Physical Activity Worksite


A worksite wellness program is an organized program for employees designed to enrich physical, mental, emotional and occupational well-being. A major goal of a worksite wellness program is to make the work environment more supportive of health behaviors. Worksite wellness programs can be organized through a team or committee of employees that meets to plan activities and environmental changes that promote good health.

There are many varieties of worksite wellness programs. Essentially, worksite wellness programs encourage people to take measures to prevent the onset or worsening of a disease or illness and to adopt lifestyles that are healthier. Employers may implement a wide range of worksite wellness programs, from onsite gyms to simple worksite wellness newsletters.

Worksite wellness programs are an investment in the company’s most important resource, the workers. Studies have shown that workers are more likely to be on the job and performing well when feeling well both physically and mentally. Employees are much more likely to be attracted to, remain with, and appreciate a business that appreciates them.

What can you do?


Practice Wellness: Take care of yourself and be a role model for your coworkers. Bring a nutritious lunch to work, park in the farthest space away from your building, drink water instead of soda and take stretch breaks often.
Participate: Ask your human resources office if wellness activities are available to you. If so, use the programs. Attend health fairs, answer surveys about your wellness interests and join onsite classes.
Do More: Join a committee, help design lifestyle programs, and assist with health-friendly work environment and organization wide wellness policies. Be an ambassador for wellness among your coworkers.
Start a Committee: If your office does not have a wellness initiative, ask your manager to support your efforts to create one.

Fitness at Work

Employees’ health, productivity and quality of life can be improved if they are given opportunities for physical activity during the day or offered an incentive for being healthy. Research indicates that exercise at work works! Employers can provide opportunity and encouragement for employees to get moving during the work day.
There are many worksite wellness programs available and it is easy to customize a program to the needs of your company.

Research indicates that exercise at work works! Employers can provide opportunity and encouragement for employees to get moving during the work day.
Worksite Physical Activity
Hold a Walking Meeting
Encourage employees to hold a "Walking Meeting" when possible. Some meetings don't require pen and paper just a melding of minds, for these instances, encourage employees to get out of the building and stretch their legs, as well as their minds, as they walk paths or sidewalks around the facility together.
Finding Inspiration on the Treadmill
When your job asks you to brainstorm on regular basis, even a marketing wunderkind will hit the creative wall once in a while. To keep those mental blocks to a minimum, Dr. Amantha Imber recommends aerobic exercise.
• Going to the gym or at least for a brisk walk ahead of your brainstorming sessions.
• Scheduling lunchtime walking groups to encourage creativity during the afternoon.
• Considering mini-workouts when you're in the middle of extended creative sessions.
Worksite Physical Activity
Take the Stairs Signs
Encourage employees to take the stairs by posting fun signs near elevators or at stairwell entrances. If your stairwells are a little run down use a stairwell makeover guide for ideas on how to improve them to help increase your employee’s physical activity during the workday.
Source: Signs provided by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Sources and for further information:

Amantha, Imber Fit City Challege. Retrieved September 1, 2008, from Worksite Physical Activity Web site: www.fitcitychallenge.org/Worksite


Fit City Challenge, (2008). Fit City Challege. Retrieved September 2, 2008, from Fitness at Work Web site: www.fitcitychallenge.org/Worksite


NC HealthSmart Worksite Wellness, What is Worksite Health?. Retrieved September 5, 2008, from NC HealthSmart Worksite Wellness Web site: www.shpnc.org