Most people will spend 90,000 hours, that is, one-third of their lives at work. With this, we can gauge the importance and influence of workplace experiences in the lives of individuals.

Workplace sedentary behaviour is a major contributor to a sedentary lifestyle. In an ordinary office setup, employees sit for about 70% of the time. Add that to the seated commuting time (cars/trains/buses) and the time after work spent relaxing (watching TV/scrolling on social media), and it’s a recipe for poor health and fitness.

Employers seem to associate the time employees spend seated at desks with higher productivity. Many express concerns about productivity when the idea of reducing workplace sedentary time is presented to them. Studies have shown time and again that workplace sedentary behaviour does not have any significant association with productivity. Additionally, employees who spend less time sitting report more job satisfaction, while employees who sit for around 8 hours a day and do not get much physical activity report lower levels of job satisfaction and poor quality of life. 

Transforming the work environment and making it fitness-friendly can prove beneficial for the organisation as well as the employees. Let’s take a look at the benefits of a fitness-friendly work environment to the organisation first:

•  A work environment that’s optimised for fitness is bound to impact employee health positively. This would mean less absenteeism, and possibly higher productivity.
• Exercise and good physical health also contribute to higher creativity levels. The organisation stands to benefit from innovative solutions and creations. 
• Such a positive and health-focused environment is likely to keep the employees more engaged, motivated and loyal. For the organisation, this means talent retention. By extension, this also means less costs on recruitment. 
• A fitness-friendly work environment will help build the reputation of the organisation and attract more talented employees. 
• Fitness-friendly initiatives can also boost team spirit, and promote teamwork, which can translate to increased ROI for the organisation.  

A fitness-friendly work environment can provide these advantages to the employees:

• Cultivation of healthy habits, and improvement in health
• Fewer sick leaves and higher earning potential
• Increased productivity, and possibly better opportunities for career growth
• Higher job satisfaction
• Better quality of life

As you can see, both – the organisation and its employees – can gain much from a fitness-friendly workplace and work culture. The question that arises now is, what can the organisation do to transform the workplace? Here are some insights for the HR department on how to help the organisation create a fitness-friendly work environment: 

• Modifying the Workspace: It makes sense to begin where the employee spends the maximum amount of time – at the work desk. Replacing the ordinary office desks with adjustable/standing desks will allow the employees to alternate between sitting and standing. The goal is to reduce the time spent sitting at a stretch because prolonged sitting is the culprit behind a host of health problems. Every desk can have a fitness-friendly drawer with items such as a booklet on desk exercises, a resistance band, a hand gripper, and healthy snacks.
• Campus Fitness Facilities: Employees spend a good part of their day in the office campus. Not many will have the inclination or the energy to go to a gym or attend fitness classes before or after work. Provide campus fitness facilities, so that employees can take active breaks and pursue fitness goals. If the organisation is concerned about the under-utilisation of such facilities, tracking attendance and rewarding regular users is an option. Even if a full-fledged gym is not an option, a corner with some exercise space, some small equipment such as dumbbells and barbells, and a compact machine or two such as a foldable treadmill will also produce the desired effect. The organisation can also hire yoga instructors or other fitness trainers for weekly classes. Such sessions can double as team-building activities.
• Influence on Eating Habits:  In addition to snacks and beverages that employees consume during work time, they also have at least one meal of the day in the work environment. Ensure that the cafeteria has healthy meal options. Collaborate with the cafeteria manager to offer discounts on healthy food. Vending machines that dispense carbonated drinks and high-sugar snack bars facilitate unhealthy eating habits. Encourage employees to make better food choices through vending machines that only dispense healthy snacks.
• Office Fitness Challenges: Fitness challenges can bring out the competitive spirit, and increase the motivation as well as the commitment of employees to fitness goals. Boost participation by making it easy to enrol in these challenges. Use a digital wellness platform that can sync with mobile devices to track participation, and allow employees to see how their colleagues are doing via a shared leaderboard. Generate excitement around such challenges through announcements and social media posts.
• Mental Health Initiatives and Support: Mental health affects physical health, and vice versa. To boost physical fitness and overall health, it is essential to pay attention to mental health as well. Even small initiatives can go a long way towards improving mental health. If your organisation has an employee assistance program (EAP), direct and encourage employees to make the most of it. Certain initiatives can boost mental and physical health in an indirect way, such as volunteering at a local community centre or care home. In such cases, there is a lot of physical activity involved, and it’s for a good cause, so it provides a sense of purpose and improves mental well-being. Additionally, volunteering once a fortnight or a month with team members can enhance team cohesion, and provide a sense of belonging. 

Key Takeaways

• Employees spend a considerable amount of time in the workplace. The work environment can influence their habits and health. It also impacts their overall quality of life. 
• Creating a fitness-friendly workplace is beneficial not only to the employees but also to the organisation, in the short term as well as the long term.
• The creation of a workplace and culture that’s conducive to fitness will require consistent efforts. It won’t be a once-and-done thing. 
• A fitness-friendly work environment will benefit the organisation’s bottom line, while also leading to the creation of a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.