Employee Wellness Newsletter : Worksite Wellness Programs: How Company Policies Can Help Employees to Remain Active

• Commit to workplace physical exercise in policy statements and commit funding to physical exercise drives.
• Clearly communicating the advantages of being physically active during work reinforces the company’s commitment to supporting all workers be active. Use meetings, bulletin boards, newsletters and e-mail to reach as many workers as possible at least once a year.
• Provide flex time for physical activity. Invite employees who actively commute to work or exercise at lunch to make up any missed time later in the day.
• Allow staff members to work part time, so that they can participate in physical activity.
• Include a physical activity account in your benefit plan to pay for or subsidize fitness memberships, assessments, classes, counselling or instruction.
• Give interest-free loans for workers to buy bicycles or good walking shoes/runners.
• Conduct periodic employee interest surveys of employee physical exercise preferences, and offer a variety of options to suit those interests and needs.
• Hire qualified people to lead stretch breaks or physical activity programs or classes. For help in finding accredited fitness leaders, visit Alberta’s Provincial Fitness Unit.
• Recognize workers who take part in physical activity. Survey workers first to determine how they prefer to be recognized, e.g., through corporation newsletters, appreciation lunches, rewards and/or thank you notes.
• Offer child care and other family-friendly amenities during physical activities that occur after work.
• Avoid scheduling gatherings over lunch.
• Promote active breaks instead of coffee breaks.
• Have active fundraisers instead of bingos. For example, workers might climb the Calgary Tower stairs or take turns riding a stationary bike for 24 hours.
• Make birthday celebrations active times. Instead of a lunch, invite the birthday person to choose an exercise. Options could include a session with a yoga instructor or an evening ski trip.
• Encourage a casual dress day. One study found that workers who dress casually were more physically active.