Organizational Level: How Does Your Organization Support Physical Activity?

Pager This section focuses on:

how your workplace and work shifts are organized,
how your company commitment to physical activity is shown, and
what company resources go toward promoting physical activity.

Consider the following action steps and questions to help you understand how the organizational environment can affect participation in physical activity.

Champions in the Workplace

Any successful program needs a champion.

Is someone or a group of employees keen to lead?
Are they given the time and budget to plan and organize activities?
Are these champions recognized?

Ideally, champions would include people at the top, to show commitment, plus people in the front line to plan and run the initiatives. Managers who notice and promote effort foster a culture that promotes physical activity.

Managers who understand the connection between employee health and job satisfaction will recognize that encouraging physical activity is also a business strategy. They can show their commitment and sincerity by offering leadership and support and by participating in activities.

Allocate Resources

Volunteers can be part of the effort, but dedicated resources (time and/or money) are needed to sustain the effort.

For instance, does management provide resources such as pedometers and a staff member to organize activities?

The organization demonstrates its will to implement and sustain a physical activity program by committing enough resources to make it happen.

Inclusion and Fairness

Fairness is important. Efforts must be made to include everyone. Consider cultural differences. Make sure employees in various locations or on various shifts or on various shifts or schedules are able to participate.

Do all employees have the same opportunities to be active?
Are accommodations made for employees with special needs, such as people with visual impairments or mobility issues, or people who speak English as a second language?

For suggestions on ways to accommodate shift workers, visit the Success Stories section on this website. For ideas and resources on including all people in physical activity, refer to our Physical Activity for All website.

Ways to Accommodate People With Special Needs:

Ensure communication addresses literacy concerns.
Reduce or eliminate barriers to participation for special-needs populations.
Partner people who are “least likely” participate in physical activity with those who are “most likely” to be active and involved. This provides a supportive environment and promotes employee interaction during physical activities.

Ways Management Can Support Physical Activity Initiatives

Management can help promote physical activity initiatives by:

Writing a memo introducing the initiative to staff and inviting staff to participate.
Participating in a formal launch to give the program a high profile.
Leading a “beat the boss” friendly challenge.
Asking managers to lead various teams.
Showing appreciation of employee leadership (formally through awards days or informally through a simple thank you).
Participating in events at satellite offices to show staff that they are included, not forgotten.
For more information about the benefits of physical activity (both in general and in the workplace), see the Benefits of Physical Activity @ Work section on this website.

Including Satellite Offices

Ways to include satellite offices include:

Ask employees in various locations for suggestions on how to communicate what is happening and how to include them in events.
When launching a new program, ensure all sites receive the same information in the same way. For example, don’t make a personal presentation at the main office while only sending an e-mail to satellite offices.
Face-to-face promotion is best. This kind of promotion allows satellite employees to feel part of the larger workplace and equally important as other employees.
Publish photos of participants from satellite offices in the company newsletter or other communications tools (be sure to get their permission first).
Be creative. Design challenges that highlight geographical or other features of the satellite offices.
When several companies share a building, consider inviting the others to join in.
Ensure the boss knows who’s participating in the program, so he or she can send a special, individual welcome (especially to satellite office participants).
Consider giving a “handicap” to satellite employees if participating from a distance is a disadvantage.
Co-ordinate delivery of materials and promotional products so that all employees receive them at the same time regardless of location.
Recruit champions, key communication contacts or field committees to play a lead role in boosting the initiative in outlying locations.
Identify and use local resources in each community to support the program.
Find out other ways for your organization to promote physical activity at work by visiting the Ideas section on this website.

Find out More

Cultural Competence: The effect of cultural competence on physical activity is featured in an Alberta Centre for Active Living’s WellSpring newsletter.

Physical Activity for All: This website looks at physical activity for all and understanding inclusion.

Shifting to Wellness: This program is Canada's most comprehensive shift-work lifestyle training program.