Fewer Risks, Greater Wellbeing: 10 essential keys to a safe and healthy work environment

Promoting healthy habits within organisations is essential to improve the physical, mental, and social wellbeing of all employees. Organisations that foster a culture of prevention and wellbeing have more motivated and committed teams.

To support this process, CaixaBank has developed a 2025–2027 Strategic Plan, which includes a ten-point guide of best practices aimed at improving safety, promoting a healthy work environment at all levels of the company and fostering a positive and safe atmosphere.

1. Ergonomics at the workplace 

Adopting and maintaining a good posture is crucial for overall body health. Inadequate posture can lead to back and neck pain, muscle strain, headaches or more serious problems such as sciatica or lumbago.

• Adjust the height of your chair so that your forearms rest comfortably on the desk, creating an angle of approximately 90º between the arm and forearm.
• Feet should be flat on the floor.
• Face the monitor and keyboard, avoiding sustained twisting of the body and neck.
• Ensure there is enough space in front of the keyboard to comfortably rest your forearms and hands.
• Place the top of the screen at eye level and at a distance of approximately 40 to 80 centimeters. Proper viewing distance and angle helps prevent eye strain.

2. Active breaks

Alternating postures between standing and sitting or taking active or compensatory breaks are the most effective ways to prevent muscle fatigue and physical strain associated with static, sedentary posture at office workplaces. 

Active breaks improve blood and joint mobility, thus helping to prevent musculoskeletal and circulatory disorders, and can significantly boost concentration and physical activity levels of the workforce.

• Stretching break: These breaks focus on stretching muscles and joints to relieve tension. Examples include neck stretches, shoulder rotations, and back stretches.
• Deep breathing break: Deep breathing pauses involve taking a short break to focus on breathing. Practising deep breathing, abdominal breathing, or conscious breathing can help reduce stress and increase concentration.
• Movement break: These breaks involve light movement to stimulate blood circulation. Examples include walking around the office or performing simple arm movements.

3. Designing healthy workspaces

A healthy workspace is one where everyone works together towards a shared vision of health and wellbeing for the workplace and the community. The workspace has a direct impact on the state of well-being of the people who use it. 

• The choice of materials, acoustic, thermal, and lighting comfort, humidity levels, and proper ventilation are key factors influencing workplace health.
• To promote environments that improve day-to-day life, meeting all the needs that may arise in an office, with comfort and wellbeing for everyone.
• Provide and equip rest areas in the operational areas of the office. The office is a place to chat, socialise, and even laugh with colleagues. In these areas the mind relaxes, and the mood and mental health improve.

4. Promoting Emotional Health

Taking care of emotional wellbeing in the workplace is as important as healthy eating, exercising, or getting enough sleep. It means fostering an environment where wellbeing is respected and promoted offering support, understanding, and resources. There is a need to raise awareness and provide opportunities to recognize, prevent and act on the mental health conditions of workers. 

• Offer staff counselling services, psychological support, or mental health and wellbeing programmes. These tools help recognize and improve emotions in potentially stressful situations or when going through difficult personal moments. 
• Normalise conversations around mental health, encouraging open dialogue to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
• Practise assertive communication, with allows to express ideas, opinions, needs or expectations in a transparent, clear, and respectful way towards others and to resolve conflicts in a constructive way.
• Organise workshops and activities on mental, physical, and social wellbeing that provide tools to manage work demands (e.g., meditation, breathing techniques, time management) and promote emotional well-being.
• Additional activities such as support groups or motivational talks to ensure that all staff feel psychologically supported and committed to their emotional well-being. 

5. Creating a positive work environment

A positive work environment is crucial for the emotional wellbeing of teams. It is essential to create a working atmosphere in which everyone feels safe, supported, and able to give their best. Equally important is developing interpersonal skills such as open communication, active listening, recognising effort, and fostering collaboration and mutual support among colleagues.

• Recognise staff achievements through positive feedback meetings and dedicated spaces where work is acknowledged, reinforcing mutual respect and recognition. Such recognition motivates, boosts self-esteem, and has a positive impact on mental wellbeing.
• Organise team-building activities with games, workshops, or group outings to strengthen camaraderie and team relationships.
• Promote open communication workshops aimed at improving communication within the team, teaching active listening techniques and conflict resolution, fostering trust and the free exchange of ideas.

6. Facilitating access to healthy food

Maintaining a balanced diet not only provides the energy needed to face everyday work but also helps prevent illnesses, reduces cardiovascular risks, and plays a fundamental role in both physical and mental health. Promoting healthy and balanced diet (complete, sufficient, individually adapted and varied) is an investment in health and workplace safety. 

• Ensure that healthy food is available in the workplace —such as fresh fruit and snacks—to promote healthy habits.
• Encourage healthy catering options and, in centres equipped with canteens, offer nutritious lunches and meals that include options such as salads or low-fat dishes.
• Equip office areas with appliances (fridges, microwaves, etc.) to enable staff to bring their healthy, home-prepared meals.
• Organise interactive nutrition workshops that offer nutritional advice, thereby promoting a healthier lifestyle both within and beyond the workplace.

7.Promoting hydration

Workplace conditions affect hydration needs. Water plays a vital role in many bodily functions, including the regulation of body temperature, muscle contraction, and the elimination of toxins. Drinking water during work hours significantly influences cognitive processes such as concentration, alertness, memory, critical thinking, and even mood. People who are adequately hydrated tend to be more optimistic, perform better, have more energy, and are less likely to suffer from headaches and fatigue.

• Provide access to drinking water and ensure that water dispensers are readily available in the workplace. Hydration should be progressive, ensuring a continuous supply throughout the day.
• Offer alternatives such as healthy beverages, such as teas and natural juices, while avoiding drinks with added sugars or alcohol.

8. Promoting physical exercise

Physical activity is essential for maintaining optimal health and can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Encouraging physical exercise in the workplace helps prevent musculoskeletal disorders and stress, improving mental health, job satisfaction, and overall quality of life for staff. 

• Take an active role in promoting healthy lifestyles through physical activity by developing communication strategies that encourage staff to be physically active.
• Integrate elements such as active rest areas for exercise or workspaces that favour changes in posture.
• Foster partnerships with service providers specialising in physical activity.
• Develop interventions aimed at promoting active commuting among staff—for example, encouraging walking or using stairs instead of the lift.
• Organise group exercise sessions which not only promote a healthy lifestyle, but also strengthen relationships and foster a positive team environment.

9. Training and development

Continuous learning and professional development are fundamental pillars. Implementing professional development programmes not only enhances the skills and competencies of employees but also increases their motivation and commitment to the company.

• Foster a culture of continuous learning by providing access to online learning platforms, resource libraries, and grants for further education.
• Offer workshops and courses on job-relevant skills such as programming, data analysis, or project management.
• Provide leadership development programmes to prepare employees for roles with greater responsibility, including mentoring, coaching, and management skills training.
• Organise courses that improve communication and collaboration skills, including presentation techniques, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Work with employees to create individual development plans that align their professional objectives with the needs of the company, setting both short- and long-term goals along with the necessary steps to achieve them.

10. Implement corporate wellness programmes

Corporate wellbeing programmes should adopt a holistic vision that embraces all aspects of physical, mental, and social wellbeing. They should be implemented with a commitment to diversity, ensuring that the needs of every employee are met, creating a supportive environment that fosters a healthier, happier workforce.

• Wellbeing programmes should be inclusive and accessible to all staff, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or physical abilities.
• They should offer a variety of activities. The diversity of options allows everyone to find an option that suits and benefits them.
• They encourage health checks and preventive care. These initiatives not only promote the overall health of employees but can also help identify potential issues early on.
• They reflect a corporate culture that values health and wellbeing, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment and aiding in the attraction and retention of talent.

Investing in the health and wellbeing of employees is not merely a priority—it is a key strategy for building healthier, more motivated teams. With this vision in mind, CaixaBank has launched its Healthy Organisation Strategic Plan 2025-2027, an ambitious project set to shape the next three years with initiatives designed to enhance the comprehensive wellbeing of its workforce.

This plan is structured around seven fundamental pillars: emotional and social wellbeing, physical activity, health and safety, financial wellbeing, workspaces, and healthy nutrition. To cement this strategy, the institution implemented more than 90 initiatives impacting health and wellbeing throughout Spain in 2024.

One of the recent milestones was the celebration of Wellness Week, from 7th to 13th April, which featured over 100 activities designed to promote healthy habits among employees, both in person and virtually.

Through the "We Are Healthy" programme, CaixaBank consolidates its commitment to a comprehensive and sustainable approach to corporate wellbeing, promoting a values-based culture that transcends the workplace and has a positive impact on the quality of life of its employees, their families, and society at large.