smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Obesity is a killer, according to the latest furore in the press. So how can you bring health and happiness to your employees?

A visit to the gym or playing a sport will help make you a fitter and more active person. At the workplace, that should result in greater energy levels and individuals who’re dedicated to boosting profits. Well, that’s the theory at least.

The question is, how do you convince desk-bound staff to opt for the stairs? Can you diplomatically tell them to ease off the cakes and go for an apple instead?

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), only 35 per cent of men and 25 per cent of women in England are physically active enough to stay healthy. Around 80 per cent of people are under the false impression that they partake in enough physical activity.

Step by step
Awareness about the benefits of exercise is only the first hurdle. ‘Stress, back problems and obesity are huge problems in the workplace,’ says Ceri Jones, a heart health project manager at the BHF. ‘So a workplace health programme is an integral part of good business management.’

This means setting aside a small budget, educating employees about the benefits of exercise and taking the time to tailor the activities that you offer to the level of fitness of your staff. The BHF’s recommendations range from handing out booklets on physical health to displaying motivational screen savers on the subject. It might seem a little heavy handed to strategically place messages about exercise around the office, so a more imaginative approach could be the key.

‘It’s important that senior management buy in to promoting a healthy workplace,’ adds Jones. ‘You can be quite creative. I know of one company that raised money for charity with a “beat the chief executive” stairwell race. The key is to consult with staff and find out what they want and what they would respond to best.’

A one-off event is all well and good, but encouraging staff to take up regular activity is a harder task. Ian Dixon, production and distribution director at brewer Shepherd Neame, came up with the idea of providing bikes for staff that live within a certain distance of work: ‘I think you have a duty of care to your employees to make sure they are able to do their jobs. It’s a stressful world we live in and with increased automation over the past 20 years, a lot of people are spending most of their time at a desk.

‘We’ve got about 80 or 90 members of staff who cycle to work and we have noticed a reduction in sickness, absence and accidents like strains. We also offer discounted gym membership and try to encourage people to use it with a little friendly persuasion. I think about 50 or 60 per cent of staff are members. When people see other members of staff going and enjoying it, they’re much more likely to go themselves.’

Exercise that fits into people’s daily routine, like walking or cycling to work, is always going to have more sticking power. ‘There is a whole range of things that employers can do to improve employee health,’ explains Jones. ‘It can be anything from having water coolers nearby to putting in place an active travel policy and offering shower facilities so that people can cycle in to work.’

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