Member Article

Low self-esteem and unhelpful bosses thwart employee fitness

New research by AXA PPP healthcare reveals body issues and low self-esteem are preventing nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of UK employees from exercising with their workmates. One in 10 (11 per cent) are also deterred by the prospect of wearing spandex and leggings in front of colleagues – a reluctance that may be fuelled by the perception of a quarter of bosses (26 per cent) that colleagues wearing gym clothes at work is unprofessional. But it’s not just a lack of confidence about appearance that’s stopping employees being more active with colleagues; embarrassment around feeling unfit compared with others is putting off one in four of them too.

What’s more, 61 per cent of the employees polled by the healthcare company say their employer doesn’t encourage them to lead an active lifestyle. On the other hand, most bosses agree that exercise has a positive effect on employees’ productivity (78 per cent) and on their ability to handle stress (82 per cent). The evident disconnect between employers acknowledging the benefits of exercise and employees saying they fail to promote it is a shortcoming AXA PPP healthcare director. This issue needs addressing, which is why AXA PPP healthcare has partnered with ukactive to support National Fitness Day:

A sedentary lifestyle often comes with the territory of an office job. Previous research by AXA PPP healthcare has shown that UK workers rack up an average of eight hours sitting time a day – that’s equivalent to a UK flight to the Caribbean. Yet prolonged sitting has been linked to health risks, including obesity, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer, that employers shouldn’t ignore. Promoting an active workforce is in their own interests and the benefits of doing so, such as boosting employees’ energy and productivity and their ability to deal with stress, can pay dividends in the short and long-term.

The scale of employee inactivity revealed by AXA PPP’s research is alarming: nearly half (45 per cent) admit they don’t do the 30 minutes of daily exercise, five times a week, recommended by the NHS. And more than one in four (27 per cent) don’t do any during their working week. Those who do try to fit some exercise around their working day – before or after work, as part of their commute or during their lunch break – may find their plans thwarted by work demands. For example, 62 per cent of those with good intentions to exercise during their lunchbreak say they sometimes find themselves having to cancel their fitness plans due to workload or work commitments and 79 per cent of those who exercise after work but would prefer to do so in the morning blame lack of time before their working day for not being able to do so. Perhaps bosses could be more flexible in their approach to working hours to help employees who want to be more active but find their working pattern is an impediment.

Employers have a responsibility to protect their employees’ health and safety. But we’re urging them to go further than simply meeting their statutory duty of care. Creating a workplace culture where being active is not just encouraged but is the norm should be conducive to a happy, productive workforce where employees feel valued and supported and want to give their best. Whether it’s allowing greater flexibility around working patterns, providing subsidised gym access or simply encouraging a more active commute, our research shows that employees want more support from their employer to lead an active lifestyle.“

Three quarters of employees who routinely exercise before work say that doing so makes them more effective and better able to concentrate and focus. That’s why AXA PPP healthcare is partnering with ukactive and calling on employers throughout the UK to push back the working day by one hour this National Fitness Day (27th September) to enable employees to get off to a flying, active start. For information and resources on how to get off to a Flying Start, visit the AXA PPP website and join the conversation using #MyFlyingStart.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Chris Horlick, Distribution Director for AXA PPP healthcare .