Health Wellness Newsletters

Workplace Exercise Programs -  Forming an Worker Committee

While support from the top is crucial to a successful program, support from other staff is also important.

When you get the go-ahead from management, identify others who are interested in the project and form a committee to help determine the next steps.

Depending on the size of your workplace and the amount of staff time management is willing to contribute, this committee could  be advisory or may plan and carry out the health promotion program.

The committee could include staff members from HR, occupational safety and health and finance. It’s also a good idea to involve staff from other areas who’ve an interest in promoting physical activity.

Terms of reference will define the boundaries of the project. for  instance, it is important for the committee to have clearly defined and understood tasks. Possible tasks include the following -

o  Reviewing your workplace environment

o  Carrying out an worker interest survey.

o  Developing a mission statement and objectives and objectives.

o  Writing a physical activity or wellness policy declaring the company’s commitment to physical activity.

o  Brainstorming health promotion program ideas.

o  Promoting, communicating and marketing the program.

o  Coordinating specific activities.

o  Determining how the wellness program are going to be analyzed.

o  Continually assessing what is or is not working and adjusting the plan.

Prior to making plans to encourage exercise during the workday, it’s imperative that you find out what’s “doable” in your workplace.

You do not want to increase employee expectations by offering something that’s impossible due to funding or space limits.

For example, it’s not realistic to suggest putting in a workout facility if there’s no room for it. be open, notwithstanding, to creative ways around limitations.

Workplace Exercise Programs - Finding out What’s Possible in Your Workplace

Consult recreation departments or fitness facilities for maps of the local walking trails or underground pedways. Great walking trails could  be right around the block from your worksite.

Listed here are some questions to help you assess your workplace -

o  What facilities or opportunities does your work space offer that make it easier to be physically active during the workday? for example, do you have stairs, bicycle racks, showers, space for a fitness facility, factory walking lanes?

o  What nearby facilities or opportunities could staff use to be more physically active during the workday? Are you close to sidewalks, walking trails, community centers, bicycle lanes for active commuting and/or exercise facilities?

o  What resources are available?

o  can the program access funds, personnel, space, equipment, facilities?

o  What’s the structure of your organization? for  instance, consider staff size, working hours, number of sites, unusual shifts, length of lunch breaks and ability to use flex time.