A healthy workplace benefits all

Public Health England are backing workplace running clubs, lunchtime gym sessions, Yoga classes, standing desks to improve posture and holding walking meetings around the office.  In a recent interview with The Observer,  Duncan Selbie, chief executive of Public Health England said he believes that more should be done to help tackle the £29bn annual bill for sickness absence.

Selbie wants action to encourage more staff to cycle to work.  HR magazine recently found that 33% of employers believe that cyclists are more productive at work than non-cycling colleagues.  Research by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence found that physically active staff take up to 27% fewer sick days. 

"Everyone benefits from a healthier workforce: employees, who will benefit better health and be less likely to be off sick; employers, who will reap the benefits of increased productivity and the NHS, which will have less poor health to deal with," said Selbie. 

NOTE:  Public Health England is an executive agency of the Department of Health.  Public Health England have one single aim:  to motivate and support millions more people to make and sustain changes that will improve their health.