Group workouts: the benefits for your company
Even though 57% of our time is taken up by our professional life, adding physical activity to the daily grind can sometimes feel more like making a New Year’s resolution.
In Canada, 49% of adults exercise for at least 150 minutes a week and log approximately 7,500 steps a day. Still, only 12% of them follow the recommendations to include physical inactivity on a daily basis.
Transforming the workplace into a sedentary environment has a negative impact on employees’ health, as 40% are constantly in a seated position.
So how can you get your staff to be more active and stay motivated along the way?
Here are a few solutions to help your company turn the statistics on their heads and promote healthy lifestyle habits.
The benefits of physical activity at work
Hesitating to implement a program that would encourage your employees to be physically active at work? Here are a few arguments that will help convince you to take action for the benefit of your staff, and the company’s, too.
We love it here!
Words every employer would love to hear coming from their employees. Not only does a health and wellness program provide a motivating and engaging workplace, but it builds team spirit.
Nothing can beat physical activity with colleagues to promote interpersonal relations in which communication and collaboration rule the day! Have you noticed that in such instances, barriers break down and everyone’s on the same foot?
A safe and sound workplace
Workplace health and safety expenses take a big bite out of a company’s budget. But there are solutions that can help them reduce these costs.
Adding physical activity to the schedule has proven to prevent the 3 major causes of absenteeism:
- Chronic illnesses
- Burnouts
- Musculoskeletal disorders
It is proven to reduce absenteeism by 2%. Why not make the most of this strategy? For many employers, two employees out of 100 is plenty!
Remain attractive to pull in talent
To counter the labour shortage, companies must get creative to stay in the game.
But how? Your company must project an image that is positive, caring (like us!) and socially responsible. Promoting a program that encourages physical activity can go a long way with your employees, but it can also help you attract talented and high-performing people.
Make a concrete showing that your organization contributes to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Staff members are sensitive to the quality of their work environment. It’s important to provide interesting activities that meet their needs and can convince them to pick your company.
Be creative, whether it’s an amount granted to practice a physical activity or a reimbursement for the purchase of sports equipment, for example.
Increased productivity
Did you know that regular physical activity at work increases employee productivity? There is a 9% increase in productivity among employees who turn to health and wellness.
Practicing a sport regularly boosts employee morale. Their motivation is directly linked to their performance at work
The economical effect$ for your organization
Implementing a physical activity program at work requires an investment, but quickly becomes profitable.
With a healthier work force, your company can expect to reap the following benefits:
- Less injuries and accidents
- Reduced absenteeism
- Increase in profits, namely due to an increase in productivity
- Lower insurance and CNESST fees
Alone, we can move ahead. But together, we can go further.
The effect of training with colleagues has been proven. It motivates the troops and helps to overcome the challenges of fixed training schedules.
By opting for physical activities or sports that can be done in groups, you’ll see that it’s easier to convince your employees to get moving. Why? The inherent need for social interaction.
Plus, performing as a team, rather than going solo, is a lot more motivating.
Ready, set...go!
Want to implement a program that encourages physical activity in your workplace? Don’t let the number of employees discourage you from getting started.
There are ready-to-go plans, such as the Défi Entreprises, that can be implemented regardless of the size of your company. And you don’t need to be a specialist in healthy lifestyle habits to implement them in your company! There are pros who can help guide you based on your needs and budget.
Activities tailor-made for you
If you want your physical activity program to be a hit with your employees, there’s one surefire way: ask them.
They’re the only ones who can tell you about their needs, interests or the physical activities and sports that would motivate them for the long term. You can even form a committee with them to help kickstart your project. This way, you’ll be able to truly understand what your team wants to get them moving.
By adopting a personalized approach, you can offer your employees a program that will allow them to overcome the challenges they will have set for themselves while meeting the needs of your organization.
For example, companies in which employees are dealing with significant musculoskeletal disorders can turn to activities that prevent fatigue and injuries, and increase their muscular endurance. Those who work in an environment with high stress levels can turn to activities that help them better manage the daily grind.
There are no wrong choices.
All you have to do is strap on your running shoes!
