In the Czech Republic, around 2.5 million cases of inability to work due to illness are recorded every year. At the same time, up to 80 percent of them can be prevented by prevention and ensuring high-quality working conditions. A number of experts emphasize the need for health support and protection.

According to current data, up to 57 percent of the adult population is overweight. Tumors are increasing by six percent every year, and the number of people with type 2 diabetes is also increasing. At the same time, genetics affects a person's health by only 20 percent, and lifestyle by 50 percent.

“The total loss to GDP due to medical costs is almost 150 billion kroons per year. Therefore, employers have an interest in maintaining the health of employees, which contributes to the stability and prosperity of the company,” said Yvona Hartlová, director of the Firma pro zdraví initiative.

Although, according to Alena Šteflová, head of the World Health Organization office in the Czech Republic, people's general awareness of their health is relatively high, we are still lagging behind in the field of health promotion.

But gradually, the first companies to consider this mission as part of their corporate culture are starting to take the path of promoting prevention and healthy lifestyles. In this way, they positively seek to direct employees to take early precautions, change eating habits, or increase physical activity.

It is to these companies that Firma pro zdraví awards the title every year, which serves as an inspiration for other businesses. This year awards were given to the delivery service provider DPD program which aims to prevent cancer and diabetes, as well as Eaton EEIC activities which aim to promote healthy lifestyles.

A high-quality environment is another requirement for creating suitable working conditions. When equipping an office, entrepreneurs should emphasize the correct conceptual design of the premises in terms of ergonomics, acoustics, ventilation, as well as thermal and lighting conditions.

“Office space that is not handled properly is a fundamental problem that we face every year as guarantors of the CBRE Meeting of the Year Healthy Office competition. Lack of attention to this area can lead to fatigue, pain in the musculoskeletal system, inability to concentrate or accumulation of stress,” says Simona Kalvoda, executive director of the Czech Sustainable Building Council.

The quality of the indoor environment and worker performance are mainly related to appropriate lighting conditions and the amount of sunlight in the room. Lack of natural light has a fundamental impact on the human organism and affects mental and physical health.

Sunlight entering through windows must be equipped with appropriate lamp options with the ability to regulate the intensity. The temperature in the room must also be adjusted according to needs.

An adequate supply of fresh air must also be ensured so that harmful carbon dioxide does not build up in the office.

“Air quality is an important factor in a healthy indoor environment. With excessive CO2 concentrations, employee communication and work activities decrease. A study conducted by the World Green Building Council reported a reduction in productivity of up to 10 percent due to poor indoor air quality. The solution is air conditioning technology that measures the amount of carbon dioxide and automatically starts exchanging air when the CO2 concentration increases,” explains Tomáš Andrejsek, Chairman of the Board of the Czech Green Building Council and CEO of ELAN Interior.

User comfort in the work environment is also influenced by appropriate ergonomic and acoustic solutions. Not only is the variability of the workplace important, but also the division of space and the distance between rooms.

“Large amounts of noise cause distraction, which is the main reason for the inability to focus on tasks. At the same time, good acoustic conditions can increase employee motivation in relation to tasks by 66 percent. Acoustic tiles or wall panels can help. However, it is always important to look for the most suitable solution adapted to a particular space,” says Jiří Strnad, concept developer for offices and schools at Saint-Gobain Ecophon.

“When it comes to ergonomics, up to 25 percent of sick days are caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and 20 percent of them are caused by poor workplace ergonomics,” concluded Andrejsek.