ACTIVE SOLUTIONS PROVIDE RESULTS

Adequate physical condition is a key factor in maintaining the ability to work. From the employer’s perspective, investing in the physical activity of the staff is one of the most cost-effective investments.

EASY TO MAKE AN IMPACT

Stress

Work-related stress is one of the biggest challenges of our time. When physical activity at the workplace is a shared effort, this improves not only coping with work but also team spirit. Long-term work-related stress causes sickness and weakens well-being and safety at work.

Stress is caused by such factors as the content of the work, interactions in the work community, the management method and individual sensitivity to stress. In order to prevent stress, the workplace can, for example, provide a relaxing break room, make sure employees have enough breaks, and organize exercise sessions together during breaks.

Environmental responsibility

The workplace can help cut down on emissions in transport by encouraging employees to make smart commuting choices. Customers and other stakeholders also appreciate environmental responsibility. It is proven that commuting by walking or with a bicycle also has many other benefits.

The employer benefits from promoting active commuting, for example as increased job satisfaction, alertness, and productivity. In addition, the company image and attractiveness of the workplace will improve, while absences due to sickness and disability pensions will decrease.

Fewer absences due to sickness

Fewer back problems and absences due to sickness. It is difficult to get good results when the staff suffers. Take a leap in productivity by investing in physical activity. Physical activity prevents and treats from the most significant illnesses threatening the ability to work.

Scarce resources

How to invest in staff’s physical activity and work ability when you need to pinch pennies everywhere? Fortunately, there are plenty of free solutions. As the profits are made by employees work input and competence, the result of the company is affected by the costs of sickness absences and disability. It is managements responsibility to ensure that the workplace is investing to well-being at work.

Management can encourage positive attitudes towards physical activity by talking appreciatively about work ability and maintaining it, and by demonstrating that taking care of one’s own health is part of the company’s values. In addition, it is worth listening to and collecting ideas from employees to support physical well-being and encourage commuting by walking or cycling.

Downsides of a sedentary job

The adverse health effects of sitting can only be reduced by sitting less. There are solutions for the entire work community. Because so many people spend a lot of time sitting down, there are also plenty of opportunities for breaks. Here are some tips for getting out of your chair more often:

Brainstorm with the whole staff to come up with ways to reduce sitting.
It is worth investing in the physical environment of the workplace. The environment itself can encourage employees to get up from their chairs and spend less time sitting down.
The task of management and supervisors is to foster the implementation of operating methods together with the staff.
Encourage staff to commute by walking or by cycling.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations for physical activity promotion at work

The results of the Barometer on physical activity at workplaces (2021) provided a good basis for the recommendations. The recommendations have three levels, each of which increases the level of activity and the benefits achieved.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HAS POTENTIAL

Longer careers, better results and health, and increased work ability.

All the benefits in one affordable package. Workplaces rarely utilize the full potential of physical activity; Even though it can bring benefits to individuals, employers, and society alike.

For the individual

In the future, many of us will earn a living through entrepreneurship or a combination of different jobs. Responsibility for your own ability to work is increasingly yours.

For the employer

The staff impacts heavily on the success of the work community. Even in small doses, physical activity contributes to mental well-being, clear thinking, physical coping and health.

For the society

There are about 3.1 working-age people in Finland, and they should be able to keep working throughout their entire career. Workers with good physical condition are more often able to work all the way until retirement age.