Exercise and sport

    Let’s get physical… Regular exercise is essential for good health. Yet no fewer than seven out of ten Belgians are not sufficiently physically active. That lack of exercise can lead to fatigue, concentration problems, back pain, and more. And sooner or later, these problems also show up in the workplace. Which means it’s high time to figure out how to make positive changes in a user-friendly way.

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    From desk jockey to construction worker, no one gets enough exercise

    A lack of sufficient physical activity not only negatively affects the mental health of employees (less focus, fatigue, stress), but also increases the risk of musculoskeletal disorders, especially back, neck, and shoulder pain. And it is exactly that type of pain that often results in absenteeism: around 33% of all long-term sick leave is due to musculoskeletal disorders.

    A lack of physical activity is not only a problem for desk-based professions, but adequate exercise is also a challenge in physically intensive sectors like construction. Employees sometimes think their work offers enough opportunity for exercise, but this is often unilateral strain: physically demanding, yes, but not varied. This leads to overexertion, less recovery, and a higher risk of injury and absenteeism.

    So, this means it’s unavoidable. Or is it?

    Did you know…

    Prolonged sitting (eight or more hours a day) increases the risk of various chronic disorders, regardless of whether the person plays sports or exercises outside of working hours?

    Four tips for supporting your employees

    Forcing your employees to exercise is difficult. And not recommended. No one enjoys an obligatory stair challenge. 😉 But there are a number of subtle ways to nudge your employees towards more physical activity. We’ve put together a list of four tips to get you started as a manager or HR specialist.

    1. Knowledge and awareness

    You can’t do what you don’t know, right? Communicate about how often physical activity is recommended and how you can integrate exercise into your workday through, for example, dynamic working, desk exercises, and stretching. By offering insight into what works and why, you create a foundation for behavioural change.

    ℹ️ You should spend at least 150 minutes a week on moderate to intensive physical activity + weight training one to two times a week. Long periods of sitting should be interrupted by standing up briefly every 30 minutes.

    2. Encouragement

    Motivate your employees to be more physically active and limit long periods of sitting. This can be done in several ways: consider sit/stand desks, set up spaces where you can meet standing up or dynamically, and/or provide good bicycle storage facilities and changing rooms or showers to facilitate physical activity.

    3. Create a movement culture

    A long-term approach requires a culture in which physical activity is part of the daily routine. Introduce small-scale rituals: daily short stretching breaks, a daily lunch walk, or active team-building sessions. After all, exercising together fosters a sense of connection and a greater chance of lasting impact. Incorporating physical activity into the DNA of the organisation creates a culture in which everyone feels encouraged to participate. Every organisation and team is different, so the actual activities may vary, but the goal remains the same: integrating physical activity into how you work together.

    4. Incorporate it into policy

    You can also support regular physical activity through the salary and benefits package. Consider a tax-deductible gym membership, bicycle leasing, an exercise hour during working hours (such as yoga or pilates), or a partnership with other companies in the same building to organise joint physical activity sessions. Flexible working hours can help employees exercise when it is most convenient for them.

    Lastly, and physical screenings ensure that employees gain better insight into their health and receive personal coaching if they need support.

    Tried-and-tested in practice: creating a more active organisation together

    Dorien Simons, vitality expert at Mensura: “Encouraging physical activity in the workplace is not a secondary consideration, but an investment in health, productivity, and wellbeing. At a large company with mostly VDU workers, a campaign was launched to encourage more physical activity and less prolonged sitting. Employees were informed through webinars, posters, and flyers, and given the opportunity to take part in exercise sessions and a sporting event.

    The office environment played an active role by highlighting stairs, sit/stand desks, ergonomic equipment, and walking meetings. Ambassadors, managers, and executives set a good example by integrating physical activity into their working day.

    After an evaluation, the campaign was fine-tuned and repeated annually, with a continuous focus on physical activity, resulting in a permanent movement culture within the organisation.”

    Develop with Mensura Learn&Connect

    In this interactive, customised training course, employees gain a better understanding of the general issues surrounding alcohol and drugs. For managers, we offer a more specialised version, which teaches them how to deal appropriately with problematic behaviour linked to alcohol or drugs.