World Health Day is celebrated on April 7th of every year. Every year, a theme is chosen. This year’s theme is “Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures.” It highlights maternal and newborn health and survival. This theme is decided to state the fact that around 300,000 women lose their lives because of childbirth and pregnancy. Pregnant women need both physical and mental care during this essential time.
Moreover, not every company offers maternity leave; only a few companies offer paid maternity leave for 12 weeks, roughly 3 months. There are also certain rules, like eligibility and stipulations, under the Family and Medical Leave Act. If your company qualifies, then you can give your employees maternity leave.
The theme is different, but focusing on other employees is also as important as it is on World Health Day. We have discussed ways for employers to take care of both their pregnant employees and other employees.
Ways Employers Can Support Pregnant Employees on World Health Day 2025
As the theme focuses on maternal and newborn health, so let’s first discuss the paths on how employers can help pregnant women employees.
1. Provide Flexible Work Options
It is necessary for employers to realize the difficulties faced by working pregnant women. Commuting every day and more hours is not safe, so offer flexible work arrangements like remote or hybrid work.
In the US, women are eligible to take job-protected or unpaid leave for family medical reasons. Also, flexible working hours help them balance their work life. Moreover, agree to their prenatal appointment timings without any problem, such as by adjusting work hours.
Don’t forget to communicate with your manager or HR beforehand so they can modify work hours or simplify the workload. Be honest and document everything. Offer telecommuting options to decrease e-commute stress.
2. Ensure a Comfortable Work Environment
Ergonomics helps with posture, and comfort is important. During pregnancy, sitting on normal furniture leads to discomfort. Mainly in the main stages, it causes increased pressure on certain body parts. Pregnant employees cannot sit or stand for long hours, so it is necessary to provide support.
Keep a suitable lumbar pillow to support the spine. Adjust the backrest between 95 and 155 degrees. The monitor and working height should fit like a glove. Make sure there is no strain on the neck, eyes, wrists, or hand. Offer footrests for better foot relief and circulation. Maternity pillows can add extra comfort.
Provide quiet rest areas for rest and relaxation. Add natural elements like plants and dim lighting to decrease eye strain.
3. Organize Prenatal Health and Wellness Programs
Promote healthy pregnancy through prenatal health and wellness programs. Host workshops on pregnancy nutrition-what to eat and what not to eat-stress-relieving techniques, and fitness challenges.
- Nutrition wellness programs —Offer access to nutritionists and nutrient-rich meal kits. Provide sessions on macro- and micronutrients. Include healthy choices in the cafeteria.
- Stress-relieving techniques—Practice meditation, journaling, laughter therapy, deep breathing exercises, etc.
- Fitness challenges—Implement gentle yoga, stretching, swimming, and pelvic floor strengthening challenges.
Additionally, provide educational resources regarding don’ts and dos about pregnancy.
4. Encourage Regular Movement and Breaks
Microbreaks are mini-breaks that last up to 5 minutes and can be taken every 20 minutes. Take a break and rest, as you need to give your muscles a break to sit or work again. Just get out of the chair and do something like eating snacks or doing desk exercises. During pregnancy, a bigger belly can lead to muscle pain.
Taking short breaks helps decrease musculoskeletal pain and improve energy levels, mental health, focus, and work performance. This also reduced fatigue.
5. Enhance Maternity Benefits and Support
Maternity benefits in the workplace are essential to enhance job security and women’s economic rights. Offer competitive paid maternity leave to recharge, recover, and bond with their newborns. Also, cover their prenatal and postnatal care.
Make sure to extend help to everyone exclusively. Additionally, build nursing rooms and lactation benefits for easy handling. Provide parental support programs.
6. Facilitate Health Screenings and Medical Support
Collaborate with a healthcare provider for health screenings and medical support. This decreases healthcare costs and develops a healthier workforce. Here are a few ways:
- Onsite screenings: Vaccinations and biometric screenings.
- Insurance coverage: Diagnostics tests.
- Health coaching: Personalized health guidance.
- Health assessments: Wellness checks, mental health assessments, and chronic disease screenings.
- Medical consultations: Connect pregnant employees with various doctors.
Now let’s talk about employee health, as this is World Health Day
Everyone must participate in World Health Day, as they should be aware of health issues and keep health as their first priority. Many employees do not care about their health- —this is not right, because if they encounter any health problems, it leads to increased absenteeism. World Health Day is an excellent opportunity for companies to show they care about their employees’ well-being.
Ways for employees to celebrate World Health Day 2025
1. Water bar
Staying hydrated throughout the day is necessary. Many employees do not drink water while working; this leads to dehydration. Dehydration causes dizziness, extreme thirst, confusion, and more. To solve this problem:
Arrange a water station with water bottles or glasses. Add different types of detox water for that extra kick. Send out water reminders to the employees. When they are hydrated, they work properly because water balances the body’s chemicals responsible for the brain to make hormones, such as dopamine, which is also called the motivation hormone.
2. Expert talks
Organize programs where health experts are invited to talk about various concerns. Make sure to plan this event in advance so everyone can attend without any excuse. Here employees can voice their issues, ask queries, or consult with them individually.
3. Wellness rewards
Offer employees wellness rewards to develop healthy choices among them. These can be awarded to the employees who prioritize their health without neglecting it. They feel appreciated.
4. Health screenings
Employee health screenings are used to evaluate and monitor their health status. This includes temperature checks, health questionnaires, laboratory tests, and mental health assessments. Also, these health screenings help detect diseases in the early stage, decrease absenteeism, and improve productivity and company culture.
5. Zen zones
Zen zones are places where you spend time for self-care like meditation, yoga, mindfulness, and more. These are safe and calm areas where they can calm themselves down. Incorporate items like sensory items, books, Legos, soft music, puzzles, fidget tools etc.
6. Nap pods
Sleep or nap pods are structures that are used to rest for short periods. Some even have built-in music systems. Power naps help enhance the mood, productivity, and alertness of the employees. They can use it for 20 minutes. This pod includes soundproofing, light control, etc.
7. Wellness challenges
Wellness challenges help employees adopt healthy behaviors. These challenges can be stepping challenges, detox challenges, or mental health challenges. They boost engagement, awareness, and create a sense of long-term well-being.
Benefits of World Health Day 2025
There are various benefits of this day:
- Improves productivity
- Reduces absenteeism
- Decreases healthcare costs
- Promotes preventative care
- Reduces healthcare gap
- Enhances employee wellbeing
Conclusion
World Health Day 2025 is not just an event; it is a reminder that employees should take care of their health and participate in wellness initiatives like hydration stations, expert talks, maternity support, and more. Make this day a practice in the organization. The benefits are plentiful.
Check out Wellness360 for more information.
