This means there has to be commitment from senior management and workplace health should be incorporated into an organisation's business and management strategy. Any healthy workplace programme should include human resources and management practice, health and safety, occupational health, transport, environment and lifestyle. The main targets of the HEA's current schemes are small and medium sized businesses, NHS organisations and, through its award scheme, companies and organisations seeking recognition and support for the schemes that they have set up. Some people complain that because of their jobs they do not have enough time for exercise. As work takes up a large part of most people's lives, it makes sense to build physical activity into the working day.
Employers are likely to see a reduction in absenteeism, improved morale and increased productivity.
Promoting physical activity among employees forms part of the HEA's Health at Work award. The criteria states that employers must organise a physical activity programme to enable staff to be more active during work time and to encourage a more active lifestyle. This can be done by running in-house exercise classes, displaying posters promoting physical activity, setting up a contract with the local leisure or health club and organising lunchtime walks. You should try not to sit down for periods longer than ten minutes without some sort of break. Circle your shoulders, lifting alternate shoulders to your ear, push shoulders back and forwards.