Fighting Fit: Physical Fitness at Work

The traditional 9-5 routine is waning. The rise of the freelance gig economy continues. But keeping physically active while balancing a job remains a challenge.

Your business can make a positive impact on your staff’s health, by encouraging them to look after themselves physically.
 
Challenges to Physical Fitness at Work
Different jobs and sectors can hinder a person’s ability to keep physically fit in different ways. While manual labour may provide staff more opportunities to be active, these roles can result in injuries and muscle strains.

Meanwhile office jobs restrict a person’s ability to move and be active during their working day, and coupled with posture issues, these roles can lead to further deterioration in physical health.
 
Importance of Physical Fitness at Work
Workplace health can impact your company’s performance and reputation as an employer.

When employees suffer from poor physical health, their attendance and performance can also suffer. Meanwhile, your talent retention may deteriorate, as staff members are forced to leave work due to poor health.

A business who does not look after their employees’ health can suffer from reputational damage, affecting its ability to attract further talent and possibly customers.
 
How Your Business Can Help
Ultimate responsibility may lie with the employee, but you can motivate your staff to keep physically active in a number of ways:

• Weekly Running and Walking Clubs

Hosting lunchtime or after-work running and walking clubs can keep staff active. Demonstrating interest in their health while providing the opportunity to get out of the office will encourage staff to prioritise their physical health.

Charity efforts could also be paired with these activities, encouraging staff to complete a set distance for sponsorship. Physical activity paired with the opportunity to fundraise can raise job satisfaction and benefit your business in the long-term.

• Fresh Fruit Freebies

Free coffee or tea is great. But providing free fresh fruit to staff can encourage them to make healthier food choices, and improve their physical fitness.

Fruit boosts brain power, resulting in increased productivity. By swapping sugary snacks for healthier fruit options, your business can motivate staff to stay healthy.

• Gym Membership Discounts

Keeping active and eating healthy can be costly, with the expense prohibiting many from taking out a gym membership or attending exercise classes.

While hosting walking or running clubs can be cost-effective option, providing gym membership discounts is another way to encourage your staff to keep physically active.

• Desk Makeovers

An ergonomic makeover of staff stations or desks can boost physical health.

Standing desks can improve staff posture, preventing RSI, back pain and other injuries. Desk bikes, under-desk stair steppers or arm exercisers are just some of the ergonomic desk tools that are on offer to combat staff fatigue and poor physical health.

• Charity Campaigns

Hosting physical activities or challenges in the name of charity can motivate staff to look after their physical fitness.

Whether it’s a sponsored walk or something more extreme, charity campaigns demonstrate your investment in your employees’ health and your desire to give back to the community.