Businesses across Nottinghamshire can take part in a Shape up Notts! Workplace Challenge – a free, practical and effective campaign designed to help businesses reap the rewards of a healthier workforce and reduce CO2 emissions along the way.
Did you know that over 91 million working days are lost each year through mental health issues? There is now strong evidence that being active regularly can help to keep our bodies fit and our brains sharp. Research undertaken by local cycle training company RideWise, found that fostering an active culture in the workplace can lead to:
- Reduced absenteeism from work
- A more alert workforce (medical experts suggest that such a workforce make fewer errors and have fewer workplace accidents)
- A more timely workforce – with active travel to and from work more reliable
- A more socially responsible business, making a direct contribution to reducing local road congestion and associated pollution through walking and cycling
Clearly there are huge benefits for businesses, both in terms of social responsibility and the bottom line.
You can run your challenge for any period of time that’s right for you – and by doing so you’ll become one of the most active workplace in Nottinghamshire! Join in with a bit of ‘healthy’ competition and record your activity during this period on the web site with the aim of one of your work teams taking spot in the workplace leader board. Your staff will gain points for all the activities they do – and you’ll see the position of your teams in a league table.
Not only is the Challenge a fun and practical way of encouraging your workforce to get more active, the prospect of increased activity is a natural catalyst to getting out and about more, by opting to cycle or walk to work rather than relying on the car. Your carbon emissions will be reduced and you’ll be keeping active too! You’ll also be making a direct and valuable contribution to reducing local road congestion by swapping travelling to work by car for walking and cycling.
Go online for a free online toolkit which contains information, tips and tools to rally your workforce in preparation for the challenge. Why not incentivise your staff and recognise good performance internally – maybe prizes for the top performer or a mention in your staff newsletter or intranet.
An active workplace brings with it lots of business benefits. For a full report on financial business benefits, visit: www.thebigwheel.org.uk/challenge