2. What is Physical Activity?
• Physical activity is any body
movement involving large muscle
groups that uses energy
– Leisure
– Exercise
– Sport
– Occupational
– For transportation
– Chores, etc.
4. Health benefits of physical
activity
• Increased longevity
•Lower the risk of many chronic
• Better quality of life
disease
• More energy
• Better blood pressure
• Weight management
• Lower stress
• Improved mood
•Manage depression & anxiety
• Sleep better
•Improved cholesterol & blood
•Diabetes management
lipids
5. Physical Activity Evidence
• In Canada:
– Majority of the pop. is not active
enough to see health benefits
– Economic burden of physical
inactivity has been estimated at $5.3
billion
• Sedentary behaviour ( TV in particular),
has been linked with:
– Low physical activity levels
– Increased body weight,
Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Institute
6. Physical Activity Evidence
• “Lack of time” is one of the
most sited barrier to
physical activity
• Other barriers often sited:
– Poor Weather
– Low energy or no motivation
– No one to be active with
– Other priorities
10. Why at Work?
• 15 million Canadians spend half
waking hours at work
(Public Health Agency of Canada)
• 45% of working Canadians feel that
employer support with physical
activity in the workplace would help
them be more active.
(Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute).
11. Why at Work?
Benefit the Individual Benefit the Company
• Improved: • Reduced:
– Health and Wellbeing – Absenteeism and turnover
– Morale and team spirit – Days off from illness
– Job satisfaction – Workplace injuries
– Worker's compensation costs
• Reduced – Claims against group benefit
plans
– Stress and anxiety
– Injuries
• Improved productivity
Public Health Agency of Canada
12. Occupational Hazards
Work Type Steps (per/day)
Office Worker (sitting) 4000 ‐ 5000
Standing Day (hairdresser) 5500 ‐ 6500
On the Move (nurse/waiter) 8000 ‐ 20000
Sunday (inactive) 2000 ‐ 3000
Sick Day (at home) 500
Sightseeing (vacation) 20000 +
Tudor‐Locke, The Art and Science of Step Counting, 2003.
16. Ecological Lens:
• Individual Level: What do employees know,
believe and do?
• Social Level: What’s the level of social
support in your workplace?
• Organizational Level: How does your workplace support
physical activity?
• Community Level: How does your workplace connect with the
world outside?
• Policy Level: What policies make it easier to be physically
active?
17. Knowledge Uncomfortable
Don’t know where to start
Fitness
Motivation
Fear of injury
Skill
Energy
Individual No enjoyment
Life events Likes
Time dislikes
Health Mobility
Body image
Joint pain or soreness
Negative experiences
19. Ideas:
• Individual
– Physical Activity Closet
– Skill/knowledge building classes
– Provide information through the company
intranet, newsletters, notice boards, “lunch and
learn” sessions or courses.
– Online Activity Trackers (Check out ours ☺ )
http://www.centre4activeliving.ca/workplace/trr/tools/trackerlogin.html
– Offer a physical activity program opportunity
(provide access to qualified experts)
20. Lack of a partner Social connections
Family Obligations
Ageism
Co‐worker support No support
Role Model Spouse
Social Friends
Culturally acceptable
Stigmatism
Belonging
Co‐worker relationships
Community in workplace
Family
Management support
21. Working at Social Level
Finds ways to build a positive social environment that promote physical
activity and social connection.
• Keep communication channels open, and inform everyone about
programs and progress.
• Create excitement and build enthusiasm (ex. launch).
• Ensure fair access to physical activity opportunities (ex. design programs
everyone can do, consider different work sites, ages etc)
• Put a priority on rewarding participation or
improvement in physical activity.
• Share responsibility; both employees &
managers contribute time & effort equally.
• Involve family & friends outside of work
22. Ideas …..
• Start a swim club at a local pool.
• Enter in corporate teams with local recreation
leagues or events (consider involving family)
• Arrange a company [insert possible sport]
tournament that lasts several months.
• Post and promote a sign‐up board for lunchtime
walking groups.
• Participate in workplace challenges (ex. walking,
stair climbing and pedometer challenges).
23. Location
Multi‐site Workplace Shift work
Stairwells accessible
Management Support
Workplace Champion
Paid Time
Hierarchy Organization
Budget
Benefits Tools and
On site Facilities Equipment
Diverse Employees
Available Space
24. Working at the Organization Level
• Management support?
– Participation in activities and some level of planning
– Showing appreciation of employee leadership (formally or
informally).
• Accommodating all employees
– Special needs considerations: satellite work sites, shift
workers, part‐time workers, different departments
– Adapt information and activities (physical disability, English
as a second language).
• Improving the environment you have got
– Unique to each worksite
25. Ideas
• Offer facilities that invite onsite physical activity. Be
creative)
• Invest in equipment (it can be simple)
• Provide incentives to reward staff participation .
• Plan a workplace health fair.
• Hire a certified fitness specialist to design and manage
an onsite fitness facility or program.
• Supply employees with active wear that shows off the
company logo.
• Note: Incentives help to commit employees
26. Ideas
• Include Satellite Offices:
– Recruit champions or key contacts to help make the
initiative happen in outlying locations
– Ensure fair communication
– Be creative. Design challenges that highlight
geographical or other features of the satellite offices.
– Identify and use local resources in
each community has to support the
programs or initiatives.
27. Events
Physical Activity Services
Local Initiatives
Side walks
Parks
Municipality
Community
Public Transit
Leagues and Clubs
Partnerships
Recreation facilities
Trails Other businesses
28. Working at the Community Level
Tapping into the surrounding
community
• What facilities or services are
nearby?
• Has your community initiated active
living programs that will support
your efforts?
• Are there events, challenges your
workplace can participate in?
• Are there volunteer opportunities
(that are active) your workplace can
take part in?
29. Ideas
• Partner with community facilities.
• Get involved in fun runs/walks, team sports, dragon boat racing
and other opportunities for individual or group involvement.
• Post a map showing several walking routes
• Participate in national campaigns such as Healthy Workplace
Week, Commuter Challenge and ParticipACTION events.
• Subsidize employees’ enrolment in a physical activity programs
• Work with city planners to develop walking/bike paths around
your workplace.
• Volunteer initiates can also be active initiatives
30. Active Commuting
Sustainability
Funding Government
Management Support
Leadership
Budget Allocations
Regulations
Policy
Procedures
Subsidies Planning
Benefits
Who is responsible?
Accountable
32. Ideas
• Offer flex time
• Include a physical activity account in your benefit
plan.
• Provide space for physical activity classes
• Protect lunch time and encourage “active breaks”:
– Avoid scheduling meetings over lunch.
– Encourage active breaks instead of coffee breaks.
– Make birthday celebrations active times.
• Recognizing participation and effort
• Recognizing staff or volunteers who organize
activities
35. Where can you start?
Successful workplace physical activity programs involve a combination of
activities and opportunities that cross all ecological levels.
• Awareness Activities
• Educational Opportunities
• Skill‐building Opportunities
• Group/Social Activities
• Supportive Work Environments
36. Physical Activity Readiness
Questionnaire
•If you choose to have physical activity
opportunities in your workplace, the
instructor, leader, or certified professional
may ask your employees to fill out the Physical
Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR‐Q) prior
to their participation. This is a form used prior
to activity to see if you should check with your
doctor before becoming more physically
active.
•There will be a new PAR‐Q+ form launched in
November 2010.
•The PAR‐Q forms can be accessed on
www.csep.ca
38. Everyone’s Job
“Employers and employees both share the
burden of employee poor health/ illness
through lost time at work and decreased
productivity”.
• Partnership approach between employers and
employees
• Explore multiple possibilities in creating work
environments that encourage and enable
physical activity
