.svg){kind=icon}
In this article, you will learn:
- What is the current physical condition of office workers in Poland?
- How does employee activity translate into company performance?
- How can a company support the physical activity of its employees?
As many as 63% of employees consider the aforementioned sports card to be one of the most desirable benefits, according to a 2022 Benefit Systems report based on research by Kantar and Minds&Roses [1]. However, employee activity has a much broader dimension, and its impact on a company goes far beyond team satisfaction with received benefits.
Before we answer the question of how sports can influence a company, let's look at our current situation.
Physical activity in Poland 2022/2023
As the aforementioned report shows, the pandemic years had a decidedly negative impact on our physical condition. Surveyed employees reported issues with decreased physical fitness (28%), back pain (24%), and weight gain (23%). It is no surprise that we have neglected our physical fitness over the last few years. And although we are no longer confined to our homes, it still has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Research The Sponsoring Monitor 2022, conducted by ARC Rynek i Opinia in January 2023, showed that in 2022, the percentage of physically active people was 10 percentage points lower than in 2019! Previously, the percentage of active people had been growing systematically – over the decade (2009-2019), it increased from 24% to 74%! [2]
Did you know that even "active" Poles are still people who exercise far too little? The latest MultiSport Index 2023 report shows that as many as 64% of respondents who claim that occasional walks are their only form of activity are convinced that this is a "perfectly sufficient" dose of exercise.
Unfortunately, the consequences of insufficient activity, such as physical pain, are still with us. It is no wonder that as many as 47% of employees expect their employers to increase their involvement in supporting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. Listening to these expectations is extremely important in this case. After all, the good shape of employees translates into the good shape of the entire company.
How does a company benefit from employee physical activity?
- Lower absenteeism
Physical activity translates into overall health, including resistance to seasonal illnesses. If you want to avoid high absenteeism due to sick leave, it is worth promoting sports among your employees.
Research is clear: regular, moderate-intensity physical activity helps build immunity. Regular exercise of moderate intensity for 1-2 hours a day reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infections by up to one-third [3], and it is worth remembering that these were the leading cause of sick leave in 2023.
Did you know that people who walk at an intensity of 70-75% VO2max for 40 minutes a day are half as likely to miss school or work due to a cold or the flu compared to inactive individuals? [3]
Interestingly, physical activity has a positive impact not only on physical health but also on mental well-being (which, as absenteeism statistics show, is a growing problem). In a study conducted by Kantar and Minds&Roses for Benefit Systems:
- as many as 95% of respondents stated that physical activity helps them relieve work-related stress;
- 41% indicate that this is the form of relaxation they choose after work to release tension.
You can read more about the causes of absenteeism in the article "A healthy employee – what does your company gain?".
- Better atmosphere
Researchers agree that there is a correlation between physical activity and better mental functioning in terms of emotional well-being. Stress and anxiety levels decrease, and overall mood improves. [4] The saying "a healthy mind in a healthy body" is therefore fully justified. This is confirmed by research shared in the Benefit Systems report: as many as 96% of MultiSport card users admit that regular physical activity can help reduce stress levels caused by work. [1]
All of this naturally translates into the team atmosphere. Positive, mentally well-balanced individuals handle stressful situations better. This makes it easier to avoid the emergence and escalation of conflicts, and the work itself proceeds in a pleasant atmosphere.
- Team building
Sport also influences team building. As many as 30% of people surveyed by Kantar and Minds&Roses on behalf of Benefit Systems indicated supporting company teams (team sports, relays) as one of the most desired benefits. Companies should treat this as a good sign – such initiatives serve to integrate teams, who are focused on achieving common goals through sports challenges.
You can read more about integrating teams returning to the office here.
- Effective work
Numerous studies on brain function have revealed the enormous impact of physical exercise on cognitive processes, even at the molecular level [4]. Employees themselves confirm this:
- 93% of employees notice that activity has a positive impact on their memory and concentration;
- 91% claim that movement fosters creative thinking [1].
This is also confirmed by research conducted among MultiSport card users – 94% of them admit that physical activity translates into greater energy, motivation, and engagement at work. The conclusion is simple: productive teams are those that have the time and opportunity to actively recharge. It is therefore in the employer's best interest to promote this lifestyle.
How can you promote physical activity among employees?
- Supporting employee-led initiatives
Support for individual sports activities was identified as one of the most desired benefits by 45% of employees, according to a report by Benefit Systems. It is definitely worth doing, and there are many ways to go about it. Companies can provide their own "athletes" with equipment or branded shirts, celebrate their successes via the intranet, or provide access to a personal trainer (an option included in the MultiLife benefit, among others).
- Creating campaigns and programs
Company "days" are an ideal way to promote specific types of activities—training sessions, webinars, and prize competitions, as well as sharing knowledge through posters or internal emails—all of these are effective ways to promote a healthy lifestyle. You can also encourage tracking not just sports metrics (e.g., kilometers run in a given month), but also health metrics, for example by providing diagnostic test packages (which is also provided by MultiLife).
- Online courses
Available benefits make it easier to promote physical activity – a wide range of free courses has been developed for MultiSport cardholders, providing an extra incentive to discover new ways to improve fitness and lead a healthier life. With MultiLife access, employees receive not only courses but also useful apps (such as Foculsy). They can easily expand their knowledge, manage their diet to support an active lifestyle, or discover how to change their daily routine to incorporate healthy habits.
- Access to specialists
Fortunately, this point does not mean that a company needs to create a vacancy for a personal trainer or nutritionist. Such a solution, even if ultimately very effective, would simply be cost-prohibitive. However, the creators of the MultiLife benefit recognized this need, as it also provides access to consultations with a nutritionist (in a convenient online format). You can also schedule a session with a psychologist – sometimes a reluctance to be active can be part of a broader issue. Obesity is undoubtedly one of these more complex causes, and thanks to MultiLife, you can take advantage of unlimited teleconsultations with both general practitioners and obesity treatment specialists.
There are many more ways to foster physical activity in the workplace, but it is worth choosing them by listening to the employees themselves. Research shows that they are eager to highlight the need for movement and ways to improve their fitness. It is worth meeting their needs for the good of the entire company.
………….
Bibliography:
- Benefit Systems report "Tired, indifferent, disengaged. Post-pandemic employee needs" 2022.
- https://arc.com.pl/polacy-mniej-aktywni-fizycznie/.
- https://ncez.pzh.gov.pl/aktywnosc-fizyczna/aktywnosc-fizyczna-a-odpornosc-organizmu/.
- https://www.monz.pl/pdf-112259-42310?filename=Effect%20of%20physical.pdf.
