How does the company benefit from employees’ physical activity?

1. Less absenteeism

Physical activity translates into overall health, including immunity to seasonal illnesses. If you want to avoid high absenteeism due to sick leaves, it is worthwhile to promote sports among employees.

Research findings are clear: regular physical activity of moderate intensity supports immunity. Regularly performing moderate exercise for 1-2 hours a day reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infections by up to 1/3 [3], and remember that these are the leading cause of sick leaves in 2023.

Did you know that... people who walk at an intensity of 70-75% VO₂max for 40 minutes a day are half as likely as inactive people to miss school or work due to a cold or flu? [3]

Interestingly, physical activity has a positive effect not only on physical health issues, but also on mental health (and this is a growing problem, as statistics on sickness absenteeism show). In a study by Kantar and Minds&Roses for Benefit Systems:

• as many as 95 percent of those surveyed said that physical activity helps relieve work-related stress;
• 41 percent indicated that this is the form of relaxation they choose after work to alleviate tension.

You can read more about the causes of absenteeism in the article “Healthy Employee – What Does Your Company Gain?”.

2. Better atmosphere

Researchers agree that there is a correlation between physical activity and better mental and emotional functioning. Stress and anxiety levels are lowered, and there is an improvement in well-being. [4] The expression “a sound mind in a sound body” is therefore fully relevant. This is confirmed by a study made available in a Benefit Systems report: as many as 96 percent of MultiSport card users admit that regular physical activity can contribute to reducing the level of stress accumulated at work. [1]

All this, of course, translates into atmosphere in the team. Positive-minded, mentally balanced people can better withstand stressful situations. In this way, it is easier to avoid the emergence and escalation of conflicts and the work itself is carried out in a pleasant atmosphere.

3. Team building

Sport also affects team building. As many as 30 percent of people surveyed by Kantar and Minds&Roses on behalf of Benefit Systems cited support for company teams (team sports, relays) as one of the most desirable benefits. Companies should take this as a positive sign – such initiatives help build teams focused through sports challenges on achieving common goals.

You can read more about integrating the teams returning into offices here.

4. Effective work

Numerous studies addressing brain function have revealed the enormous impact of exercise on cognitive processes already at the molecular level [4]. This is confirmed by the employees themselves:

• 93 percent of employees notice that physical activity has a positive effect on their memory and concentration;
•  91 percent say that movement supports creative thinking [1].

This is also confirmed by a survey of MultiSport card users – 94 percent of them admit that physical activity translates into greater energy, motivation and commitment at work. A simple conclusion follows from this – productive teams are those that have the time and opportunities for active rest. It is therefore in the employer’s best interest to promote such lifestyle.

How to promote physical activity among employees?

• Supporting own initiatives

Support for individual sports activities was indicated as one of the most desirable benefits by as many as 45 percent of employees, according to the Benefit Systems report. It is definitely worth doing. And it can be done in a number of ways. The company can give its own “athletes” equipment or company T-shirts, celebrate their successes via the intranet, or provide them with contact with a personal trainer (such option is included in the MultiLife benefit, among others).

• Creating campaigns and programmes

“Company days” are an ideal way to promote certain types of activity. Training courses, webinars, competitions with prizes, but also the sharing of knowledge through posters or internal mailing – all these will work well in promoting a healthy lifestyle. You can also encourage people to measure not only sports parameters (e.g. kilometres run in a given month), but also health, such as by offering diagnostic testing packages (which MultiLife also provides).

• Online courses

The available benefits make it easier to promote physical activity – a range of free courses has been developed for MultiSport cardholders, providing an additional incentive to discover new ways to get in better shape and live healthier. With access to MultiLife, employees no longer receive courses only, but also useful apps (such as Focusly). They can easily expand their knowledge, control a diet conducive to physical activity, or discover how to change their lifestyle to incorporate healthy habits.

• Access to specialists

Fortunately, this does not mean that the company has to create a vacancy for a personal trainer or dietitian. Such solution, even if ultimately very effective, would simply not be cost-effective. However, the need was recognised by the authors of the MultiLife benefit, which also provides access to consultations with a dietitian (in a convenient online form). You can also make an appointment with a psychologist – because sometimes the reluctance to get active can be part of a broader problem. Such more complex causes undoubtedly include obesity. With MultiLife, you can benefit from unlimited telemedicine consultations with both internists and obesity treatment specialists.

There are many more ways to promote sports activity in the company – but it is worth choosing them by listening to the voice of the employees themselves. As research shows, they themselves are keen to point out the need for movement and ways to improve their shape. It is worthwhile to address it for the good of the whole company.

 

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References:

1. Raport Benefit Systems „Zmęczeni, obojętni, niezaangażowani. Postpandemiczne potrzeby pracowników” 2022.
2. https://arc.com.pl/polacy-mniej-aktywni-fizycznie/.
3. https://ncez.pzh.gov.pl/aktywnosc-fizyczna/aktywnosc-fizyczna-a-odpornosc-organizmu/.
4. https://www.monz.pl/pdf-112259-42310?filename=Effect%20of%20physical.pdf.