MONTH IN FM
NOVEMBER 2020 45
FMJ.CO.UK
AJ PRODUCTS AND UKACTIVE INVESTIGATE
HOW TO TACKLE SEDENTARY BEHAVIOUR
IN THE WORKFORCE
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed new light
on an already critical aspect of working life:
that of employee health and wellbeing. While
awareness of the dangers of sedentary working
was already increasing, these unprecedented
times underline the importance of companies
taking a more comprehensive approach to
support the physical and mental wellbeing of
their workers.
AJ Products UK and ukactive have teamed up on a
report to examine the impact of working practices on
employee health and wellbeing. 'Tackling sedentary
behaviour in the workforce' is a comprehensive study
into the state of workplace health that looks at the
risks associated with long hours spent in sedentary
positions at work, whether that work is o ice-based
or remote, and what can be done to improve activity
levels among the working population. The report
investigates how our o ice spaces must change as
well as what companies can do to support remote
workers and ensure wellbeing practices are sustained
away from the physical workplace. It also examines
real-world solutions based on case studies from
businesses running successful wellbeing programmes
to provide a ‘best practice’ guide for other companies
to follow.
AJ Products is a supplier of workplace furniture and
interior solutions that focuses on ways to solve the
problem of a sedentary workday. The company is
committed to making workplaces healthier and more
active through an innovative and ever-growing range
of sit-stand furniture and by raising public awareness
of the health risks of prolonged sitting.
ukactive provides services and facilitates
partnerships for a broad range of organisations from
across the public, private and third sectors to improve
the health of the nation by getting more people, more
active, more o en.
Work stress and negative health outcomes
associated with sedentary behaviour have reached
substantial proportions within western industrialised
societies at great cost to businesses as well as
employees. 'Tackling sedentary behaviour in the
workforce' demonstrates how simple measures
such as equipping o ices and homes with better
furniture and encouraging employees to increase
their physical activity levels can mitigate the negative
health e ects associated with sedentary behaviour
during the workday. It looks at how interventions
around workplace design have been shown to
reduce sitting time by as much as 40 minutes over an
8-hour work day while other evidence shows taking
multiple standing breaks or engaging in some physical
movement throughout the day can be more beneficial
than moderate to vigorous activity for a singular set
amount of time.
The report also features case studies from
businesses of all sizes that highlight health and
wellbeing strategies that have worked e ectively as
well as how these programmes have been adapted
in light of COVID-19 to provide the same level of care
to employees working from home. The case studies
highlight the need for each business to consider what
types of interventions would be most e ective based
on employee preferences and demographics. It also
calls attention to the need for companies to promote
flexibility to ensure that employees feel comfortable
prioritising their health.
'Tackling sedentary behaviour in the workforce'
comes at a critical juncture. With the rise of
homeworking and increasingly flexible working
patterns, employers have a unique opportunity to
reshape their values and play a more proactive role
in supporting the physical and mental health of their
employees. This report gives businesses an insight
into the importance of prioritising employee health
and will act as a guide on how best to implement
successful practices to support the wellbeing of our
national workforce.
Download the full report for free at
www.ajproducts.co.uk
www.ajproducts.co.uk
/www.ajproducts.co.uk
/www.ajproducts.co.uk
