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