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Make These 5 Changes for a More Active, Healthy Workplace

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Your employees want to be healthier, but between their busy workdays and full personal lives, it’s difficult to find time for exercise. This isn’t just bad for their health — it’s bad for business. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that a lack of physical activity costs employers almost $2,500 per employee, per year in direct medical costs and absenteeism.

To protect both people and productivity, forward-thinking business leaders are looking for ways to create a healthier work environment. Offering robust corporate wellness programs is a great start. The next step: Giving your employees reasons to get on their feet, whether they’re on or off the clock.

Below are five ways to foster a more active, healthier work environment.

Provide Time for Exercise

Make it easier for your employees to fit exercise into their day by offering flex time — so they can choose to start earlier or later than the typical workday in order to make time to hit the gym. Several recent studies show that employees who use work time for exercise or other health-promoting measures can maintain or exceed their previous productivity levels.

On average, employees who spend 2.5 hours per week being physically active during work hours are more satisfied with both the quantity and quality of their work, report enhanced job performance and take fewer sick days than employees who don’t engage in physical activity. They’re also less likely to experience job burnout and depression.

Have Walking Meetings

Encourage your teams and leaders to bypass the conference room and have meetings on the go whenever possible. Not only is this a great way to fit activity into the workday, but walking meetings also have been shown to boost creativity, focus, energy and communication.

Learn more about workplace wellness.*

Evaluate Your Office Space

Consider whether your work environment is conducive to physical activity. If you have a restrictive dress code, are there changing rooms, lockers and/or showers where employees can dress for workouts? Do you have conveniently located bike racks to encourage bicycle commuting?

If you don’t already have an on-site gym, is it possible to add a dedicated fitness area or to partner with a nearby gym? Are your stairwells safe and inviting so employees are more likely to choose them over elevators?

Incentivize Participation

Encourage your team to get healthy while giving back to the local community by offering incentives if they participate in charity marathons or walking events. Philanthropists and outdoor enthusiasts might also enjoy volunteering with Habitat for Humanity or one of the many nature-preservation organizations in Tennessee. Better yet, organize groups to volunteer together and get the added benefit of team bonding.

Create a Wellness Committee

The best way to discover which activities your employees are most likely to engage in is to let them head up the efforts. Offer opportunities for volunteers to form a wellness committee and brainstorm creative ways to make your office a healthy work environment.

For employers: Wellness programs are regulated by federal and state law. Consult your legal counsel before implementing any program component.

Taylor Mallory Holland

Taylor Mallory Holland is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in healthcare, technology, and business leadership. She regularly contributes content to some of the world’s top brands, including BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and Samsung USA. As founder of Taylored Editorial, LLC, Holland also edits books, blogs, and Web content for dozens of bestselling authors. Find her on Twitter @TaylorMHoll.

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Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.

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Taylor Mallory Holland is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in healthcare, technology, and business leadership. She regularly contributes content to some of the world’s top brands, including BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, and Samsung USA. As founder of Taylored Editorial, LLC, Holland also edits books, blogs, and Web content for dozens of bestselling authors. Find her on Twitter @TaylorMHoll.

WellTuned provides inspiration and practical advice for healthy living.
WellTuned does not offer medical advice. Any personal health questions should be addressed to your doctor.

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