Gaining management support is critical to the success of a exercise initiative.

Whether the changes you’d like to make involve the work environment, overall policies or specific programs, successfully implementing your ideas depends on management support.

Support from management is vital for three reasons –

• You need their agreement to involve staff members in a workplace initiative.

• When management pays attention to and supports an initiative, workers also see the initiative as worthwhile.

• Management has the power to give work time and money to support the initiative.

It’s important to keep management involved throughout a physical activity initiative, but at three points you will need support for –

• an overall concept, including a go-ahead to assess what employees want to do within the limitations of your workplace environment.

• A detailed plan (based on the assessment above) coupled with resources to carry out the plan.

• Evaluating the initiative to improve it along the way or to advocate for continuing or expanding the initiative.

Approaching Management

Before approaching management to gain initial support for promoting physical activity during the workday, do your homework.

• Prepare a corporation case obviously outlining how the organization will benefit by promoting physical activity during the workday.

• List the individual, social and corporate advantages of exercise and the advantages of being active during the workday.

• Present some general ideas about what the program might include. See the Success Stories and Ideas sections on this website to highlight what other workplaces have done.

Expect questions such as the following from management –

• How will this help our company?

• How can we motivate workers to participate?

• How much will it cost to run this program or make this change?

• How are we going to know a year from now if this was a good use of time and resources?

Ask managers about the range of activities they’d support. Often managers have ideas of their own they’d like to see acted on to improve the workplace.

Do not forget to include middle managers when gaining support for your initiative. They may be very helpful when you need volunteers to lead teams in corporate physical activity challenges.

In today’s business environment, the health of workers is often related to the health of the business. Increased job satisfaction, improved morale, decreased disease and injuries, and increased productivity are just some of the benefits of having healthy workers.

Promoting health in your workplace does not have to be complicated, expensive or time-consuming. Any organization, large or small, can promote healthy consuming and active living in the workplace. Here are some suggestions –

Healthful Eating

• For breakfast meetings, instead of serving donuts, big muffins, cookies, tea and coffee with cream and sugar, offer healthier alternatives such as bagels, small muffins, fresh fruit, water, 100% fruit juice and milk with coffee and tea.

• For lunch meetings, avoid serving chips, fried foods, rich pastas, and salads loaded with dressing. Instead, offer sandwiches, bagels, whole grain low fat crackers and cheese, 100  percent fruit juice, water, salads with dressing on the side, vegetable and fruit trays.

• Reimburse staff members for items purchased to improve their health (e.g. healthful eating cookbooks, consultation with a Registered Dietitian).

• Arrange for the cafeteria or food vendors to offer healthful food choices.

• Arrange to have healthful options like bottled water, 100% fruit juice, fruit bars, and raisins available in vending machines.

• Give a means for people  to share healthy recipes with each other (for example, posting recipes on the Intranet, on posters or by e-mail).

Active Living

• Plan events and group activities to encourage workers to become active, such as walking programs, contests and challenge events, stretch breaks, team sports or participation in local or provincial events.

• Offer onsite health professionals (e.g. fitness trainers, fitness instructors) or incorporate this service in staff member assistance programs to help staff members work towards physical activity goals.

• Provide a supportive environment in the workplace that makes healthy options easy –  bike racks, shower facilities, clean, safe and accessible stairwells, walking or running routes nearby the workplace, and fitness club facilities.

• Allow for flex time so that staff members have more opportunities to participate in exercise plans as part of their working day.

• Reimburse staff members for full or partial club membership fees, fitness class registrations, and fitness equipment purchases.

• Provide corporate fitness club memberships to reduce costs of individual memberships.

Keeping It Fresh!

Find a champion to –

• Organize lunch “n learn sessions to provide information and motivation for healthy consuming and active living.

• Invite demonstrators to provide cooking lessons or tips for making healthful foods.

• Post a rotating list in a common room of local restaurants that offer healthy food choices on their menus.

• Distribute information to educate staff members on portion sizes.

• Include exercise and nutrition information in newsletters, pay check inserts, bulletin boards or e-mails.

• Plan activities that promote healthful eating and exercise. for  instance, start a year-round lunch-time walking club, and special activities

Can a small business support company health promotion? Absolutely! Indeed, in some ways it is easier to create a healthful workplace in a small business than in a large company.

Limited resources, particularly in small businesses, can prevent an employer from setting up a health promotion program. Reasons can include –

• lack of budget resources;

• lack of staff;

• lack of senior-level support;

• little knowledge of the wellness theory and;

• concern about making wellness available to all workers.

As reported by the Health Promotion Councils of America, some small corporation owners might have the wrong idea of what’s involved in having a health promotion program.

Some corporations aren’t sure a program would really work and others feel that trying to change personal lifestyle behaviours is intruding and “none of their business”.  

Perhaps they don’t understand that it doesn’t need to be expensive and that they don’t need special staff. They could not realize that some staff would like to see some healthy changes and would help make things happen in their workplace.

It can be Done

A lot of small companies have found ways to have a health promotion program that works for them. They keep the cost and effort to a minimum and still have results that are positive for everybody.

In 2006, Graham Lowe wrote a report on the best places to work in Calgary. He said that healthful workplaces often have a “positive workplace culture”.  In a workplace with a positive culture, individuals  feel appreciated, valued, and trusted.

Dr. Lowe says it’s easier for a small workplace to have a positive workplace culture than for a large workplace. Many employees prefer to work for a small corporation, he says, because it provides more opportunities to work closely with others and develop a sense of community.

In his report, Dr. Lowe says the most successful businesses with fewer than 100 employees have –

• excellent worker benefits;

• policies that promote a balance between work and personal life;

• flexible schedules;

• competitive salaries;

• excellent leadership with an emphasis on teamwork;

• environmentally responsible corporation policies;

• procedures for seeking employee input; and

• a focus on placing employees’ personal wellness ahead of the personal gain of corporation leaders.

All or most of these elements are also components of a good health promotion program.

Tips and Ideas

There are many ways to include wellness in a small business. You don’t necessarily need a wellness professional or a fancy health club.

What you do need is support from management and a committee of a few committed individuals . Here are some ideas that your workplace can consider.

Communications and Promotion

• Send out a regular “wellness” newsletter in hard copy or online. Or send out a simple message such as the weekly Healthful U Hot Tip.

• Use promotions that are already designed such as Healthy Workplace Week.

Active Living and Healthy Eating

•  Be certain to encourage staff to sign up for the Stairway to Health stair climbing competition.

• Get pedometers for employees and track their steps.

• Rent a nearby school or community fitness center and offer exercise classes.

• Hire a local fitness instructor to give classes or lead stretch breaks. Costs may be shared with employees.

• Install secure bicycle parking.

• Serve healthy alternatives at company meetings and lunches.

Policy and Organizational Programs

• Hire an ergonomics professional to assess workstations.

• Create policies to support work-life balance (for example, mandatory vacations, flextime, limits to work and e-mail on personal time).

• Provide a wellness subsidy for a selection of health and leadership activities and courses.

• Offer financial incentives to be healthy.

• Offer wellness incentives as rewards and recognition for a job well done.

• Conduct an organizational health audit (NQI Healthful Workplace Week).

• Become a partner with the community (for example, daycare, health clubs, festivals, parks, restaurants).

• Spread the workload. Make sure to set up a wellness committee.

Small companies might not have a lot of time, money, or HR available for a health promotion program. But they often have a huge advantage over big companies-a positive workplace culture.

That is a great foundation for a health promotion program. When employees are satisfied, enjoy their work environment, they are more productive, and tend to be healthier.  With a little creativity and passion, small businesses can create successful health promotion programs.

Get support from management, form a committee of two or more and discover the possibilities!

Employee health promotion is evolving.

Early efforts to develop healthful workplaces focused on safety at the worksite and injury avoidance for employees.

More recently, programs are designed to assist employees to select healthier behaviours like being more physically active or quitting smoking.

Campaigns to raise awareness, educational sessions to raise knowledge, opportunities to learn new skills, and changes to policies to make it easier for staff members to make healthful options are often included.

This approach is taken because the workplace is a good way to reach individuals , since most adult American Citizens spend a large part of their day at work.

While safety and lifestyle programs are two aspects that contribute to the health of employees, company health promotion is more effective when a third factor is brought into the equation-the environment at work.

How the workplace affects health.

Increasingly, it’s recognized that the workplace itself has a powerful affect on people ‘s health. When people  are satisfied with their job, they are more productive and tend to be healthier. When employees feel that the environment at work is negative, they feel stressed.

Stress has a big impact on staff member mental and physical health, and in turn, on productivity.

Consultant Graham Lowe has identified five components of workplace culture that directly affect employees’ health and the health of the organization overall-credibility, respect, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.

The underlying idea is that businesses must genuinely care about the well-being of their employees.

Corporations today who want to attract and keep good employees have leaders who understand the connection between staff member satisfaction and staff member health and believe that company health promotion is a corporation strategy.  

Their management practices include making reasonable demands on time and energy, involving staff members in decision making, rewarding work well done, openly communicating, and providing support to balance work and home life.

Employers know that workers are looking for jobs that pay well, have good benefits, are fascinating, and include excellent health and safety programs. So in today’s competitive hiring market, it’s become more important than ever for companies to enhance job satisfaction and ensure that workers enjoy being on the job.

Employee health promotion benefits both companys and workers.

How does company health promotion benefit the corporation?

A health promotion program can help a company to –

• Attract and keep employees;

• reduce the costs of disability, drugs, and absenteeism;

• reduce the effects of a stressful workplace;

• reduce health care costs or keep them contained; and

• improve morale by creating a happy, supportive environment.

How does corporate health promotion benefit employees?

Staff Members of corporations that have a health promotion program are likely to have –

• increased awareness and knowledge of ways to improve their health;

• a better (less stressful) workplace;

• increased protection from injury;

• improved health and well-being;

• higher morale and greater job satisfaction;

• increased productivity and effectiveness at work;

• decreased personal health care costs; and

• a more relaxed/flexible approach to health issues.

Both employers and workers have a responsibility for creating a healthful workplace. Workers are expected to arrive at work in good health, and the employer is expected to provide an environment that authorizes workers to maintain good health, enjoy their work, and contribute to the organization’s success.

Company health promotion is more than a “lunch and learn” program. It’s about developing a “people  first” approach to doing corporation.

It’s about taking care of employees, establishing a positive work environment, and compensating attention to the factors that keep employees healthy and happy at work.

A good health promotion program has an impact on employees’ mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual wellness.

Ideally, you will develop an overall plan for a health promotion program before beginning to plan specific health promotion programs. for  instance, you can start by getting the following elements in place –

• support from  executive management

• a wellness committee or team

• information about the wellness needs and interests of employees

• a budget

• program objectives

• an examination plan

Even if you’ve few financial and/or human resources (HR), you can still take a “micro” approach. for example, you may focus on only one specific issue or problem. Creativity, enthusiasm and planning can help you overcome limitations.

This article will give you some ideas for establishing up health promotion programs. Even the smallest steps can have an impact.

Whether you select to begin with a single program or develop something larger, planning is essential. First think about the large picture and then look after the details.

Ask yourself these questions –

• Identify an action. What health-related program will fit the bill and best suit the workers and organization?

• Promote. How can you most effectively get the word out to employees? What are the opportunities for promotion? Consider everything, because staff members have access to and pay attention to different types of messages.

In a average workplace, employees get information from e-mail, newsletters, bulletins,  pamphlets, meeting announcements and fellow employees.

• Deliver. Who is the best individuals or group to put the program into action? Ask other companies about approaches they have used. Decide on your budget before making a decision.

• Evaluate. What should you evaluate to determine success? Do you need hard data and/or testimonials from individual participants?

We recommend the following when planning your initiative –

• creating and communicating clear objectives

• targeting your audience

• determining on the kind of program or campaign

The Elements of Health Promotion Programming

Programs to promote wellness in the workplace don’t need to be restricted to a single area. You could think company health promotion only involves promoting positive personal health, e.g., blood pressure clinics,  brochures on heart illness, “lunch and learn” seminars on consuming habits and short-term physical activity programs.

These activities are important, but company health promotion should also be part of a company’s business strategy and go beyond traditional programming.

Taking a broader approach, the National Quality Institute lately identified three key elements of a healthful workplace –

• physical environment

• social environment and personal resources

• health practices

Specific Program Ideas

Physical Environment

Look after workers’ health and safety and establish regulations to support their health and safety. Consider providing the following –

• Safe bicycle storage and shower and/or change facilities for cyclists and other commuters.

• Fridges for staff members to keep snacks and meals fresh and/or healthful snacks in vending machines and cafeterias.

• Ergonomic assessments.

• Subsidies to help workers join local recreation centers.

• Classrooms/conference rooms available for booking activities like yoga, pilates, tai chi, meditation and aerobics.

• Safe and pleasant stairwells that invite workers to use them.

• Investigating the potential for violence at work with plans to deal with such risks.

• Good lighting and sound and air quality.

Social Environment

Human relationships and communication, as well as ways of doing corporation, can affect an employee’s mental and physical health. Businesses ought to consider the following –

• respectful workplace policies that provide safe worksites

• policies on flex time

• policies on working from home

• staff member satisfaction surveys

• leadership coaching

• resiliency training

• staff member assistance programs

To foster a positive social culture or climate, consider employees’ needs, which include –

• being respected

• a sense of belonging, purpose and mission

• freedom of expression

• protection from harassment and discrimination

What you have “always done” may not address current employee needs. Ensuring that people  enjoy being at work isn’t an easy task, but making the right changes can have a huge impact.

Health Practices

Offer programs and set policies that help workers remain healthy or improve their health while at work. Consider offering the following –

• “Lunch and learn sessions” on healthy habits such as sleeping better, consuming on the run, healthy snacks, using a pedometer, pole walking, work-life balance, time management, stress management, resiliency, parenting and reading nutrition labels.

• Stop tobacco use clinics or subsidies to help workers quit.

• Health risk (assessment|appraisal}s, including fitness assessments.

• Programs to address the issues raised in the health risk (assessment|appraisal}s.

• Healthy snacks served at meetings and conferences.

Personal Corporate Health Promotion Tips

If there is no health promotion program at your worksite, do not let that stop you from keeping healthful. Perhaps your example will spark a movement toward a healthier workplace.

Here are several ideas to think about –

• be active at work. There are many ways to bring activity into your workday. Walk to work, even when it’s just one way. Hold walking meetings. Bike to work. Use the stairs. Walk to a workmate’s office instead of sending an e-mail.

• Eat well at work. Pack a healthy snack and meal. Place a bottle of water at your desk or workstation. Eat breakfast and eat regularly during the day. Take turns bringing a basket of fruit for coworkers’ snacks. Order healthy snacks for meetings.

• Maintain work-life balance. Make certain to work efficiently so you can leave on time. Conduct short, effective meetings. Leave your work at work and do not take it home.

Minimize social chit-chat. Be certain to set up your office to enhance your work. Prevent clutter. Plan and prioritize to ensure that the most vital things get done first.

There’s no limit to the number or variety of health promotion programs. A key to success is planning well and ensuring that you can evaluate the results so that you can sustain momentum.

Speak to other wellness practitioners to find out what works well for them. Listen to your coworkers to determine their needs and interests.  And do not forget to promote, promote, promote.

A lot of organizations recognize the need for a comprehensive strategy to help their employees be the best they can be.

They also know that successful and sustainable health promotion programs are much more than several “lunch and learn” programs.

Your health promotion program should include a broad range of key elements, including –

• A clear agenda or statement of objectives.

• A plan characterized by passion.

• an effective leader who is creative and organized.

• A focus on short-term outcomes combined with an overall vision.

• A measurable strategy (what’s important gets measured!).

• A policy of celebrating and communicating success.

Planning Your Health Promotion Program

Plan carefully to ensure that your health promotion program is seen as part of a broad commitment to maintaining the health and safety of all workers. Yes, creating a good plan takes a lot of effort and time (and sometimes resources).

But planning is essential and well worth the investment required.  As the saying goes, “failing to plan is planning to fail.”

You might begin by conducting a recent survey of employee needs and interests. When you take this route, pay attention to the results and plan hence. When you don’t, the staff members will not support the program.

Accumulating information about what you’re already offering is also a good idea. for example, you may be surprised by your corporation or corporation’s current wellness and health policies.

Another important step is to establish an agenda and/or measurable goals to help you determine priorities, timelines and the resources required to launch the program. be bold and creative in your planning, but also realistic.

Leadership

The leader of your health promotion program must be able to wear many hats. the leader’s duties include –

• Developing a vision of the health promotion program after receiving input from all interested workers.

• Communicating ideas and a rationale throughout the organization (to upper-level managers and fellow workers alike).

• Keeping others enthusiastic about and committed to a health promotion program.

• Serving as a role model and wellness coach.

• Developing and maintaining leadership skills such as giving effective presentations and being well-organized.

Good leaders avoid becoming overwhelmed by overly ambitious and complex plans. You may want to stick to short-term goals at the beginning so that you get immediate and visible results.

These first steps are the basis for a successful health promotion program.

Good leaders involve as many people  as possible in the program. for example, you will want to form a committee made up of a diverse group of staff members to provide advice during the planning phase. This approach will –

• Make sure to help you to obtain valuable information from all parts of the corporation.

• Develop ambassadors who’ll help you implement the health promotion program.

Keeping Score and Celebrating

Always rememberhow you will monitor progress and evaluate the success of your health promotion program. Evaluation allows you to –

• Identify areas of excellence.

• Identify factors that affect participation in your programs.

• Gain management’s support for your efforts (and maintain that support).

• Better understand issues that need attention.

• Learn from mistakes and change the program to keep it on the right track.

When you evaluate your program, you can measure such things as –

• Staff Member absences.

• Employee turnover rates.

• The cost of your worker assistance program.

• The cost of benefits, including short-term and long-term disability payments.

• The cost of your drug plan.

• Accident rates and safety records.

• Employees’ participation in health promotion programs (and whether they are staying in the programs).

• Changes in employees’ health habits.

• Level of employees’ awareness of healthful lifestyle issues.

• Results of your environmental wellness audit.

• Other noticeable changes in areas such as morale and job satisfaction.

A good communications plan provides ongoing information to staff members (including upper-level managers) and fosters excitement about the health promotion program.

Positive reinforcement is part of an effective communications plan. for  instance, you could recognize people  who have helped set up the program or offer tangible rewards for achieving objectives.

Everybody needs to know whether workers are getting involved, enjoying the activities and getting some benefit from them. Showing that a health promotion program has financial benefits is often an important factor in maintaining strong support from the top.

If you pay attention to the key elements of your health promotion program and communicate openly and continuously while planning and delivering it, you will lay a solid foundation and leave a legacy that lasts.

How does exercise fit into a full-time employee’s busy schedule? Often, it doesn’t.

One possible solution to this challenge is to make physical activity a part of the work day. Obviously, being active at work is beneficial for workers.

But corporations also benefit from having fit, energetic and healthy staff members who are more productive.

The challenges

Your job takes up a lot of your time. In addition to the hours you spend actually working, there’s the time required to get to and from work and take lunch and rest breaks during the work day.

In the end, there are a not many hours left over for the rest of your life. This work life imbalance is namely true for Alberta, where statistics show that we work exceptionally hard.

Many jobs today are sedentary, and many American Citizens drive to work. the pressures of work may also cause us to eat lunch at our desks and skip breaks.

Then, after work or on the weekends we juggle household chores, family responsibilities and social engagements.

Health Promotion Programs –  Get began on a workplace fitness program

Management plays a key role in creating a culture that promotes health. the leaders at your workplace influence the various policies and the informal or formal practices, and these policies and practices affect your attitude towards healthful active living.

Start by talking to your boss about the advantages of a healthy active workplace. the best way to ensure the success of a workplace fitness program is to have the management on side and cheering you on.

Ask your boss to consider taking these actions –

• Send a memo or message about the importance of health and healthful living that encourages staff to take an active break each day.

• Give for flexible work hours that help staff to be more physically active. for  instance, they could need to take a longer lunch break to attend an exercise class, making up the time by coming to work early or staying late.

• Make available a meeting room or other suitable office space for noon-hour yoga or exercise classes, and hire a teacher to lead them, or use videos.

If your boss agrees to support a workplace fitness program, don’t forget to say thanks.

You do not need an on-site health club

Only very big businesses can afford onsite fitness facilities such as exercise equipment or squash courts. Still, most businesss can take other low cost steps to support staff members who wish to become more active.

For example –

• Arrange for discounted fees for workers at a gym, recreation centeror YMCA facility.

• Install showers and a place to hang a towel. (Make certain the showers are cleaned regularly and that women who use them will feel secure.)

• Install bicycle racks or a locked enclosure that is safe, conveniently located and well lighted.

• Hold walking meetings and set up lunch-hour walking groups

• Make workers aware of safe and pleasant walking routes near the workplace, as well as nearby facilities that offer fitness programs (such as walking, swimming, running, yoga, stretching).

• Hire a qualified instructor to teach staff about health, fitness and how to become more active.

Any size and type of workplace can support staff members who wish to be physically active. It’s highly desirable to get management on side.

Even if your boss is not supportive, you can still find ways to get moving more. Make certain to set up activities for groups and person, and encourage your colleagues to join in.

We all know that exercise is an important part of health and wellness. But sometimes it’s hard to find time for exercise.

Lack of time is the number one barrier that individuals  say avoids them from participating in physical activity on a regular basis.

The good news is that even short sessions of exercise help your health. Research has shown that 10-minute sessions that add up to between 30 and 60 minutes a day can produce meaningful health benefits.

Also, there are numerous ways busy people  can use to be more active. These strategies include –

• multi-tasking

• being active at work

• being active with loved ones

• scheduling activity into daily life

Different strategies work for different individuals . Being familiar with the different strategies is key to adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Read on to take a look at strategies you can attempt. With enough commitment, some of them are sure to work for you.

Strategy #1 –  Multi-tasking

The first strategy you can attempt is multi-tasking. This means doing things you already do, but in a more physically active way.

This way you get done what you need to get done and you get exercise at the same time.

For example, you are already travelling to work and other places. Instead of taking the car or the bus every time, attempt using active methods of transportation like biking, rollerblading, walking and skateboarding.

When you cannot use active transportation for a whole trip, try to be active for at least part of the trip. When you are riding the bus, for example, get off several blocks early and walk the rest of the way.

Active transportation benefits your body by increasing your activity level, and it also benefits your neighbourhood and the environment by lowering the number of cars on the road.

You can also get exercise while doing housework and chores.

When you are working around home, attempt to be creative and look for the active option. for  instance, if you are cleaning the crack between the fridge and the counter, why not move the fridge so you are able to clean the area better and build your strength at the same time?

For outdoor work, opt for the old-fashioned way of doing things, as they are generally more active. for  instance, use a snow shovel rather than a snow blower.

Strategy #2 –  be Active at Work

A lot of American Citizens spend eight hours a day or more working at a sedentary job. Here are several simple ways to keep your body moving during the workday.

The physical activity will revitalize you and help you be more productive.

When you are working at your desk, attempt sitting on a stability ball or disk for part of your day (30 minutes to an hour). This gives your back and abdominals a workout.

Take active breaks at least once a day. During your coffee break, attempt doing some yoga, stretching or taking a quick walk.

You may find that walking up and down the stairs several times does a better job of rejuvenating you than the java jolt.

Speaking of the stairs, take them instead of the elevator whenever you can. the stairs in your building are an opportunity to get your heart pumping.

Organize walking meetings at work. Getting outside and having meetings in a less formal establishing is a great way to be active, makes the workday more fun and encourages creative ideas for work projects.

Strategy #3 –  be Active With Your Loved Ones

Do exercise with your family, friends, neighbours and pets. With this strategy, you and your loved ones are doing some great multi-tasking together –  enjoying quality time with each other and getting some exercise that you all need to be healthful.

Go for walks, swims or bicycle rides together. Play Frisbee, soccer and other games and sports together. When you take your kids to the park, play with them instead of just watching them play.

A lot of community facilities offer classes that keep you and your children active at the same time. Research these classes and take one or two.

You can even be active when you’re watching your kids do activities without you. for  instance, when your child plays hockey, take the opportunity to walk up and down the stairs in the stands several times.

When you feel self-conscious about doing it alone, why not gather a group of parents to do it together?

Strategy #4 –  Schedule Physical Activity into Your Day

Schedule your exercise directly into your daytimer. Make sure to set a specific time and place for exercising. Make your exercise appointments a priority, just as important as any other appointment you put in your daytimer.

To help you stay committed to your exercise appointments, you might want to make appointments that involve other people  -  such as by meeting with a fitness trainer, taking an exercise class or jogging with a friend.

If you’re not sure how many appointments to make or what you should be doing during your appointments, try consulting with a personal trainer. A personal trainer can help you create a exercise plan and schedule.

The bottom line –  figure out what works best for you. Experiment with the strategies. Find inspiration by talking to other individuals  about how they keep active and what strategies they use.

Be creative and patient while you figure out what strategies work best for you.  And be aware that your “best strategy” may change from time to time.

With enough effort, you will discover what works for you. Then, run with it!

• Commit to workplace physical activity in policy statements and commit funding to physical activity initiatives.

• Clearly communicating the advantages of being physically active during the workday reinforces the organization’s commitment to assisting all employees be active.

Use meetings, bulletin boards, newsletters and e-mail to reach as many workers as possible at least once a year.

• Offer flex time for exercise. Invite staff members who actively commute to work or exercise at lunch to make up any missed time later in the day.

• Allow staff to work part time, so that they can participate in physical activity.

• Include a physical activity account in your benefit plan to pay for or subsidize fitness memberships, assessments, classes, counselling or instruction.

• Give interest-free loans for staff members to buy bicycles or good walking footwear/runners.

• Conduct periodic surveys of staff exercise preferences, and offer a variety of options to suit those interests and needs.

• Hire qualified individuals  to lead stretch breaks or exercise programs or classes. for help in locating accredited fitness leaders, visit Alberta’s Provincial Fitness Unit.

• Recognize employees who participate in physical activity. Survey employees first to determine how they prefer to be recognized, e.g., through business newsletters, appreciation lunches, rewards and/or thank you notes.

• Provide child care and other family-friendly amenities during physical activities that occur after work.

• Avoid scheduling meetings over lunch.

• Be sure to encourage active breaks in lieu of coffee breaks.

• Have active fundraisers rather than bingos. for  instance, staff members might climb the Calgary Tower stairs or take turns riding a stationary bike for 24 hours.

• Make birthday celebrations active times. Instead of a lunch, invite the birthday individuals to select an activity. Choices could include a session with a yoga teacher or an evening ski trip.

• Promote a casual dress day. One study found that employees who dress casually were more physically active.

• Make certain that your building’s stairwells are clean, attractive and safe, and post signs encouraging workers to use the stairs.

• Start a wellness newsletter or intranet.

• Promote the Activity Tracker and encourage employees to track their exercise every week.

• be creative, and make the most of the workspace you have. for  instance, mark off a safe walking path inside or around the building.

You could also set up a training circuit, highlighting features of the worksite like stairs.

• Offer exercise opportunities at different times to accommodate night-, shift-, and part-time staff members.

• For employees in remote or satellite offices, offer equal access to key programs via the intranet. Adapt challenges to suit their environment and take benefit of local facilities and resources.

• Make physical activity available to staff members with special needs. Adapt information and activities for any staff who are visually impaired or physically disabled as well as for individuals  who speak English as a second language.

• Educate workers about physical activity using information from reputable sources like the Alberta Center for Active Living.

• Offer facilities that invite on-site exercise. Possibilities include bicycle racks, an exercise room, change rooms with lockers and showers, and safe and attractive grounds for walking.

• Hold walking meetings.

• Be certain to encourage employees to walk to coworkers’ offices instead of e-mailing or phoning.

• Be sure to set up a stretching room. This low-cost initiative requires only a room, stretching mats, stability balls and medicine balls. Put up posters that show stretches and exercises.

• Give incentives like shoe bags, ball caps, T-shirts or water bottles to reward staff participation.

• Loan out pedometers for three months, so that workers can find out how many steps they generally take and how much activity they need to add to get basic health benefits.

• Make space for employees to plant and maintain a flowerbed or garden at the workplace. Use any resulting produce for meetings and potluck lunches or donate it to charity.

• Plan a workplace wellness fair.

• Hire a qualified fitness specialist to design and manage an onsite exercise facility.

• Supply workers with active wear that shows off the corporation logo.