How can we encourage workers to be active?
Print version
(pdf)
Adults in Canada spend much of their waking time at work. Workplace health programs that include active living can help employers and staff to be healthy and more successful at work — and that’s good for everybody.
Get ready to start
Whether you work in a small or large company, you can help to create a healthy environment that encourages daily physical activity at work.
Employers can gain by helping staff to be more active. A healthier staff can lead to:
- lower health care costs
- lower turnover rates
- less time away from work due to illness
- higher productivity
- improved employee morale.
Start small
Sometimes making small changes can support big results.
Successful work site active living programs make active choices easy choices for staff. For example, workplaces may:
- provide access to bike racks, showers and change areas to encourage active commuting
- publish health and wellness newsletters with information on community resources
- plan company recreational events such as lunch time walking programs, activity days, summer active campaigns, ski days, golf days and team sports
- support flex time policies to allow staff to become physically active (starting your work day later or extra time at lunch)
- offer a room that can be used for physical activity or subsidize programs at community or private fitness centres
- encourage stair use and walking meetings
- map out walking routes inside or outside the workplace.
Begin the process of change: The six-step model
This six-step model for an active workplace can be part of developing a program in any organization. A “champion” or team made up of both staff and management usually comes up with an idea to promote physical activity. They can then use this six-step model to act on their idea:
- think of an idea based on staff needs
- explain why this idea would be useful
- form a staff committee
- test whether the idea will work in the organization
- survey staff interest
- start to act on the idea by writing a proposal.
It is also important to evaluate the program at different stages, to find out what is working and what could be improved. Don’t wait until the end of the program to plan an evaluation—come up with a plan early in the program’s development.
Helping people succeed
Helping staff to understand and believe in the idea of workplace physical activity (employee buy-in) and having management support at all stages of the program are critical to success.
Find out about what factors might stand between employees and physical activity and address these barriers. More people tend to take part in programs that have the following features:
- participants feel good about the program
- participants' expectations match what the program provides
- staff are involved throughout the development of the program
- programs offer social support, including support from the employer
- programs are affordable
- programs are on-site or at nearby facilities
- programs are at convenient times
- programs are regularly promoted and marketed
- messages that promote active living fit staff interests.
Resources
- Active living at work (Public Health Agency of Canada)
- Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work
- Physical activity @ work (Alberta Centre for Active Living)
Reference
- Alberta Centre for Active Living. Workplace physical activity framework. [report online]. Edmonton, AB: Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks & Wildlife Foundation; 2003.
