Active Employee Toolkit

Communicate through internal comms channels, senior leadership and line managers that you actively encourage this and understand it is important for physical and mental health.

Where possible integrate and promote support mechanisms for your staff, such as Hills Osteopaths Osteopathy for Business services.

Osteopaths treat more than many people think. Also share these ideas:

Allowing staff to be flexible with their hours has many proven benefits beyond them having time for more activity, including better focus during work hours, leading to higher productivity, an increase in job satisfaction and motivation. Also a reduction in the number of sick days or time spent away from work. In sum an improvement in staff morale and motivation results in costs savings on staff absenteeism and recruitment. The increase in productivity and job satisfaction will also result in your business attracting and employing a diverse and competitive work force and ultimately gaining an enviable reputation.

Redefine what it means to be active and show your employees that any type of movement is valid, from a lunchtime walk up to a high-intensity workout. Even just getting up and moving around more makes a difference.

• Think about language – for those who are less active and less confident about their ability, the words “exercise” and “sport” may have negative implications whereas “being active” or “moving more” can feel more accessible.

• Normalise an active working day – show how senior leaders are getting involved and share examples of what staff are doing so this becomes a regular part of the working day.

• Show “people like me” – if you’re using imagery, make it relatable and show a diverse range of people from different backgrounds and activity levels getting active in a variety of ways that reflect your workforce.

Motivate employees by talking about the benefits of exercise beyond the obvious health ones – boost your energy, get away from the screen, connect with friends or team mates, build in self-care, de-stress, look after your mental health and create a barrier between work and home life.

• Make it social – people are missing interacting with colleagues and research shows that sharing progress and receiving encouragement from other can help with motivation and enjoyment.

Consider setting up a workplace group on a WhatsApp Group or even set up some team building or group challenges for those who embrace the participation. Always make the benefits about inclusion.

• Encourage employees to build a routine – behavioural science tells us that doing the same thing at the same time each day can help to create longer lasting habits over time.