Member Article

Businesses Urged To Get On The Treadmill

Healthy, happy and productive employees: how exercise powers productivity in the workplace – a W&P overview.

With new year health kicks in full swing, Leeds-based communications agency Words&Pictures (W&P) have been thinking more about long-term wellbeing in the workplace – and how organisations can help their people to get and stay fit right through 2015 and beyond.

W&P have produced an array of wellbeing campaigns for their clients over the years including leading companies such as Whitbread, Unilever, Asda and Vodafone: Aimed at encouraging and enabling employees to optimise their performance and centred around employee’s health, fitness and wellbeing. This means the W&P team really do understand how a fitter, healthier workforce is a happier and more productive one.

W&P’s Head of Digital & Engagement, Clare Addy, also happens to be a qualified fitness instructor and long-time advocate of the positive effects of exercise on productivity:

“The impact of physical activity on wellbeing and capability goes beyond the waistline or the sports field. I for one know that when I get out and active on a weekend I walk into the studio on Monday feeling alert, refreshed and ready for whatever the week may hold. Regular exercise Monday to Friday also does the power of good – increasing efficiency and how much you enjoy your working week. Committing to getting or staying fit really does help establish and maintain balance physically, emotionally and mentally – and that has to be a good thing!”

The evidence certainly backs up Clare’s comments – take a health and wellbeing project like Juice, which is run by the University of Sheffield and award-winning fitness provider UK Outdoor Fitness. After taking part, 83% of people asked said that they felt inspired to do their best work every day (was 76%) and 87% said they would recommend the University as an excellent place to work (was 75%).

MD of UK Outdoor Fitness Paul Smith says: “Businesses need to implement health and wellbeing initiatives from the top down. Managers need to be actively promoting this themselves. If they don’t, how can they expect staff to?”

Paul also points to the benefits of encouraging your people to get and stay active.

“It’s a cost effective way of reducing sickness and stress in the workplace. Exercise can also increase alertness, and positive, energised employees create a healthier working environment overall.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Clare and Paul also offer a few quick hints for businesses wanting to make the first steps towards a healthier workforce:

“There are simple things a business can do to start putting health and wellbeing at the heart of their organisation,” says Clare. “It could be arranging a team 5k, working fitness memberships into their benefits package, starting a lunchtime walking group or providing shower and changing facilities in the workplace. I’d love to see an increase in companies committed to promoting these kind of initiatives, just as we’ve started to do at W&P.”

Practicing what they preach, W&P fully support all their staff’s health and fitness goals – fresh fruit is provided all week and people are always encouraged to stay active. The company have even been known get together for an after work kayak as a social outing rather than the usual drinks down the pub!

To find out more about how W&P can help you communicate your employee engagement and well-being initiatives and for more information, visit http://wordsandpics.co.uk/

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hatch PR .