The Business Case for Active Living At
Work(Insert name of organization)
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The Business Case for Active Living at Work
has been developed jointly by thePublic Health Agency of Canada and
Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work (CCHALW)
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Physical Inactivity: A Serious Health
Issue
• 56 % of Canadians not active enough to achieve optimal health benefits leaving them at risk for premature death, chronic disease and disability.
• Physical activity levels increased between 1981 and 1995, but stalled between 1995 and 1997.
• Canadian Community Health Survey 2003
• 2003 - Federal, provincial and territorial governments responsible for physical activity, recreation and sport recognize physical inactivity as a serious health issue and set a new national target to increase the physical activity levels of Canadians in each province/territory by 10 percentage points by 2010.
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Guide Leads the Way
Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living
Produced in 1998, it is the first-ever set of national guidelines designed to help Canadians improve their health through regular physical activity.
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Health Risks of Physical Inactivity
• long-term activity limitations
• chronic health conditions
• high blood pressure• adult-onset diabetes• osteoporosis • obesity
• stroke• depression• colon cancer• premature death• heart disease
Physical Activity Improves Health and Quality of Life
• Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy
Active Living
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PHAC Guide Recommends
• 30-60 minutes of physical activity most days
• accumulate activities 10 minutes at a time
• a mix of activities that include endurance, flexibility, strength
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PHAC Suggests
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Why Active Living at Work?
• absenteeism costs are in excess of 15 billion dollars a year
Buffett Taylor Report 2003
• 16 million adult Canadians spend half waking hours at work
• Canadians need help in making active, easy choices • stress related illness is on the increase
– 65% of adults hold strong beliefs that physical activity will reduce stress CFLRI 2002
• the environments in which people live, learn, work and play have a significant impact on health Martin Shain, 2000
• enabling physical activity can make a difference
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Benefits of Active Living at
Work
• improved fitness and health
• improved productivity and morale
• improved job satisfaction and team spirit
• reduced stress and back injuries
For employees:
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Benefits of Active Living at
Work
• reduced absenteeism and turnover• reduced stress and back injuries• reduced workplace injuries • reduced worker’s compensation costs• reduced claims against group benefit plans• improved productivity
For organizations:
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Supportive Environments
• encourage active transportation
• promote stair use• end trips facilities
(showers, bike racks, etc.)
• add fitness facilities on site
• adopt the use of stretch breaks during meetings
• provide healthy alternatives in the cafeteria
• introduce flexibility into policies and schedulingProvide the means to make Healthy Lifestyle
Choices
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Why Now?
• Canadian Mental Health Association estimates that 1 in 5 workers will experience a stress related illness during any given year and depression is rapidly becoming a major health issue
• Quality of life is high on Canadians’ agenda• Population is aging -- benefit costs are on
the rise• Business is concerned about costs / global
competition• 70.4% do not offer comprehensive wellness
program in the workplace • Buffett & Co. Report 2006
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Barriers
MALES1. lack of time and
interest 2. long-term illness3. lack of energy 4. inadequate access to
green space5. cost6. safety
FEMALES1. lack of time and
interest 2. lack of energy 3. long-term illness, 4. inadequate access to
green space 5. cost6. availability of child care 7. safety
CFLRI June 2002
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Barriers for Organizations
• inadequate space and facilities
• lack of funds • shortage of time • lack of employee interest • lack of staff • lack of management support • lack of awareness of services
CFLRI 2004
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How Physical Activity Can Play a Role in Addressing
Management Priorities
• increasing profitability *• attracting and retaining high-caliber employees* • expanding number of markets in which they do
business• growth through mergers and acquisitions• increasing productivity* • launching new products and services• obtaining new capital or financing
*directly related to physical activity
• Angus Reid Group, 1999
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Evidence Suggests a Return on Investment
for Business
• As early as the 1970’s a study at Canada Life found a return of $1.95 - $3.75 per employee per dollar spent on corporate wellness programs Shephard et al, 1982
• municipal employees in Toronto missed 3.5 fewer days in the first six months of the “Metro Fit” program Municipality Toronto 1995
• BC Hydro employees enrolled in the fitness program had a turnover rate of 3.5% compared to company average of 10.3%
The Economic Benefits of Regular Exercise, IHRSA 1996• In a separate study Canada Life found that
turnover rate for fitness program participants was 32.4% lower than average over 7 years Leatt et al, 1988
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Low Cost Solutions
• initiate department stretch breaks
• make stair climbing accessible and post highly visible signs
• incorporate walking meetings into schedules
• mark distances on walking trails near the workplace
• introduce flex time• encourage and support
employees to actively commute to and from their workplace
• promote information about physical activity in newsletters, on bulletin boards or through targeted company e-mails
• participate in national events such as Commuter Challenge, WinterActive, SummerActive, Healthy Workplace Week, Terry Fox Run, etc.
• organize lunch-time activities such as volleyball, tai chi, yoga, group walk, etc.
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Principles of Successful
Program Design
• management commitment
• clear goals and objectives
• employee participation in the planning process
• integration across the organization
• supportive environment
• regular evaluation and reporting
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Program Components
• employee physical activity opportunities
• Supportive health promotion activities
The Key is to Make Active Choices, Easy Choices
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Considerations in Successful
Program Design
• determine the interests and current physical activity of employees
• consider the available budget• identify the availability and operating
costs of facilities/equipment on site or near the work site
• investigate opportunities for partnering with available community resources
• Continued…
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Considerations Continued
• consider the feasibility of contract consultants versus in-house fitness/nutrition professionals
• invest in showers, change rooms, workout rooms and bike racks
• look at ways of including family members of employees
• identify relevant safety issues
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Ready to Take Action
• For more information on setting up your workplace program please check out the following sites:
• www.activelivingatwork.com• www.cchalw-ccsvat.com
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Active Living at Work Makes Good Business Sense