According to recent reports, the most common form of commuting to work was by car which stood at an unsurprising 57%. The Travel to Work census also found that just 10% of people walked to work in 2011 and even less cycled to work at 2.9%. Nationwide HR experts The HR Dept are stepping out in support of National Walk to Work Week organised by Living Streets which picks up the pace on 13-17th May 2013, recognising that healthy employees are more often the most productive ones.
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets said: “Walking for just half an hour each day can transform your fitness levels, reduce stress and vastly improve your concentration levels for the day ahead. Physically active employees are also less likely to suffer from major health problems, less likely to take sickness leave and less likely to have an accident at work”
The HR Dept continued: “We are seeing a rise in stress related absence and something’s ‘gotta give’. We’re helping more and more small businesses go through a restructure or redundancy and it is often the survivors left behind who have to pick up the pieces and take on more work, leading to a stressed workforce. Encouraging employees to take time away from their desk to stretch their legs will help employees clear their head, get some fresh air and improve circulation which is naturally good if your job requires a lot of sitting down!”
Encouraging members of staff to get off the bus a few stops early or to have a walk around the block at lunchtime are some of the many easy ideas to work more exercise into their daily routine. Staff will be more refreshed, more motivated and as a result, more productive so it is in a business owner’s best interests to look after staff. Those taking part in Walk to Work Week can take advantage of using Living Streets’ walking calculator which can be accessed here.
The HR Dept specialises in advising small and medium sized businesses on all employment issues.
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Editors notes:
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