Company Health and Wellness : Employee Wellness Programs: Does your workplace support physical exercise?

How does physical exercise fit into a full-time employee’s busy schedule? Many times, it doesn’t.

One possible solution to this challenge is to make physical activity a part of the work day. Clearly, being active at work is productive for employees. But employers also advance from having fit, energetic and healthy employees who are more productive.

The challenges

Your job takes up an abundance of your time. In addition to the hours you spend actually working, there is the time required to get to and from work and take lunch and rest breaks during the work day. In the end, there are a limited number of hours left over for the rest of your life. This work life imbalance is especially true for Alberta, where statistics show that we work exceptionally hard.

Many jobs today are sedentary, and a myriad of Americans drive to work. The pressures of work may also cause us to eat lunch at our desks and skip breaks. Then, after work or on the weekends we juggle household chores, family responsibilities and social engagements.

Company Health Promotion Programs: Get started on a workplace physical activity program

Upper Management plays a key role in creating a culture that promotes health. The leaders at your workplace effect the various policies and the informal or formal practices, and these policies and practices affect your attitude towards healthy active living.

Begin by talking to your boss about the benefits of a healthy active workplace. The best way to ensure the success of a company fitness program is to have the management on side and cheering you on.

Ask your leadership to consider taking these actions:

• Send a memo or message about the significance of health and healthy living that encourages employee to take an active break each day.
• Provide for flexible work hours that assist employee to be more physically active. For example, they might need to take a longer lunch break to attend physical activity class, making up the time by arriving at work early or remaining late.
• Provide a meeting room or other suitable office space for noon-hour yoga or workout classes, and hire a teacher to lead them, or use videos.

If your boss agrees to support a workplace fitness program, do not forget to say thanks.

You do not need an onsite gym

Only very sizable employers have the potential to afford onsite fitness facilities such as exercise equipment or squash courts. Still, most employers have the potential to take other affordable steps to support staff members who wish to become more active.

For example:

• Arrange for discounted fees for staff members at a fitness club, recreation center or YMCA facility.
• Install showers and a place to hang a towel. (Make sure the showers are cleaned regularly and that women who use them will feel secure.)
• Provide bike racks or a locked enclosure that is safe, conveniently located and well lighted.
• Hold walking gatherings and set up lunch-hour walking groups
• Make staff members alert to safe and pleasant walking routes near the workplace, as well as nearby facilities that offer physical activity programs (such as walking, swimming, running, yoga, stretching).
• Find a certified instructor to instruct employee about health, fitness and how to become more active.

Any size and sort of workplace is able to encourage employees who wish to be physically active. It’s highly desirable to get senior staff on side. Even if your boss isn’t supportive, you are able to still learn ways to get moving more. Set up activities for groups and individuals, and advocate your co-employees to join in.