Wellness Coach: How Employer Policies Can Help Employees to Remain Active
• Commit to workplace physical activity in policy statements and commit funding to physical activity pushes.
• Clearly communicating the benefits of being physically active during work reinforces the company’s commitment to helping 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 exercise. Invite workers who actively commute to work or exercise during lunch to make up any missed time later in the day.
• Allow staff members to work part time, so that they are able to participate in physical exercise.
• Include a physical exercise account in your benefit plan to pay for or subsidize fitness memberships, assessments, classes, counselling or instruction.
• Offer interest-free loans for employees 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 participate in physical activity. Survey workers first to determine how they prefer to be recognized, e.g., through company newsletters, appreciation lunches, rewards and/or thank you notes.
• Give child care and other family-friendly amenities during physical activities that occur after work.
• Avoid scheduling gatherings during lunch.
• Promote active breaks rather than coffee breaks.
• Have active fundraisers instead of bingos. By way of example, staff members 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 activity. Options could include a session with a yoga instructor or an evening ski trip.
• Encourage a casual dress day. One study saw that employees who dress casually were more physically active.
