Knowledge Hub: Workplace Wellbeing

Impact of an active workforce…

Creating an active workplace

An active and healthy workforce is a happy, motivated and productive workforce.

Being active is vital for good health. Active people have better mental and physical health meaning fewer sick days. Take a look below at the benefits or encouraging a physically active workforce and how you can help create an active workplace.

Benefits of an active workplace

Active workplaces are healthier, happier and more productive. Introducing physical activity into the working day brings many benefits to the organisation and your employees:

• Improved health and wellbeing.
• Relieves stress and lowers risk of depression.
• Improved staff engagement, morale and satisfaction.
• Improved staff recruitment and retention.
• Increased productivity through improved concentration and mental stamina.
• Fewer working days lost to stress and musculoskeletal disorders.

How much should we be moving?

Government guidelines recommend adults should do at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week - that’s about 20 – 30 minutes each day. Moderate-intensity aerobic activity means you’re working hard enough to raise your heart rate and break into a sweat. This may include activities such as cycling or fast walking. Vigorous exercise, such as running or sport, means double the intensity, so you can halve the time. Every time you are active for 10 minutes or more it counts. Find Physical Activity Guidelines here.

Creating an active workplace

Take a look at the ideas and suggestions below to help make your workplace more active.

Avoid sedentary behaviour

On average British people sit for 8.9 hours a day (for office workers this is 10 hours) with almost 70% of sitting taking place at work.

Sitting for too long has been linked to numerous health problems including: musculoskeletal conditions, increased risk of obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and has poor implications on mental wellbeing. The negative effects of sedentary behaviour can’t simply be offset by doing lots of exercise outside of work hours either. Sitting still for long periods of time can be bad for you even if you are meeting physical activity guidelines. Take a look at these ideas and tips to get your workforce moving throughout their working day:

• Avoid sitting for more than 30 minutes at a time, set a timer to remind you to move.

• Break up sedentary periods with short workouts or some stretching exercises.

• Change your working position - use a standing desk or sit on a balance ball.

• Try a standing or walking meeting - walk and talk with colleagues.

• Take an active lunch break, ideally getting out in the fresh air if you can. Use an app like the Active 10 app to encourage brisk walking.

Get Your Workforce Moving

Supporting an active workforce may require a cultural shift in your organisation. Consider how you can encourage your teams to embed activity into their everyday working routine.

Listen to your workforce

Conduct a wellbeing survey and have wellbeing conversations with staff, to help you understand what support would make a difference.

Make time for movement

• Suggest and encourage time away from the desk to move more during the day - lunchtime leg stretch, ‘walk and talk’ meetings, virtual challenges such as daily step counts.
• Appoint a wellbeing lead and create a wellbeing plan, policy or commitment.
• Promote learning opportunities around all aspects of health and wellbeing. Ensure senior team members and managers lead by example.

Create an active environment

Depending on the nature of your organisation, ideas to support an active environment include:

• Make active commuting easy by providing secure bike storage and showers at work.
• Sign up to the ‘Cycle to Work’ scheme. Find more advice on Active Travel here.
• Encourage more movement during the day with standing desks and balance balls to sit on. Encourage breaks for stretching during long meetings, or have a walking meeting.
• Provide or recommend equipment to support being active, such as resistance bands, Fit-bits or pedometers.
• Sign up for an active team challenge or have an active team away day.