Physical activity at work

• Many employers recognise that they have an obligation to the health and wellbeing of their workforce. Investing in the health of employees can also bring business benefits such as reduced sickness absence, increased loyalty and better staff retention.​

• NICE's recommendations aim to help employers and workplace health professionals prevent the diseases associated with a lack of physical activity. The recommendations alone will not reverse the current obesity epidemic or other health trends associated with a sedentary lifestyle. However, efforts made in the workplace, alongside wider strategies to increase physical activity levels, could help improve people's health significantly.

Developing an organisation-wide policy

Who should take action?

• Employers in organisations of all sizes (in larger organisations this might include their representatives, for example, human resources [HR] directors and senior managers).
• Public health professionals, occupational health professionals, workplace health promoters.
• Trades unions, other employee representatives, employees.

What action should they take?

Develop an organisation-wide plan or policy to encourage and support employees to be more physically active. This should:

• include measures to maximise the opportunity for all employees to participate​

• be based on consultation with staff and should ensure they are involved in planning and design, as well as monitoring activities, on an ongoing basis​

• be supported by management and have dedicated resources​

• set organisational goals and be linked to other relevant internal policies (for example, on alcohol, smoking, occupational health and safety, flexible working or travel)​

• link to relevant national and local policies (for example, on health or transport).

See also walking and cycling between NHS sites in this pathway.​​

Implementing a physical activity programme

Who should take action?

• Employers in organisations of all sizes (in larger organisations this might include their representatives, for example, HR directors and senior managers).​

• Public health professionals, occupational health professionals, workplace health promoters.​

• Trades unions, other employee representatives, employees.

What action should they take?

Introduce and monitor an organisation-wide, multi-component programme to encourage and support employees to be physically active. This could be part of a broader programme to improve health. It could include:

• flexible working policies and incentive schemes​

• policies to encourage employees to walk, cycle or use other modes of transport involving physical activity (to travel to and from work and as part of their working day)​

• the dissemination of information (including written information) on how to be more physically active and on the health benefits of such activity. This could include information on local opportunities to be physically active (both within and outside the workplace)

• tailored to meet specific needs, for example, the needs of shift workers​

• ongoing advice and support to help people plan how they are going to increase their levels of physical activity​

• the offer of a confidential, independent health check administered by a suitably qualified practitioner and focused on physical activity.

Components of the physical activity programme

Who should take action?

• Employers in organisations of all sizes (in larger organisations this might include their representatives, for example, HR directors and senior managers).
• People responsible for buildings and facilities.
• Public health professionals, occupational health professionals, workplace health promoters.
• Trades unions, other employee representatives, employees.

What action should they take?

Encourage employees to walk, cycle or use another mode of transport involving physical activity to travel part or all of the way to and from work (for example, by developing a travel plan).

Help employees to be physically active during the working day by:

• where possible, encouraging them to move around more at work (for example, by walking to external meetings)​

• putting up signs at strategic points and distributing written information to encourage them to use the stairs rather than lifts if they can​

• providing information about walking and cycling routes and encouraging them to take short walks during work breaks​

• encouraging them to set goals on how far they walk and cycle and to monitor the distances they cover.

Take account of the nature of the work and any health and safety issues. For example, many people already walk long distances during the working day, while those involved in shift work may be vulnerable if walking home alone at night.

Tailored advice

Local authorities and transport authorities should provide tailored advice such as personalised travel plans to increase active travel among people who are motivated to change.