Workplace Wellbeing
Helping businesses create a happier, healthier workforce
Ill health of employee’s leads to loss of production, staff turnover and absenteeism which has a cost implication for organisations. One way to tackle this is by using physical activity to improve the physical and mental health of employees. Illness related absences cost UK workplaces £14.9billion per year.
Reducing staff absences by one day per year can save workplaces £1000s each year.
Encouraging your staff to lead active lifestyles and avoiding sitting down at a desk all day can help to improve their mood, productivity and concentration.
Top tips to build activity into your working day..
- Walk or cycle to work.
- If you drive to work, park your car at the furthest part of the car park.
- Take the stairs instead of the lift.
- Use the toilets on a different floor or slightly further away than your usual ones.
- Stand up at least once every 45 minutes. Sitting for long periods damages our health.
- Get up and walk over to colleagues to speak rather than sending emails.
- Convert any table or desk into a table tennis table with an instant table tennis set. Challenge colleagues to a game during lunch or break times.
- When feasible, have a walking meeting instead of sitting at a table.
- Try an adjustable height desk to reduce the time you spend sitting.
- Set an alarm every hour to remind you to get up and move around.
- Volunteer to make the coffees or do the coffee run.
- Get colleagues together to go for a lunchtime walk or jog. Just a 10 minute brisk walk can improve your mood and concentration.
- Map out a few one mile walking routes from your workplace to make it easy for colleagues to go for a brisk daily mile.
- Organise a lunchtime activity with colleagues, such as yoga, pilates, 5 a side football.
Nuffield Health have recently published a White Paper called ‘A Healthier Workplace: How employers can reduce physical inactivity.’ Click here to view this document.