make the move: staying physically active at work
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Make the Move: Staying Physically Active at Work
Angela Torry
Lindsay Wright
What is Physical Activity?
• Physical activity is any body movement involving large muscle
groups that uses energy– Leisure– Exercise– Sport– Occupational – For transportation– Chores, etc.
Physical Activity Evidence
• Physical inactivity is a common risk factor
in a growing list of chronic diseases and conditions…
– Coronary heart disease– Type II diabetes– Breast & Colon cancer– Back pain– Hypertension– Obesity– Osteoporosis– Anxiety/stress– Depression
• Increased longevity
• Better quality of life
• More energy
• Weight management
• Improved mood
• Sleep better
•Diabetes management
•Lower the risk of many chronic
disease
• Better blood pressure
• Lower stress
•Manage depression & anxiety
•Improved cholesterol & blood
lipids
Health benefits of physical activity
Physical Activity Evidence• In Canada:
– Majority of the pop. is not active
enough to see health benefits– Economic burden of physical
inactivity has been estimated at $5.3
billion
• Sedentary behaviour ( TV in particular),
has been linked with:
– Low physical activity levels– Increased body weight,
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Institute
Physical Activity Evidence
• “Lack of time”
is one of the most sited barrier to
physical activity
• Other barriers often sited:– Poor Weather
– Low energy or no motivation
– No one to be active with– Other priorities
Canada’s PA Guide
Physical Activity Basics...
Endurance
Strength
Flexibility
Intensity is the Key!
Why at Work?
• 15 million Canadians spend half waking hours at work
(Public Health Agency of Canada)
• 45% of working Canadians feel that employer support with physical
activity in the workplace would help them be more active.
(Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute).
Why at Work?
Benefit the Individual
• Improved:– Health and Wellbeing
– Morale and team spirit
– Job satisfaction
• Reduced – Stress and anxiety – Injuries
Benefit the Company
• Reduced:– Absenteeism and turnover
– Days off from illness
– Workplace injuries
– Worker's compensation costs
– Claims against group benefit
plans
• Improved productivity
Public Health Agency of Canada
Occupational Hazards
Work Type
Steps (per/day)Office Worker (sitting)
4000 ‐
5000Standing Day (hairdresser)
5500 ‐
6500On the Move (nurse/waiter)
8000 ‐
20000Sunday (inactive)
2000 ‐
3000Sick Day (at home)
500Sightseeing (vacation)
20000 +
Tudor‐Locke, The Art and Science of Step Counting, 2003.
The Steps:1. Management buy‐in
2. Employee commitment
3. What’s possible
4. Finding out what employees want and need
5. Developing an action plan
Plotnikoff, R.C., Fein, A., Milton, L., Prodaniuk, T., & Mayes, V. (2003). Workplace
physical activity framework.
Edmonton, AB: Alberta Centre for Active Living.
Physical Activity @ Workhttp://www.centre4activeliving.ca/workplace/index.html
Using a different lens
Thinking Out‐Side the Box
What Shapes Physical Activity
Ecological Lens:
• Individual Level: What do employees know,
believe and do?
• Social Level: What’s the level of social
support in your workplace?
• Organizational Level: How does your workplace support
physical activity?
• Community Level: How does your workplace connect with the
world outside?
• Policy Level: What policies make it easier to be physically
active?
Individual
Motivation
Time
Uncomfortable
Energy
Body image
Skill
Knowledge
Likes
Fear of injury
Fitness
No enjoyment
Negative experiencesJoint pain or soreness
Don’t know where to start
Life events
Health Mobility
dislikes
Working at Individual LevelFind ways to make it easier for employee to be active
• Variety of approaches offered
• May have to consider employee’s situation
• Be aware of different interests and different beliefs
regarding physical activity.
• Creating opportunities to gain and learn skills can
help an employee gain confidence in an activity.
• Provide education and create awareness:– about the benefits – about starting and staying active.
Ideas:
• Individual – Physical Activity Closet– Skill/knowledge building classes– Provide information through the company
intranet, newsletters, notice boards, “lunch and learn”
sessions or courses.
– Online Activity Trackers (Check out ours ☺ )http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/workplace/trr/tools/trackerlogin.html
– Offer a physical activity program opportunity (provide access to qualified experts)
Social
Lack of a partnerFamily Obligations
No support
Friends
Co‐worker relationships
Family
Social connections
Community in workplace
Spouse
Belonging
Culturally acceptable
Stigmatism
AgeismCo‐worker support
Management support
Role Model
Working at Social LevelFinds ways to build a positive social environment that promote physical
activity and social connection.
• Keep communication channels open, and inform everyone about
programs and progress.
• Create excitement and build enthusiasm (ex. launch).
• Ensure fair access to physical activity opportunities (ex. design programs
everyone can do, consider different work sites, ages etc)
• Put a priority on rewarding participation or
improvement in physical activity.
• Share responsibility; both employees &
managers contribute time & effort equally.
• Involve family & friends outside of work
Ideas …..• Start a swim club at a local pool.
• Enter in corporate teams with local recreation leagues or events (consider involving family)
• Arrange a company [insert possible sport] tournament that lasts several months.
• Post and promote a sign‐up board for lunchtime walking groups.
• Participate in workplace challenges (ex. walking, stair climbing and pedometer challenges).
Organization
Workplace ChampionManagement Support
Budget
Diverse Employees
Multi‐site Workplace
Hierarchy
On site Facilities
Stairwells accessible
Tools andEquipment
Available Space
Shift work
Paid Time
Benefits
Location
Working at the Organization Level• Management support?
– Participation in activities and some level of planning– Showing appreciation of employee leadership (formally or
informally).
• Accommodating all employees– Special needs considerations: satellite work sites, shift
workers, part‐time workers, different departments– Adapt information and activities (physical disability, English
as a second language).
• Improving the environment you have got– Unique to each worksite
Ideas
• Offer facilities that invite onsite physical activity. Be creative)
• Invest in equipment (it can be simple)
• Provide incentives to reward staff participation .
• Plan a workplace health fair.
• Hire a certified fitness specialist to design and manage an onsite fitness facility or program.
• Supply employees with active wear that shows off the company logo.
• Note: Incentives help to commit employees
Ideas • Include Satellite Offices:
– Recruit champions or key contacts to help make the initiative happen in outlying locations
– Ensure fair communication
– Be creative. Design challenges that highlight geographical or other features of the satellite offices.
– Identify and use local resources in each community has to support the
programs or initiatives.
Community
Recreation facilities
Side walks
Parks
Leagues and Clubs
Physical Activity ServicesLocal Initiatives
Partnerships
Other businesses
Municipality
Trails
Events
Public Transit
Working at the Community LevelTapping into the surrounding
community • What facilities or services are
nearby?
• Has your community initiated active living programs that will support
your efforts?
• Are there events, challenges your workplace can participate in?
• Are there volunteer opportunities (that are active) your workplace can
take part in?
Ideas• Partner with community facilities.
• Get involved in fun runs/walks, team sports, dragon boat racing
and other opportunities for individual or group involvement.
• Post a map showing several walking routes
• Participate in national campaigns such as Healthy Workplace
Week, Commuter Challenge and ParticipACTION events.
• Subsidize employees’
enrolment in a physical activity programs
• Work with city planners to develop walking/bike paths around
your workplace.
• Volunteer initiates can also be active initiatives
Policy
Government
Subsidies Benefits
Sustainability
Leadership
AccountableWho is responsible?
Funding
Planning
Regulations
Budget Allocations
Management Support
Procedures
Active Commuting
Working at the Policy Level
• Examine current policies and procedures:
– What supports physical activity? – What discourages it?
• Look to add policies for the promotion and continued support:
– Physical activity participation at work or outside of work
– Physical activity programs, events,
initiatives– Active commuting
Commit to workplace physical activity in policy
statements & commit funding to physical activity
initiatives.
Ideas• Offer flex time• Include a physical activity account in your benefit
plan. • Provide space for physical activity classes • Protect lunch time and encourage “active breaks”:
– Avoid scheduling meetings over lunch.– Encourage active breaks instead of coffee breaks.– Make birthday celebrations active times.
• Recognizing participation and effort • Recognizing staff or volunteers who organize
activities
Ideas: Active CommutingSupporting employees to adopt
active transportation:
• Allowing more flexible dress codes.
• Employee recognition programs.
• Working with municipal planners to map out safe and
efficient routes to work
• Guarantee ride home
What Shapes Physical Activity
Where can you start?
• Awareness Activities• Educational Opportunities• Skill‐building Opportunities• Group/Social Activities• Supportive Work Environments
Successful workplace physical activity programs involve a combination of
activities and opportunities that cross all ecological levels.
•If you choose to have physical activity
opportunities in your workplace, the
instructor, leader, or certified professional
may ask your employees to fill out the Physical
Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR‐Q) prior
to their participation. This is a form used prior
to activity to see if you should check with your
doctor before becoming more physically
active.
•There will be a new PAR‐Q+ form launched in
November 2010.
•The PAR‐Q forms can be accessed on
www.csep.ca
Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire
What are other workplaces in Canada doing?
• Intuit Canada• Canadian Case Studies Examples
– KineMedics
– City of Kamloops
• Healthy U Examples– Alberta‐Pacific Forest Industries Inc. (Al‐Pac)– Stantec
Everyone’s Job
“Employers and employees both share the burden of employee poor health/ illness through lost time at work and decreased productivity”.
• Partnership approach between employers and employees
• Explore multiple possibilities in creating work environments that encourage and enable
physical activity