Physical Activity in the Workplace

According to the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey, only 15% of Canadian Adults accumulate 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week to achieve health benefits. Since over 15 million Canadians spend more than half of their waking hours at work, this makes the workplace an ideal settings to promote physical activity. Incorporating regular physical activity into one's daily living can help to reduce the risk of premature death, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, certain types of cancer, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and obesity.

Getting active at work makes business sense.

Company Benefits Associated with Physical Activity at Work

• Reduces the incidence of stress-related injury and illness
• Improves productivity and team spirit
• Reduces absenteeism
• Improves job satisfaction and morale
• Improves employee health and reduced health benefit claims

Building a Successful Program in Your Workplace

A comprehensive physical activity workplace program needs to include components from the four health promotion strategies to be successful and sustainable. Explore the physical activity examples and resources for each of the health promotion strategies. Then develop an action plan incorporating the strategies that fit your goals and objectives.

The four health promotion strategies are:

1. Awareness Building
2. Education and Skill Building 
3. Environmental Supports
4. Policy and Guideline Development

Awareness Building

Building an awareness of the importance of being physically active in the workplace and the home is a healthy move for a company. Simple motivational email messages, e-bulletins, newsletters or displays can increase awareness.

Printed Materials

• Starting a Walking Club in Your Workplace
• Ideas for Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace  
• Your Guide to Choosing Walking Shoes and Walking and Running Clubs in York Region
• Energize Your Workplace: Stretching Exercises for the Active Workplace
• Energize Your Workplace: Been Sitting for Awhile? Take a Stretch Break!
  

Displays

Four different displays emphasizing the benefits and importance of physical activity are currently available.

1. Getting Active… Your Way
2. Benefits of Walking
3. Too Busy to Get Active?
4. Physical Activity Quiz Wheel

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Education and Skill Building

Once employees are aware of the value of physical activity, it is time to provide education and build skills.

Consider:

• Implementing a walking challenge by providing pedometers to workers
• Organizing a walking club
• Providing ongoing programming with newsletters or emails

Be creative and choose activities that are appropriate for your workplace.

The following resources can help you organize the education and skill building component of your physical activity program.

Toolkits

• Pedometer Challenge Toolkit
• Energize Your Workplace Toolkit: Call York Region Health Connection 1-800-361-5653 for your free copy.
  Sample pages: Stretching Exercises for the Active Workplace and Been Sitting for a Awhile? Take a Stretch Break
• Physical Activity Counts! Challenge: Call York Region Health Connection 1-800-361-5653 for more information

Workshops

• Walking Workshop
  This interactive workshop provides an overview of physical activity guidelines, benefits of walking, types of walking and physical activity. The session includes goal setting, overcoming barriers and how regular physical activity can be incorporated into your work and home life. 

Websites

For a list of relevant websites, visit our Workplace Resources page.

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Environmental Support

Having a work environment that supports physical activity can lead to healthier, active employees. By providing a supportive environment employees are encouraged to be active at work. It is important to choose activities that suit your workplace.

Some examples include:

• Hosting on site classes: yoga, Tai Chi, aerobics, salsa dancing or line dancing
• Organizing walking groups before or after work or over lunch breaks
• Planning social events to include an activity component (bowling, soccer, baseball games or golf tournament)
• Providing stretch breaks during meetings
• Providing bicycle racks to promote active transportation
• Installing shower facilities and change rooms

Active Transportation Websites

• The Commuter Challenge program aims to increase the awareness of the benefits of sustainable commuting and to encourage Canadians to take action by walking, cycling, taking transit, carpooling or tele-working.
• Active Transportation To, From and At the Workplace
• Smart Commute provides consultation and resources to promote active transportation, carpooling and transit to workplaces.

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Policy and Guideline Development

Establishing a policy helps to sustain and provides future direction for your comprehensive physically active program. It provides a framework for your company outlining goals, objectives and actions your company aims to achieve.

Examples of sample policies:

• Providing fitness facilities or subsiding the use of local fitness facilities for employees
• Allowing flexible hours to ensure employees have time to be active during the workday
• Implementing/supporting social activities providing employees opportunities to be active

Resources

• The Physical Activity Resource Centre (PARC) has developed a toolkit for influencing physical activity policy.
• Peel Region Public Health has a sample active living policy.

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Links

Physical Activity Resources

Going Somewhere...Go Active!

If you are interested in a consultation on comprehensive physical activity programming or for more information, please contact

For more information, please contact
York Region Health Connection at 1 800 361-5653, TTY 1-866-252-9933

*Source: (CFLRI Monitor 2001, Health Canada, 2001)