The Business Case for Active Living At Work

The Business Case for Active Living At Work (Insert name of organization)

The Business Case for Active Living at Work has been developed jointly by the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Council for Health and Active Living at Work (CCHALW) 2

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. 3

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. 4

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 • Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living Physical Activity Improves Health and Quality of Life 5

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 6

PHAC Suggests 7

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 8

Benefits of Active Living at Work For employees: • improved fitness and health • improved productivity and morale • improved job satisfaction and team spirit • reduced stress and back injuries 9

Benefits of Active Living at Work For organizations: • • • 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 10

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 scheduling Provide the means to make Healthy Lifestyle Choices 11

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 12

Barriers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. MALES lack of time and interest long-term illness lack of energy inadequate access to green space cost safety 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. FEMALES lack of time and interest lack of energy long-term illness, inadequate access to green space cost availability of child care safety CFLRI June 2002 13

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 14

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 15

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 16

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, Winter. Active, Summer. Active, Healthy Workplace Week, Terry Fox Run, etc. • organize lunch-time activities such as volleyball, tai chi, yoga, group walk, etc. 17

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 18

Program Components • employee physical activity opportunities • Supportive health promotion activities The Key is to Make Active Choices, Easy Choices 19

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… 20

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 21

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 22

Active Living at Work Makes Good Business Sense 23