Half our waking hours are spent at work and many jobs involve long periods of time sitting and being inactive but employees who are engaged in physical activity at work have reported greater enjoyment of their work, increased concentration and mental alertness.
What are the benefits to employers of having an active workforce?
- Staff view employers as a 'caring employer'
- Improved staff morale
- Reduction in workplace injuries
- Decrease in sickness absence and quicker return to work after illness
- More able to attract and retain good staff
- Staff feel fitter/healthier with reduced risk of diabetes, obesity and heart disease
What is Active @ Work?
Active @ Work is a three-year workplace health and well-being programme for businesses within the Swindon and Wiltshire area. The programme is being delivered by Swindon Borough Council’s Leisure Services Team, supported by funding from Sport England and the Wiltshire and Swindon County Sport Partnership (WASP).
Leisure Services is working in partnership with businesses that contribute financially to the project to be spent within their own organisation. The needs of each company differ but some generic outcomes are:
- To promote and increase regular physical activity participation among employees
- Increase the numbers of new volunteers from businesses to support delivery
- Reduce sickness absenteeism and stress in the workplace
- Develop an evidence based impact assessment
- Develop work models for employees to be released from work into community activity
- Improve partnership working between public, private and voluntary sectors
Darren Gunter is the Active @ Work Officer and will be working with each organisation to assess employer and employee needs and will then support and enable ‘Workplace Champions’ to implement sustainable, effective programmes for the workforce.
For more information email Darren Gunter or call him on 01793 465148
Businesses already engaged with Active @ Work:
Swindon Borough Council/NHS Swindon have pledged to improve the health of their employees via the scheme with the directorate of Adult and Social Care being identified as an initial priority, in the context of a wider SBC programme.
Adult and Social Care now have 11 active Workplace Champions driving initiatives forward within the workplace, including over 300 people taking part in the SBC Pedometer Challenge.
Arval PLC is an international vehicle and fuel management company with c.500 employees in Swindon. Arval has about 30% of it’s employees currently engaged in physical activity in the company and want to increase this to 50%.
Eight Workplace Champions have been trained and are surveying their colleagues to help prepare an action plan for challenges and activities. Arval has signed up to SBC’s corporate discount scheme for Leisure Passports, giving staff the option to save money on fitness memberships for themselves and their families.
BP is an international lubricant company with 250 employees in Swindon. A Workplace Needs Assessment has been carried out to look at current levels of activity and identify opportunities. Two Workplace Champions have undertaken training and are currently action planning for 2011.