 | ENCOURAGING PRODUCTIVITY THROUGH FITNESS | | | | | Giving them time, improves your bottom line ... | Posted by Kirsty Parris on 12/01/2012 @ 09:00 |
Most of us have heard the old adage of "healthy mind, healthy body". The stress-busting effects of regular exercise are well documented and the benefits to employees are many. However, few employers actively encourage their staff to exercise during working hours as they see it as an infringement on the working day ...
 giving staff time to exercise during the day improves fitness, morale and productivity
Research by scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm revealed that reducing the number of work hours performed by employees in favour of exercise resulted in increased levels of productivity. An employer that introduced a mandatory exercise programme during working hours saw a significant increase in their employee's performance coupled with a fall in instances of absence due to illness.
So, by getting your staff fit and healthy, your firm should benefit from increased productivity and less absenteeism. The question is, what can an employer do to encourage staff to get into shape?
Managers can lead by example if they are serious about supporting the health and wellbeing of their staff as employees look to their superiors for guidance on how to behave at work. It is advisable to provide the necessary facilities for employees to get active during work hours such as installing exercise equipment in the workplace or offering gym membership for lunchtime sessions. Some offices even provide shower and locker facilities on site (perhaps in the basement of the office) to allow staff to take a lunch time run and then clean up for work in the afternoon.
Your firm could also consider partaking in charity events (as a team) such as a sponsored run. This can improve the reputation of an organisation at the same time as enhancing the health and wellbeing of its employees.
Starting a company sports squad is another initiative that can prove valuable for team building although it is important to avoid excluding certain groups of people, so choosing a mixed-gender activity like running or tag-rugby is advisable.
The challenge when attempting to incorporate exercise into everyday working life is how not to adversely affect business processes whilst balancing the wellbeing of your staff. It is really down to the management team to identify fitness initiatives that will work well within the business without affecting the day-to-day activities of the firm.
Until next time ... 
KIRSTY PARRIS
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 | Kirsty is Partner of Ad Valorem Sales & Marketing LLP, a sister company of Chartered Certified Accountants, Ad Valorem.
Within Ad Valorem Sales & Marketing, Kirsty works very closely with clients on a consultancy basis, helping them grow and develop their business. By focusing on marketing, systems, people and processes Kirsty enables clients to achieve both their personal and business goals.
Anything you want to know about Ad Valorem Kirsty is the person to speak to its a case of dont ask Jeeves ask Kirsty! Kirsty is a good listener; with excellent communication skills. She prides herself on her swift response to all client queries, either offering clear, concise advice or ensuring that any issue is dealt with promptly.
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