The downsides of the recent pandemic are plain to see. Problems with managing distributed teams, lack of employee integration, increased stress levels, non-ergonomic workspaces when working from home… all of this is of course true. At the same time, consecutive lockdowns and permanent crisis management made employers acutely aware of how important it is to ensure that their employees are in good physical and mental health. And rightly so! Physical and mental well-being are huge contributory factors to work performance. What’s more, they work like communicating vessels.
Poor mental health
In 2021, the pharmaceutical company STADA conducted an in-depth survey to evaluate the well-being of European employees. Unfortunately, the findings turned out not to be very optimistic for Polish employers. As many as 70% of the survey’s Polish respondents stated that they had felt symptoms of burnout at least once in the recent past [1]. Based on these findings, Poland fares the worst among the European countries. The report shows that only half of the Poles describe their mental state as ‘good’. In fact, the same picture emerges from the data collected by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS). Mental and behavioural disorders have grown to be one of the leading causes of employee absenteeism, accounting for as many as 25.2 million days of sickness absence in 2021 [2].
Physical activity – a room for improvement
There’s not much to be proud of in the area of physical fitness, either. The MultiSport Index Report (2022) shows that the majority of Poles (close to 60%) fail to comply with WHO’s recommended minimum activity levels [3]. A quick reminder: According to the guidelines of the World Health Organization, adults aged 18–64 years should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity throughout the week. Similar guidance was issued by the Polish Cardiac Society (2016). The recommendations provide that physical activity should be carried out at a frequency of 3 to 5 sessions a week, and preferably every day [4].
Unfortunately, physical inactivity contributes to weight problems. The National Health Fund (NFZ) is sounding the alarm about weight gain: as many as three in five adult Poles are overweight and one in four is obese. The problem has been steadily getting worse over the past few years [5].
Another common condition is back pain, reported by as many as 80% of individuals surveyed by Barbara Grabowska and Aleksandra Kwaśniewska from the Department of Population Health, Wroclaw Medical University [6]. At the same time, half of the respondents highlight that they pay attention to the ergonomics of their work environment. Consequently, one of the reasons may be activity. Or, to be more precise, the lack of it.
Did you know that... Polish employees reported that recently they had lacked the energy and motivation to act, experienced problems with concentration, isolated themselves from the team, and found it difficult to make decisions [7].
What are the causes?
In 2021, the organization Employers of Poland in collaboration with the ArteMis Group conducted an extensive survey among employees and employers. The main focus of the study was mental well-being. It wasn’t difficult to identify the main culprit behind the problems: excessive stress levels. In fact, as many as 80.5% of employers cited stress as the main cause underlying mental health disorders in their workforce. The respondents listed other contributory factors: working to tight time constraints (74%), excessive tasks (66.5%), and too much pressure from superiors (54%) [7]. Importantly, as many as 96% of those surveyed by Employers of Poland notice and feel a dip in work performance due to stress.
Stress and poor mental well-being leave people drained of energy, which causes aversion to physical activity. The outcome is a vicious circle producing disastrous consequences. This is because physical activity is a great way to buffer the health effects of stress and provide protection against the havoc that stress can wreak on the mental health. Why? Because exercise has a direct impact on the central nervous system and the release of beta-endorphins. Daily physical activity enhances the mood, improves self-worth, and builds up the energy reserves [8].
Did you know that... Sport improves concentration and boosts self-esteem [8]. In addition, it has a major impact on the brain and its cognitive functions [9]. Consequently, sport is an ideal way to amp up performance at work: not only in physical but also mental aspects.
Employers to the rescue
Survey findings are clear. Employees expect meaningful support and commitment from their employers. According to the MultiSport Index Report (2022), as many as 25% of professionally active adults believe that employers have a role to play in improving their employees’ engagement in physical activity by offering benefits such as the MultiSport card [3]. To complete the picture, a survey conducted by Employers of Poland shows that the overwhelming majority (90% of respondents) see it necessary for employers to implement programs supporting the mental health of their employees [7].
What’s the opinion of employers on this issue? They share the employees’ view! The same survey revealed that as many as 83% of employer respondents thought it was a good idea for companies to offer consultations with professionals, such as therapists, to the staff. In addition, 86.5% of the surveyed employers believe that companies should offer their staff useful tips on dealing with stress [7].
Some sports that have been proven effective in reducing stress [8] include: running, swimming, CrossFit workout, aerobics, dancing, Zumba, Nordic walking, Pilates, yoga, gym exercises, team games, combat sports, and cycling.
What can employers do to help out?
First of all, focus on physical activity. While it’s important to take a broad view of employees’ mental well-being – and even their eating habits – a simple natural way to destress and build up resistance to stress is exercising. Physical activity is a mood and energy booster. Also, it plays a role in the fight against overweight and obesity, and counteracts back pain caused by sedentary work. Exercise is typically included in company policies promoting employee health, but if the team is to work efficiently, physical activity should be moved to the top of the list.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the best results come from diversity and synergy. Traditional gym training is no longer enough. More and more companies see the need to equip their employees with extensive knowledge (such as guidance from a trainer), so that they get the best out of their gym workout. Also, the range of activities offered should be diversified. For example, employees may be given access to remote yoga classes or a complete app with workouts to do at home. For some people, these solutions will complement the gym sessions. For others, they’ll be a welcome change from routine when the gym loses some of its appeal. Physical exercise should go hand in hand with a healthy diet. This aspect is also worth exploring, for example by offering employees consultations with a dietitian as part of the benefits program.
Consequently, employees will approach physical activity in a healthy and productive way. They won’t get bored with sport, as they’ll be able to choose their preferred option depending on what they like and how much time they have. In fact, the market has already recognized this need: both from the perspective of employers and employees. Platforms such as MultiLife have emerged to provide diverse services ranging from consultations with specialists to online training.
Did you know that... People who do not engage in physical activity to the level recommended by the WHO complain not only of poor physical and mental well-being, but also difficulties with social functioning [6].
How can you encourage your employees to be more active?
- Benefits
A vast majority (80%) of Polish employees surveyed by Employers of Poland declare that non-wage employee benefits have an impact on their motivation and commitment to work [7]. In terms of keeping fit, this is the advantage offered by the MultiSport card – 99% of its users are physically active at least once a month (34 percentage points above the general population) [3]. There’s now a plethora of solutions on the market, so it’s prudent to choose a proven option. A good tip is to mix and match different solutions, so that they complement each other perfectly. For example, the Multisport card can be combined with a set of Multilife services. Both benefits can also be ordered as a package deal!
- Education
Employees need knowledge. They explicitly say that they’d appreciate having access to training sessions, webinars or well-being workshops. In addition, they’d be happy if their superiors had access to such training opportunities as well [7]. However, time may be a problem. In fact, lack of time is the second most commonly cited factor – after stress – contributing to a deterioration in the mental health of the Polish population. Consequently, it’s a good idea to take advantage of online platforms such as MultiLife.
- Expert advice
Over 84% of respondents in the Employers of Poland survey stated that employers should provide their employees with access to specialists [7]. Dietitians, trainers – these professionals can make a real difference both to the quality of physical activity and the motivation to exercise. Providing employees with such services on an online platform brings tangible benefits. An example is the MultiLife platform offering opportunities for professional consultations.
- Training
Yoga to relax or cardio exercise to stimulate the body – whatever the employees need, their needs should be accommodated. Some companies rely on stationary activities, dedicating part of the office space for setting up a gym or a shared sports facility. It’s also worth looking around for options offered by outside providers and organize professional online workouts. One example is the Yes2Move platform included in all MultiLife packages.
The rule of thumb is that the best solutions are comprehensive in scope. However, some employers are wary of an all-embracing package of opportunities, mainly out of concern that they won’t be able to accommodate employees’ needs by themselves. Fortunately, the market has already identified their need and offers services catering to the expectations. With the help of such services, implementing solutions that propel employees into physical activity will be much easier.
Sources:
1. https://www.stada.com/media/7197/health-report-2022_final.pdf.
2. https://www.zus.pl/documents/10182/39590/Absencja+chorobowa_raport_2021.pdf/8ca8025c-f6dc-b02c-a7e4-5aa99d28af9a?t=1652869131280
3. https://biuroprasowe.benefitsystems.pl/186355-badanie-multisport-index-2022-aktywnosc-fizyczna-polakow-po-dwoch-latach-pandemii.
4. Wpływ aktywności fizycznej na zdrowie psychiczne i funkcje poznawcze, Barbara Gieroba, Uniwersytet Medyczny w Lublinie https://www.monz.pl/pdf-112259-42310?filename=Wplyw%20aktywnosci.pdf.
5. https://www.nfz.gov.pl/aktualnosci/aktualnosci-centrali/otylosc-choroba-wagi-ciezkiej,7355.html.
6. https://www.monz.pl/pdf-142359-71040?filename=Dolegliwosci%20bolowe.pdf
7. https://pracodawcyrp.pl/upload/files/2021/05/raport-zdrowie-psychiczne-w-srodowisku-pracy-25-05-2021.pdf.
8. https://ncez.pzh.gov.pl/aktywnosc-fizyczna/systematyczny-ruch-lekiem-na-stres/.