Summer is upon us and what better time to encourage physical activity in the workplace.
Research shows that an active workforce isn’t just healthier – it’s also smarter for business. Staying active can lead to significant cost savings, including reduced absenteeism, lower staff turnover, and higher productivity. According to the Health New Zealand Activity Guidelines, adults should aim for at least 2 ½ hours of moderate or 1 ¼ hours of vigorous physical activity spread throughout the week.
For even greater health benefits aiming for 5 hours of moderate or 2 ½ hours of vigorous activity weekly is recommended.
During the working day, it’s important to encourage staff to stay active and break up long periods of sitting. Prolonged sitting - like spending hours at a computer without moving—has been linked to a range of long-term health issues, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Even small bursts of movement can make a big difference. Try standing or stretching during phone calls, taking the stairs instead of the lift, walking to a colleague instead of emailing, or holding short walking meetings.
Workplaces can play a significant role in creating a supportive culture that encourages physical activity. A great place for workplaces to start is to complete a stocktake using our Physical Activity WorkWell Priority Wellbeing Area Checklist. The checklists are a useful tool designed to assess what your workplace is currently doing towards relevant wellbeing areas and what new actions could be implemented to support those areas. Below are a couple of examples of assessment statements from the physical activity checklist:
- Does your workplace have a physical activity policy or have a workplace wellbeing policy that includes flexible working hours and arrangements which can enable staff to be more active?
- Does your workplace have an organisational travel plan?
- Is physical activity information included in staff inductions?
- Has your workplace been assessed for active travel options to and from work, and while on site?
Each Priority Wellbeing Area Checklist can be accessed under the relevant section of the WorkWell website.
