The UK’s culture of not taking a lunch break is damaging the nation’s health according to research released last week by the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health (BHFNC).

The research highlighted that employees cited ‘lack of flexible working practices’ as the biggest barrier to exercise and commonly said that ‘a working day and commute left them feeling tired and little time to exercise in the evening’.

We at Exercise in the City are passionate about getting workplaces active, and so we were delighted to read and support the Workplace Challenge flexible lunch break manifesto.

Informed by the BHFNC research, the manifesto champions the lunch break as a key opportunity for employees to get active and offers employers ideas and the case for support for enabling their staff to get active.

Highlights from the manifesto included evidence demonstrating the simple shift in culture, where employers give staff time and opportunities to take part in physical activity during the working week, could make a huge difference:

• Reducing the average of 5.31 sick days currently taken per employee by one sickness day per person per year.
  
• This could save businesses across England an estimated £2.8 billion in sickness absence costs.
• Reduce presenteeism to create a more engaged and productive workforce.

Why not support your employees to get active in their lunch breaks by organising fitness classes at your workplace?
We bring a range of classes , Pilates, Circuits, Boot camp, Yoga and more, directly to you at your workplace. It’s easy to organise, you just need a free room or space. Our team of fantastic instructors will tailor the class to suit the space you have available and goals of your staff.
Find out more about the classes we offer and book a class today. 

Your could also sign up to the Workplace Challenge 
A great initiative run by the CSP Network and funded by Sport England aiming to engage workplaces in sport and physical activity.

Read the full Workplace Challenge Flexible lunch break challenge manifesto here

… let’s get your workplace active!!