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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:

1. Walk or cycle to work
2. If you drive to work, park your car at the furthest part of the car park
3. Take the stairs instead of the lift
4. Use the toilets on a different floor or slightly further away than your usual ones
5. Stand up at least once every 45 minutes.  Sitting for long periods damages our health
6. Get up and walk over to colleagues to speak rather than sending emails
7. 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
8. When feasible, have a walking meeting instead of sitting at a table
9. Try an adjustable height desk to reduce the time you spend sitting
10. Set an alarm every hour to remind you to get up and move around
11. Volunteer to make the coffees or do the coffee run
12. Get colleagues together to go for a lunchtime walk or jog. Just a 10 minute brisk walk can improve your mood and concentration
13. Map out a few one mile walking routes from your workplace to make it easy for colleagues to go for a brisk daily mile
14. 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.