Worksite Exercise Programs – Forming an Worker Committee
Although support from the top is crucial to a successful program, support from other personnel is also important.
When you get the go-ahead from management, identify others who are interested in the project and form a committee to help determine the next steps.
Depending on the size of your workplace and the amount of staff time management is willing to contribute, this committee could be advisory or may plan and carry out the health promotion program.
The committee could include workers from HR, occupational safety and health and finance. It’s also a good idea to involve staff from other areas who’ve an interest in promoting physical activity.
Terms of reference will define the boundaries of the project. for instance, it’s important for the committee to have clearly defined and understood tasks. Possible tasks include the following –
• Analyzing your workplace environment
• Carrying out an employee interest survey.
• Developing a mission statement and goals and goals.
• Writing a exercise or wellness policy declaring the organization’s commitment to exercise.
• Brainstorming wellness program ideas.
• Promoting, communicating and advertising the program.
• Coordinating specific activities.
• Deciding how the health promotion program are going to be assessed.
• Continually reviewing what’s or isn’t working and adjusting the plan.
Before making plans to encourage physical activity during the workday, it’s crucial that you figure out what is “doable” in your workplace.
You don’t want to elevate employee expectations by offering something that is impossible due to funding or space limits.
For example, it’s not realistic to suggest putting in a exercise facility if there’s no room for it. be open, however, to creative ways around limitations.
Worksite Exercise Programs – Locating out What’s Possible in Your Worksite
Check with recreation departments or fitness facilities for maps of the local walking trails or underground pedways. Excellent walking trails may be right around the block from your worksite.
Listed here are some questions to help you assess your worksite –
• What facilities or opportunities does your work space offer that make it easier to be physically active during the workday? for example, do you’ve stairs, bicycle racks, showers, space for a fitness facility, factory walking lanes?
• What nearby facilities or opportunities could personnel use to be more physically active during the workday? Are you close to sidewalks, walking trails, community centers, bicycle lanes for active commuting and/or exercise facilities?
• What resources are available?
• can the program access funds, personnel, space, equipment, facilities?
• What’s the structure of your business? for instance, consider staff size, working hours, number of sites, unusual shifts, length of lunch breaks and ability to use flex time.
