Boosting the Health and Well-Being of Employees
Your staff are indeed your most valuable asset, and their health and well-being play a pivotal role in driving productivity, fostering innovation, and shaping a positive organisational culture. The majority of UK employees now engage in sedentary work, spending extensive periods seated daily. This adversely impacts their physical health, mental health, and professional effectiveness.
Research on hybrid working models reveals that individuals working from home tend to lead more sedentary lives, with nearly 47% of remote employees reporting weight gain. Moreover, since the onset of the pandemic, staff absence rates have surged by 34%, and the incidence of sick leave among UK workers has reached a peak not seen in a decade.
While initiatives like Mental Health First Aiders and Health Insurance schemes offer some support, they fail to address the root cause of these issues. Preventing health problems before they arise is key. There exists a straightforward, cost-effective strategy proven to be the most effective means of boosting health and well-being: engaging in regular Activity, Movement, and Exercise.
The Impact on Health
Around 70% of UK jobs are now largely sedentary, requiring employees to sit still for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week.
Movement Matters
In today's digital age, our work increasingly ties us to computer screens for extended hours, encompassing not only our tasks but also our interactions with colleagues through video calls.
The human body, however, thrives on movement. Prolonged sitting weakens our cardiovascular system, causes muscle atrophy, and halts the activation of crucial bodily processes that are stimulated by physical activity, leaving them inactive and unproductive.
Moreover, our mental well-being is profoundly affected by such inactivity. The consequences extend beyond health; being anchored to desks and screens drains our vitality, diminishes our efficiency, and ultimately, reduces our productivity.
WHAT WE DO
Active Teams helps employees everywhere to Move Well, Work Well and Live Well.
Moving Well and Working Well
Organisations boasting active workforces benefit from reduced absenteeism, lower staff turnover rates, and a reputation as desirable employers. Research reveals that active employees not only exhibit higher levels of productivity but also demonstrate greater innovation in their work.
Mentally Stronger
Regular physical activity has a significant impact on our mental health and well-being. Employees who are active benefit from:
- Increased energy levels
- Reduced stress & anxiety
- Improved cognition, memory & mental acuity
- Improved sleep
- Better balanced moods & emotions
- Higher self-confidence
- A sense of empowerment
- Higher motivation and drive
These are the very benefits that set employees up for success in both their personal and professional lives.
Moving Well and Living Well
The NHS and WHO Guidelines recommend that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week, perform strengthening activities on two days, and minimise sedentary time. Consistently meeting the goals can reduce risks from:
- Type 2 diabetes by up to 40%
- Heart disease by up to 35%
- Breast cancer by up to 20%
- Colon cancer by up to 30%
- Dementia by up to 30%
Regularly achieving the magic 150 number reduces our risk of early death by up to a whopping 30%
Our Most Active Teams
Award Winning
Active Teams won the Bristol Life Health and Wellbeing Award 2023, and were finalists in the SPARKies, the EntreConf Awards and the Sports Awards 2023.
