Workplace Physical Activity Programs: Keys to Success

To make a difference in the lives of your fellow employees, you first need to grasp that getting active is not only a matter of choice. Some things are within our individual control, but others are molded by the individuals and circumstances in which we live and work.

It‘s Easier to Be Active When…

• We know what to do and have the confidence, skills and opportunity to do it.
• It’s fun. “Working out” at the fitness center does not appeal to everyone. Activities need to reflect what individuals enjoy.
• Our friends, family or co-employees are active with us (or at least support us).
• We feel safe, thanks to well-lit streets or stairwells.
• Sidewalks, walking/biking trails, parks and gyms are nearby.
• We have money to pay for equipment, instruction or memberships.
• We can walk, bike or take public transit to work.
• Active choices such as taking the stairs, having stretch breaks at gatherings and heading outside at lunchtime are “normal” in the worksite.
• Managers support and recognize employee efforts. Better yet, they take part.
• We can juggle our work hours to fit in physical activity.

Think about how you could establish some of these conditions in your worksite. By taking these steps, you’ll make it more likely that employees both want and are able to be active during day. Workplace physical activity pushes that focus only on individuals have limited success. Research shows that reaching people in various ways gives the strong chance of long-term success. A strategy directed at multiple echelons is also called an “ecological approach.”