Connect Reading Forum

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Connect Reading Forum
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Occupational Physical Activity

• Due to advances in technology and increases in
  automation, occupational activity has declined
  (Chan, Spangler, Valcour et al., 2003)
• Some employees still obtain the recommended
  levels of physical activity through their jobs
  depending on their responsibilities
• There is a growing amount of occupations in
  western societies where employees perform
  sedentary tasks throughout the working day
  (Proper Hildebrandt, 2006)

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Researched Benefits

• Low rate of employee turnover
• A reduction in absenteeism
• Enhanced productivity
• Improvement in employees sense of well being and
  perception of own productivity
• Increase in various markers of fitness
• Reduction in cardiac risk factors and decreased
  likelihood of future health problems
• The prevention and management of diseases and
  disorders (other than CHD)
• Psychological health / reduction in work related
  stress
• Corporate image and staff morale

(Shephard, 1999), (Griffiths, 1996), (Department
of Health, 2005)
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HWPC Initiative - The Aim

• To offer local employers free support in
  improving internal systems from a policy level
  down to hands on activities and training for
  staff, in order to achieve a more active and
  healthy ethos within the company.
• Employers Gold Yell, Oracle Corporation, Reading
  Borough Council, Jelf Group, BACYP, Turning Point
• Employers Silver PWC, Berkshire West PCT

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Bronze Level

• HWPC CORPORTATE FAMILY FUN DAY Sun 14th
  September 11-3.
• Old school sports day competition for
  organisations to enter teams of 5 employees.
  Competitive nature plus charity fundraising
  through RACT
• Stalls with partnership organisations giving
  information on how to make healthy choices
• E.g. PCT, RSL, Rivers Ibis, Alternative
  therapies, healthy backs
• Come and try activities for adults and their
  families
• E.g. FUNdamentals (parent-toddler activity),
  football coaching, team frisbee, pilates, adapted
  cycling, orienteering, rounders, tai chi, health
  checks and more

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Silver Level

• BRONZE LEVEL PLUS..
• Consultation with employers to tailor needs
• Physical activity, nutrition, smoking cessation,
  mental health and more
• Promotion of 12monthly themes across workforce
  information and activities for employees related
  to monthly themes.
• E.g1 March relaxation and mental
  health/decrease your caffeine
• E.g2 December dance month/eat out healthily

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Gold Level

• BRONZE SILVER LEVEL PLUS..
• Teams of 10 entered directly into the Healthy
  Workplace Challenge to compete against other
  teams and other employers
• Health assessment
• Monthly physical activity challenge
• Monthly nutritional challenge
• Monthly workshop/taster session

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Employer commitment

• Sign up to the Sport Reading Partnership
• Commitment to the health and well-being of your
  employees from both a top down and a bottom
  up level
• Commitment of TIME. Amount depends on HWPC level.
• Designation of a member of staff as the company
  Healthy Workplace Champion.
• Some flexibility for staff to be able to attend
  monthly workshops and to take that extra half an
  hour at lunch

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First Look at Results

• Percentage Increase for challenges from week 1 to
  week 4 over all participants
• January steps 37
• January lunchtime walks 174
• January low calorie choices 45
• February team sports 450
• March relaxation activities 60

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Yell

• Leading international directories business
  operating in the classified advertising market
  through printed, on-line and phone-based media in
  the UK, US, Spain and Latin America.
• UK approx. 4,000 people
• Reading HQ approx. 1,000 people across two
  offices

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Yell

• Workplace is part of Yells CR programme
• The Healthy Workplace Challenge helps Yell to
• Recruit and retain the best people
• Provide a healthy working environment
• Support our Community objectives
• Involving our people
• Playing a part in our local communities

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Yell

• Why join the Healthy Workplace Challenge?
• Develop a strong healthy workplace plan with
  local knowledge and expertise
• Increase productivity, morale and well-being in
  our employees
• Corporate reputation

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Yell

• Thirty applicants
• Two teams of ten plus two sets of reserves
• Yell for Health
• The Yell Factor
• Both in top 6 so far

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Yell

• Feedback so far
• What made you apply to take part?
• Wanted to be healthier and meet new people
• Good opportunity to start making some healthy
  lifestyle changes
• Want to help create a better working environment
• I was overweight and looking for an incentive to
  lose weight
• Wanted to show my support for a health at work
  initiative

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Yell

• What benefits have you felt so far?
• Networking opportunities
• Being involved in a team
• Increased physical activity levels from before
• I have lost approx. 10lbs and feel much fitter
• Have made new friends
• Improved energy and mood

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Yell

• What has been your highlight so far?
• Playing rounders with my team on a sunny day at
  Kings Meadow
• The ice-skating despite one bumpy landing
• Going to a salsa class
• Playing badminton with some of my team
  hilarious!
• Losing weight!!!!

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Yell

• Future challenges
• Maintaining the momentum
• Measuring the benefits
• Using the scheme as a basis for UK-wide healthy
  workplace plan
• Communicating the importance of workplace health
  to our people