The workplace is recognised as a priority setting for health promotion by the World Health Organization and the Australian Government. The cost of absenteeism in Australia is estimated at $7 billion each year.
Research shows that workplace health programs result in a 25% decrease in sick leave absenteeism and a 41% decrease in workers compensation costs. Companies who invest in employee well-being programs also experience a $5.81 of savings for every $1 invested. Further research indicates that employees who spend 2.5 hours per week exercising during work hours attain the same or higher productivity levels than their less physically active colleagues.
Do you know how to Exercise Right for your profession?
Construction & Trades
Carpenters, labourers, landscapers and other Tradies (or Tradespeople) all come with a variety of different skillsets, but one thing they all have in common is their need for a well-functioning, healthy body to complete their work.
Office Workers
Office workers often spend much of their day sedentary, and while these activities pose little harm when done for short periods of time, constantly performing these types of activities can have harmful effects on your health.
Retail & Customer Service
Working in an often fast paced customer-facing environment can be stressful and physically challenging at times. As a result working in this industry can present a number of physical and psychological risks for employees.
What can workplaces do to help staff move?
Organisations should focus not just on increasing physical activity levels in the workplace but also on reducing sitting time. It’s not necessarily about working up a sweat, even ‘non-sweaty’ light-intensity activity for 2 minutes every hour can have significant benefits. For example:
- Active meetings — Take informal meetings outside and, where possible make it a walking meeting.
- Active deskwork — Set hourly reminders in your calendar to take a break and move.
- Active commute — Make your commute to work active. Ride to work, stand up on the train or get off the bus a stop early and walk the rest of the way.
- Active lunch — Avoid spending your lunch break at your desk. Get up and go for a 15 minute walk with a colleague before or after you eat.
The dangers of sitting still at work
Posture at work has long been recognised as a potential occupational hazard, but research is now linking high amounts of sedentary time with premature death, heart disease and diabetes. There is increasing recognition that sedentary time in office-based workplaces also needs to be considered as a potential adverse health risk and is a separate consideration to the lack of physical activity outside work hours.