Wellness Plans : Does Your Business Support Exercise?

How does exercise fit into a full-time worker’s busy schedule? Often, 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 advantageous for staff members.

But employers also benefit from having fit, energetic and healthful employees who are more productive.

The challenges

Your job takes up a lot of your time. In addition to the hours you spend actually working, there’s 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 in particular true for Alberta, where statistics show that we work exceptionally hard.

A lot of jobs today are sedentary, and many Americans drive to work.  The pressures of work might 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.

Wellness Programs –  Get started on a worksite fitness program

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

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

Ask your boss to consider taking these actions –

• Send a memo or message about the importance of health and healthful living that encourages staff to take an active break each day.

• Give for flexible work hours that help staff to be more physically active. for  instance, they might need to take a longer lunch break to attend an exercise class, making up the time by coming to work early or staying late.

• Make available a meeting room or other suitable office space for noon-hour yoga or exercise classes, and hire a teacher to lead them, or use videos.

If your boss agrees to support a worksite fitness program, don’t forget to say thanks.

You don’t need an on-site health club

Only very big organizations can afford onsite fitness facilities such as exercise equipment or squash courts. Still, most corporations can take other low cost steps to support personnel who wish to become more active.

For  instance –

• Arrange for discounted fees for staff at a health club, recreation centeror YMCA facility.

• Install showers and a place to hang a towel. (Be sure the showers are cleaned regularly and that women who use them will feel secure.)

• Install bicycle racks or a locked enclosure that is safe, conveniently located and well lighted.

• Hold walking meetings and set up lunch-hour walking groups

• Make staff cognizant of safe and pleasant walking routes near the workplace, in addition to nearby facilities that offer fitness programs (such as walking, swimming, running, yoga, stretching).

• Hire a qualified instructor to teach staff about health, fitness and how to become more active.

Any size and kind of worksite can support personnel who wish to be physically active. It’s highly desirable to get senior management on side.

Even when your boss is not supportive, you can still find ways to get moving more. Make sure to set up activities for groups and person, and encourage your peers to join in.