Individual changes – how can you encourage your colleagues/employees to get more active …
• When you launch the initiative, put together an employee kit that includes information on the Challenge and a letter from management endorsing the Challenge
• Organise activity Try It days with varied physical activities for employees to try. Provide information to help connect them to other community activities they enjoy
• Produce an active living screensaver with physical activity tips
• Arrange group fitness assessments/health testing on site or at a community facility
• Hire a qualified coach or activity leader to help employees train for a specific charity walk or run
• Organise a launch event to create excitement about upcoming activities
• Organise and promote monthly or bi-monthly company events that are fun and active e.g. physical games such as soccer matches, rounders, active team building days that incorporate activities such as orienteering, cycling, climbing
• Post a sign-up board where staff can join a group or find a buddy to participate in activities of interest
• Co-ordinate a stair climb challenge. Post a chart at the top of the stairwell, and encourage employees to track the number of flights of stairs they climb each workday. Set up teams, and award prizes to the first team to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest
• Co-ordinate a lunchtime power walk group
• Establish a wellness newsletter
• Be creative, and make the most of the workspace you have. For example, set up a training circuit, highlighting features of the worksite such as stairs
• Hold walking meetings
• Set up a stretching room/area. This low cost initiative requires only a room/area, stretching mats, stability balls and medicine balls. Put up posters that show stretches and exercises
• Invite leisure facilities and fitness clubs to showcase what they offer
• Develop a directory with maps for walking and cycling routes around the workplace
• Participate in national campaigns such as Walk to Work Days
Organisational changes – how can your company help everyone be active …
• Commit to workplace physical activity in policy statements and commit funding to physical activity initiatives
• Clearly communicating the benefits of being physically active during the workday reinforces the company’s commitment to helping workers be active. Use meetings, bulletin boards, newsletters and e-mail to reach as many employees as possible
• Offer flexi 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
• Include a physical activity account in your benefit plan to pay for or subsidise fitness memberships
• Conduct periodic surveys of staff physical activity preferences, and offer a variety of options to suit those interests and needs
• Avoid scheduling meetings over lunch