Poor office morale is bad for everyone. The business itself suffers from the loss of productivity, managers have to deal with high turnover rates, and employees are just plain unhappy. Research has shown the strong link between job satisfaction and work performance. Unhappy and disengaged workers don’t put in their full effort, and they are likely looking for other jobs. 

Signs of low employee morale shouldn’t be hard to spot. According to Dr. Laura Hills, some common warning signs of low employee morale include:

• Increase in absenteeism and tardiness
• Staff conflicts
• Increase in errors
• Uncooperative attitude
• Lack of enthusiasm
• Lack of commitment
• Low participation
• Opposition to authority
• Silence during meetings 

If any of these signs are present at your company, don’t fret. While you might think office morale is completely out of your hands, the truth is that as an employer, you control many elements of the work environment that contribute to employee happiness. So, if your employees need a morale boost, try out some of these tips:

We all know that feeling. It’s just after lunchtime, you’re feeling a bit drowsy, and your co-worker just delivered a batch of fresh donuts to the breakroom. Your sugar craving is at an all-time high, and you’re tempted to grab a glazed donut, even though you’re not even hungry.

This situation is common at the workplace. While you might be trying to eat healthily and cut back on sweets, chances are, most of your co-workers might not be doing the same. Office “cake culture” definitely plays in role in many full-time employees cheating on their diets. And we get it – it’s hard to resist temptation when you see your colleagues enjoying leftover birthday cupcakes for breakfast.

The scariest part about sugar is that it adds up quickly. In fact, most American adults triple the recommended daily amount of sugar, and many fall into the category of sugar addicts. Not to mention, too much added sugar can lead to major health issues like high blood pressure, a weak immune system, and liver damage.

Unfortunately, many Americans aren’t happy at work. According to a recent Gallup Survey, as summarized by CBS Moneywatch, of America’s 100 million full-time employees, 51% aren’t engaged at work – meaning they feel no real connection to their jobs and tend to do the bare minimum. Another 16% reported being “actively disengaged,” meaning they resent their jobs and drag down office morale as a result.

Feeling unhappy at work leads to poor productivity, concentration, and overall work performance. Even worse, feeling unhappy for 40 hours a week will have a negative impact on your health and personal life. If you struggle to feel happy during the workday, try out some of these tips to boost your mood and enjoy your job more:

Ah, to be forever young. It’s a fantasy for most of us that unfortunately will never become a reality – at least not in this day in age! However, keeping healthy habits is a simple and effective way to maintain a youthful glow for years to come. Here are six everyday habits that are secretly aging you, and what you can do about it: 

Sitting Too Much

Many full-time employees are susceptible to a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting at your desk for 40+ hours a week has a lot of health consequences. Besides substantially increasing your risk for certain diseases, sitting too much can shorten your lifespan and accelerate the aging process. According to a report by Science Daily, adults who are physically active during their leisure time appear to be biologically younger than those with sedentary lifestyles.

To combat a sedentary lifestyle and keep your youthful looks, try to get up and move once every hour of the workday. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise, five days a week, and invest in a standing desk. Be sure to also stay active during your evenings off work and weekends. Find active hobbies or weekend hobbies that will keep you moving.

Office design is a good business investment.

A top-notch workspace design creates a relaxed and super-productive atmosphere. Employers must consider their employees' physical work environment. After all, employees perform their best when they feel comfortable and at ease in their work settings.

If your employees are having trouble staying productive or seem overly stressed, your workplace design might be contributing to the problem.

Read on to learn four office design tips to help increase productivity while also reducing workplace stress. 

While it can be a touchy subject, addressing drug use is a key component of workplace health and safety. With opioid abuse increasing at a startling rate of 500% in the last seven years, opioid misuse might be one of the biggest health threats to your workforce. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially declared the abuse of prescribed medications in the U.S. an epidemic.

Opioids are a class of drugs that have morphine-like effects. This includes oxycodone, hydrocodone (Vicodin), codeine, morphine, and many others. Medical professionals prescribe opioids as a treatment for moderate to severe pain caused by workplace injuries, surgeries, or, in some cases, chronic pain. While these drugs are effective in treating pain, they can also produce euphoria or a high, which makes them more prone to abuse.

Using these prescriptions for anything other than its medical purpose is considered to be abuse. This abuse can include mixing the medication with alcohol or taking more than the recommended dose – leading to many health consequences and even death. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), more than 90 Americans die after overdosing on opioids every day. 

Research has made it clear: you don’t want workaholics running your business. It’s not uncommon for American employees to be working more than the standard 40 hours a week. In fact, according to 20-Something Finance, the U.S. is the most overworked developed nation in the world. They also stated that 85.8% of males and 66.5% of females work more than 40 hours a week. 

It’s important to realize that working 55+ hours a week isn’t “overachieving,” it’s just plain unhealthy. A 2015 research article suggests that employees working a 55-hour week face a 33% increased risk of stroke than those working a 35 to 40-hour week. The side effects of long hours are more than just physical, too. Working crazy hours diminishes the opportunity for a healthy work-life balance, which can mentally drain employees.

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to make sure your company promotes the health of your employees. If your company demands that employees put in overtime hours over an extended period of time, it’s time to make some changes – for both the sake of your employees and your company. Let’s take a look at some of the negative impacts of long hours:

It’s time to take a deep breath. Being a full-time employee is more stressful than ever. With longer hours, stricter deadlines, and added responsibilities, many of us feel stressed on a daily basis. This stress can turn into chronic stress, which can cause physical and mental health consequences. 

Feeling stressed at work can lead to poor concentration, moodiness, and a decrease in overall work performance. When this stress is left unmanaged, many employees are susceptible to burnout. A company ran by burnt-out employees will experience increased absenteeism, less productivity, and higher turnover.

The bottom line is that stress is bad for everyone involved. Luckily, there are steps you can take to make your life a little less stressful. This is where mindfulness comes into play. We believe that practicing mindfulness is one of the best ways to reduce the stress in your life. But how can being more mindful impact your daily life?

A mind really is a terrible thing to waste. As we get older, our brains begin to age and lose neurons, and, eventually, our brain tissue starts to shrink. Cognitive decline can lead to an increased risk for illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

While this might sound scary, rest assured that there are plenty of things you can do to keep your mind healthy and sharp for as long as possible. And, as it turns out, this doesn’t mean you have to play tedious memory games every day to do so! With some healthy habits and hobbies, you can easily flex your brain muscles and help combat the effects of an aging brain to keep it sharper longer. 

Try out some of these daily brain-boosting activities to keep your brain healthy and strong:

Chances are, you’re probably slouching right now as you read this. From your office cubical to lounging at home, everyday life makes it difficult to maintain proper posture. But it’s important to understand that poor posture is more than just a “cosmetic” issue. It can have some serious health consequences. 

Slouching for hours each day can lead to soreness and pain, poor circulation, fatigue, poor digestion, and even arthritis. Even more surprising, poor posture can lead to mental side effects as well. A 2012 study found that a “slouched or despondent body posture can lead to decreased energy and feelings of depression”. Yup, that’s right, slouching can make you sad. 

Maintaining proper posture throughout the workday might sound like a lot of work, but the benefits make the extra effort completely worthwhile. According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), correct posture: