{"id":7020,"date":"2018-02-09T10:10:00","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T10:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitproblog.mysites.io\/workplace-wellness\/"},"modified":"2018-02-09T10:10:00","modified_gmt":"2018-02-09T10:10:00","slug":"workplace-wellness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fitpro.com\/blog\/workplace-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"Workplace wellness?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Workplace wellness? A quarter of office workers don\u2019t exercise<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As fit pros, we have to ask ourselves what will it take to help get professionals moving and achieve workplace wellness? Shall we wait until each office worker has a treadmill next to their desk? Or they are forced to perform star jumps between PowerPoint presentations? It would seem that, in 2018, office workers are still finding it incredibly challenging to \u2018make time\u2019 for exercise during their working week.<\/p>\n

CV-Library, the UK\u2019s leading independent job site, conducted a workplace wellness survey with 1,200 office workers to determine how frequently they were exercising. It was reported that one third (31.6%) of professionals admitted to only exercising once or twice a week. What\u2019s more, a worrying 24% confessed that they don\u2019t exercise at all. More findings from the study revealed that 59.4% of professionals do try to exercise during the working week \u2013 26.3% saying they worked out before work commenced \u2013 resulting in 91.3% ‘feeling more productive\u2019 as a result. For the other 73.7% who leave exercise until after work, 88.2% say it helps them to unwind.<\/p>\n

Yet, despite their good intentions, 39.2% admit they do struggle to fit in exercise before they start work. What\u2019s more, 66.7% admit they sometimes have to skip their workout because they\u2019ve had to stay late at the office. It\u2019s therefore unsurprising that 66.6% of professionals wish they could exercise more throughout the working week.<\/p>\n

Lee Biggins<\/strong>, founder and managing director of CV-Library, said in response to the workplace wellness findings, \u201cIt\u2019s clear that professionals are looking to their employers for support when it comes to making their work and lifestyle fit around one another. Although it might not always be possible to offer flexible hours or free gym memberships, it\u2019s important you are doing all you can to support your workforce and take their well-being into consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tap into the workplace wellness market<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Education specialist and personal trainer\u00a0Matt Gleed<\/strong> was keen to share his experiences of working with clients who may struggle to exercise around work commitments. Commenting on the above findings, Gleed said, \u201cWith just a little more thought, companies can really help create and inspire a better work-life balance that their employees are calling for. I previously led lunchtime and afternoon workouts at Nationwide Building Society, which allowed employees at their head office to work out throughout the working day, a great example of a company encouraging flexible working and a healthy lifestyle. In addition, having a gym at the office allowed many people to work out early or after work, so they missed the rush-hour traffic.”<\/p>\n

When asked what companies could do more of to increase exercise and workplace wellness, Gleed added, \u201cWith bike-to-work schemes, standing desks and changing facilities in the office, companies have begun to make the changes necessary to support and encourage a more active workforce. However, more can be done. I\u2019ve personally found clients have had success joining lunchtime clubs or forming company sports teams and leagues. I\u2019m a big fan of getting people more active and linking that with health insurance or bonus-related rewards that many health providers are now happy to partner with. More trainers should approach the companies to see if they can support them, as everyone is better off in these situations.\u201d<\/p>\n

Personal trainer Holly Lynch <\/strong>offers some take- home advice for personal trainers who are looking to tap into this\u00a0 market.<\/p>\n

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  1. Go into workplaces:<\/strong>\u00a0run group sessions in the office<\/li>\n
  2. Offer discounts:\u00a0<\/strong>if 3 or more people from the same workplace come to a class or book personal training, this helps to\u00a0motivate and encourage team\u00a0work. Clients can group together in a joint fitness venture with their colleagues.<\/li>\n
  3. Offer at-home versions:\u00a0<\/strong> devise sessions that have no kit requirements; encourage clients to use the space they have available and their own bodyweight.<\/li>\n
  4. Offer half- hour sessions<\/strong> in addition to full hour slots for the time precious clients.<\/li>\n
  5. Offer health check days to a workplace:<\/strong>\u00a0it is in the best interest of companies to reduce sickness absences. Test an individual’s blood pressure, weight, body fat percentage – simple and quick tests that let them know how they compare to national averages. Knowledge is power;\u00a0 knowing the facts can help encourage\u00a0people make better lifestyle decisions. For everyone who checks in with you, they will receive a ‘free try out pass’ to your class\/facility so\u00a0 that they can start working on their results straight away.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Lynch concludes, “As a trainer, I feel it’s about showing compassion for the fact that these people are professionals with responsibilities and a busy life; overwhelming them with a highly detailed and time- consuming workout programme is probably not the best move. The commitment and drive that clients\u00a0have for their job are clear personality traits; that can be directly transferable to the gym or studio. I often find that career- driven clients are ‘target and deadline driven’, I therefore try to incorporate this into the training methods I use with them.”<\/p>\n

    Workplace wellness in action<\/strong><\/h3>\n