Businesses urged to increase walking levels and improve absenteeism
With the average employee taking 7.4 days off sick each year, businesses are urged to encourage their staff to change their journey to work during National Walk to Work Week (26-30 April) to help promote a healthier workplace.
National charity Living Streets runs the Walking Works Campaign, which is funded by the Big Lottery Fund, to highlight the role that walking can play in bringing some much needed activity into the workplace. Although we hear a lot about the health benefits of being more physically active, the benefits to the workplace are often underestimated. Experts suggest that just 90 minutes of exercise a week can cut absenteeism by up to half, yet as it stands, an estimated 70% if adults don’t do enough exercise to benefit their health.
During Walk to Work Week, Living Streets is supporting employers to encourage their staff to get ‘fit without the hassle’ and are asking people to say no to corporate gym memberships and expensive exercise classes and instead try an easier, cheaper and greener way to keep fit. During the week, Living Streets will be asking everyone to think about how they can fit more walking into their working day by setting a series of five challenges, which the whole staff team can complete during Walk to Work Week.
5 Challenges:
1.Walk all or part of your way to work this week
2.Walk all or part of your journey home this week
3.Have a "walking meeting"
4.Walk all or part of your way to a meeting this week
5.Get out and enjoy your local area during your lunch hour this week
Individuals, staff teams and even whole companies can compete against each other, pitting distances and time walked in an effort to be the most walking friendly workplace. The challenges are designed to be flexible enough to fit in with the average working week and people can choose which to undertake and when according to their individual schedules. Businesses who participate will be able to use an online tool which will allow individual employees to track their progress throughout the week and learn how many calories they have burned and how much carbon they have saved. They will also be able to compare themselves against others in their workplace, their local area and even find out how the nation is progressing as a whole.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said:
“We’re facing an obesity epidemic in this country, largely because very few people are actually exercising enough to get the health benefits. As with any health issue, this has a huge impact on businesses, with sick days costing the economy £17.3 billion last year. But there’s an easy way to work more exercise into your workforces’ daily routine – make walking an attractive option. Encouraging your staff to walk all or part of the commute is an excellent way to get some activity into their day, doing wonders for both mental and physical health.
“The benefits of walking more are huge, not only for health, but to give time to plan for the day ahead, or to unwind after it. Taking part in Walk to Work Week, with our fun resources, is a really simple and effective way to show your staff the benefits of walking.”
A range of resources are now on sale to help ensure your organisation or business gets the very best results from Walk to Work Week. Posters, banners, leaflets and a variety of promotional items such as umbrellas, footcare kits, shoe bags and pedometers are available at www.walkingworks.org.uk
Order your resources now by 19 March.
Published by: Travel Actively on Wednesday March 03 2010
