:
Symptoms of mental health issues may include increased irritability, sadness or hopelessness, excessive use of alcohol or drugs, and engaging in high-risk activities.
Since men are more likely to have issues with heart disease, as they age, a well-balanced diet is essential to good health. Healthy foods are not only important for weight, but for managing diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Activities to do:
Share healthy recipes and encourage employees to make mealtimes fun, including cooking together by getting the kids or spouses involved, etc.
Daily exercise is not only important for weight loss, but a sedentary lifestyle causes many health problems. The American Heart Association reports that one in three men suffer from cardiovascular issues, which can be caused by issues like smoking, a poor diet, and lack of exercise.
Activities to do:
Anything you can do to encourage your employees to move daily is a step in the right direction. It can improve overall health, but especially cardiovascular health — a must for men of all ages.
This is a perfect wrap-up for the week and right before the weekend hits. Because men are much less likely to report feelings of overwhelm or stress, it’s sometimes hard to gauge when they need a break. According to The American Institute of Stress website, “A U.S. national study reported that 60 to 80 percent of doctor’s visits may have a stress-related component. Stress has also been linked to a higher risk for disease, including cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.” Help men learn it’s okay to unwind.
Activities to do:
Share with your male employees that it’s important to take time away to do relaxing activities. That sometimes may include time off from work or enjoying a hobby. Encourage employees to focus on one thing at a time. That means no checking work emails when off the clock, no phones during family time, etc.
This month is the ideal time to focus on men’s health issues.
Awareness is a key component to educate your workforce on these health disparities impacting men. If men — and their loved ones — have a better understanding of the lifestyle choices, social and behavioral factors that increase poor health risk, they can make the right changes.
The activities list above is just one way to participate in the promotion of male health issues. Get creative in a manner that fits your workplace culture.
If you’ve done a biometric screening, focus on the key health concerns that your male employees are facing. Send out literature, email out health screening reminders, and schedule an appropriate lunch and learn to encourage them to improve their health.
Once it’s over, send a survey to see how you can help them maintain their health throughout the year. Feedback is essential to creating workplace wellness programs that actually move the needle positively in employees’ health.
How does your workplace participate in Men’s Health Week? Let us know in the comments below!