If employees are stiff and stressed, exercise at work can help

With the new year, many people are enthusiastic about New Year’s resolutions, and often those intentions center on fitness and wellness goals. That may be especially true this year as the pandemic drags on. The stress, isolation, and disruption brought on by COVID takes a toll on employees’ mental and physical health and is getting at least part of the blame for the “Great Resignation” that’s robbing employers of talent. All the pandemic pressures have employers looking for ways to help their overworked and anxiety-ridden employees cope. A focus on fitness can be part of the solution.

Understanding the need

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has published “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans” that recommend at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity. Ideally, the aerobic activity should be spread throughout the week.

The guidelines also advise muscle-strengthening activities of moderate or greater intensity that involve all major muscle groups on two or more days a week. Despite that advice, many people say jobs and other demands keep them from getting the exercise they know they need.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that on average, Americans working full-time spend more than one-third of their day five days a week at work. Therefore, programs sponsored by employers can reduce health risks and improve the quality of life for workers, the CDC says.