5 Ideas for Know Your Numbers Week at Work

Know Your Numbers Week is a wellbeing campaign in the UK to help people get to know their health stats. Primarily, the campaign focuses on blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. However, other numbers such as cholesterol and blood glucose are also important indicators of your health. That’s why having a good range of ideas for Know Your Numbers Week at work is a great way to help improve the health of your staff.

Know Your Numbers Week takes place every September and encourages all UK adults to get a blood pressure check. This year, it’s taking place from the 4th – 10th September. It also raises awareness of the causes and consequences of high blood pressure and how to prevent and treat it. If you are an HR or wellbeing leader who wants to organise a Know Your Numbers campaign in your workplace, here are some ideas to inspire you.

1. Educate your Employees About Blood Pressure

One of the first steps to promote Know Your Numbers Week is to educate your employees about what blood pressure is, why it matters, and how to measure it. You can do this by:

• Sending out newsletters, emails, or posters with information and tips on blood pressure.
• Hosting a webinar or workshop with a health professional who can explain the basics of blood pressure and answer questions.
• Creating a quiz or challenge to test your employees’ knowledge and reward them with prizes or incentives.
• Sharing success stories or testimonials from employees who have improved their blood pressure or health outcomes.

If you haven’t got the time to put some resources together, we’ve actually got some free posters you can download and print to display around your office. Or you could email them out or host them on your intranet.

Our free Know Your Numbers Week posters give staff direct staff to more information about blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, even utilising some online screening tools. Click below to download the posters.

2. Provide free or discounted blood pressure monitors

The easiest way to know your numbers is to measure your blood pressure at home. Home monitoring is convenient and accurate, and can help you track your progress over time. However, not everyone has access to a blood pressure monitor or knows how to use one correctly.

To encourage your employees to monitor their blood pressure at home, you can:

• Provide free or discounted blood pressure monitors for them to keep or borrow.
• Arrange a group purchase or bulk order of blood pressure monitors from a reputable supplier.
• Offer training or guidance on how to use and maintain a blood pressure monitor.
• Create a logbook or app where employees can record and share their readings.

You can also purchase or rent a monitor to keep in the workplace. You can then allow staff to take 5 minutes out of their workday to go and get tested. This is a great solution, as purchasing blood pressure monitors for staff may be costly, and they may not get used enough to justify the cost.

If you’re interested in renting a blood pressure monitor for your workplace, we can help! Send an email to enquiries@newleafhealth.co.uk and we’ll get back to you with further information.

3. Organise a workplace health screening

Another way to help your employees know their numbers is to organise a workplace health screening. This is a service that provides a comprehensive assessment of your employees’ health status, including their blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose, BMI, and more.

A workplace health screening can:

• Identify any health risks or issues that may need further attention or treatment.
• Provide personalised advice and recommendations on how to improve your health and wellbeing.
• Motivate and empower your employees to take charge of their health and make positive changes.
• Boost morale and productivity by showing that you care about your employees’ health and happiness.

As one of the leading providers of employee health screenings in the UK, we know just how powerful of an intervention this can be. We work with a range of clients, small and large, public and private. We regularly meet staff who have never had a health check, and actually find out through us that they have high blood pressure, cholesterol, or are at risk of type-2 diabetes. We’ve had several instances where the employee does visit their GP for further investigation, and actually ends up being treated for a condition that they wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

If you’d like to learn more about what a health screening can do for your staff, you can read more in our blog post: Is Health Screening a Legal Requirement for Workplaces?

Or, you can head over to our Employee Health Screening page to find out what makes this one of the best ideas for Know Your Numbers Week.

4. Promote healthy lifestyle habits

Knowing your numbers is only the first step. The next step is to take action to lower your blood pressure if it’s too high or keep it under control if it’s normal. One of the best ways to do this is by adopting healthy lifestyle habits that can prevent and treat high blood pressure.

Some of the habits that can lower your blood pressure are:

• Eating a balanced diet that is low in salt, fat, and sugar and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein.
• Drinking plenty of water and limiting alcohol and caffeine intake.
• Exercising regularly for at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity activity.
• Managing stress levels by practising relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga, mindfulness, breathing exercises, or hobbies.
• Quitting smoking.

To promote these habits among your employees, you can:

• Provide healthy snacks and drinks in the workplace or subsidise healthy meals at the cafeteria.
• Organise physical activities such as walking groups, fitness classes, sports teams, or challenges.
• Offer flexible working hours or breaks that allow your employees to balance their work and personal life.
• Provide access to counselling, coaching, or support groups for employees who need help with stress management or quitting smoking.

Don’t be afraid to ask your staff what will help them develop a healthy lifestyle. After all, they may be your best source of ideas for Know Your Numbers Week!

5. Partner with local organisations or charities

Finally, you can make your Know Your Numbers campaign more impactful and meaningful by partnering with local organisations or charities that support the cause. For example, you can:

• Collaborate with a local pharmacy, clinic, or hospital to offer free or discounted blood pressure checks or referrals for your employees.
• Donate to or fundraise for a charity that works to prevent or treat high blood pressure, such as Blood Pressure UK or the British Heart Foundation.
• Invite a guest speaker or ambassador from a relevant organisation or charity to share their expertise or experience with your employees.
• Join or create a network or community of other workplaces that are committed to improving their employees’ health and wellbeing.

By partnering with local organisations or charities, you can:

• Increase your reach and impact by tapping into their resources and networks.
• Enhance your reputation and credibility by showing your social responsibility and commitment.
• Inspire and engage your employees by exposing them to different perspectives and stories.

Conclusion

Know Your Numbers Week is a great opportunity to raise awareness of blood pressure and its importance for your health. By using one, or several, of these ideas for Know Your Numbers Week in your workplace, you can help your employees know their numbers and take action to lower them if needed.

You can use the ideas above or come up with your own to make your campaign fun, informative, and effective. Remember, the goal is not only to know your numbers, but also to improve them and to help your staff live healthier and happier lives.