Fit for work

STAYING mentally sharp in the workplace is an ongoing challenge and many will reach for ­artificial stimulants such as coffee and energy drinks to help get the brain cells firing.
However, employees can gain greater clarity by engaging both body and mind. A regular physical fitness routine, even for as little as 15 minutes each day, can create a synergistic payoff for the body and mind.
Exercising can improve productivity at work and help mitigate work-related stress. While we can’t control every aspect of our work environment – demanding bosses, difficult co-workers or unreasonable amount of work – we don’t have to let the stress take a toll on us.
Employers can dangle multiple carrots for morale, productivity and attitude but how can they boost workforce energy? By creating a wellness or fitness centre in the workplace.
This can lower healthcare costs, absenteeism and stress at work while, at the same time, increasing productivity, morale and time utilisation.
It might sound like a costly proposition, but health promotion need not be costly, and the benefits to both employers and workers ultimately outweigh the costs.
Two vital elements to the success of any corporate wellness programmes are support from management and participation from employees.
Employers need to take time to evaluate where and how productivity, cost benefits and workplace morale can improve.
For employees, not all benefits are tangible to their daily needs. Therefore, there has to be incentive for them to be a part of a wellness programme.
What can a company expect from initiating the programme?
Physical fitness has a direct effect on mood and attitude. When employees are working out, they’ll experience the benefits of decreased depression and anxiety while getting a boost of mood-lifting endorphins.
When they feel good about themselves and their lives, their attitude will be reflected in their job performance.
Plus, they’ll also help lift the mood of co-workers and make the office a more positive place, which will increase the entire team’s productivity.
Exercise also increases the energy in folks who work out. That means that instead of hitting that 3pm slump and barely being able to focus the rest of the day, workers will have enough gas in the tank to plow through the day without having to rely on caffeine or sugary snacks.
They’ll have natural energy that keeps them going strong all day long.
One way physical fitness increases productivity at work is by improving employees’ health.
Adequate exercise boosts the immunity while also fighting a number of diseases including diabetes, heart disease, depression and stroke.
If employees are fit and healthy, they will be less likely to require time away from the office for health reasons. They also make fewer errors, work harder and are mentally alert.
When an employer spends the necessary dollars to care for an employee’s health, it speaks volumes to the employee.
The message is that the boss do care about their health and is willing to invest in a programme to improve their quality of life.
This means less medical and insurance cost as well as fewer medical leave.
Allowing for flexi time to fit in exercise is one way to encourage employees to exercise. It gives staff the flexibility to manage their working hours so that it is convenient for them to include this component in their lives.
Promoting wellness in the workplace is something every company, regardless of size and budget, can do.
Let’s be fit!
Jonathan Tan is currently club manager of the Sports Toto Fitness Centre at Berjaya Times Square. He can be contacted at lifestyle.jonathan@thesundaily.com.