New research commissioned by Fellowes reveals that lack of regular movement and bad posture are causing one in three workers to suffer a health problem. This is resulting in a staggering €73 billion lost across European businesses due to sickness days.

What does workplace wellbeing mean to you as an employer? Free gym membership? A basket of fruit in the staff kitchen? A chill-out room with bean-bags and soft pink walls?

All of the above are worthy ways to help employees feel and work better. However, none of them go far enough to prevent the sky-high levels of absenteeism and sickness caused by today’s sedentary office lifestyle.

European workers spend on average 7 hours each day sat down working at a computer and 94% of them admit to sitting for long periods of time without moving around.

High time for some fresh thinking. The Sit-Stand movement is a new European-wide initiative to encourage employees to alternate between sitting and standing to add more movement to their working day. Pioneered by ergonomics experts, Fellowes aims to get senior managers and HR teams to nurture a different way of improving wellness and productivity in the workplace.

It’s all about getting your employees to think of everyday actions, such as sitting and standing, in different ways. A simple, small change in how they interact with their workstation can elicit a big change in both their health and productivity.

The Sit-Stand ethos

 Research has shown that people work better and feel better when they’re active and have good posture.

Businesses that fail to challenge the sedentary lifestyle may cause severe health problems across their workforce. Research on behalf of the Sit-Stand movement has further discovered that 95% of Europeans believe their desk environment is the most influential factor in their workplace wellbeing.

This is how the Sit-Stand movement has come to life. The Sit-Stand movement is about businesses joining forces to galvanise employees into adopting a slightly new way of doing things and reaping the health-related rewards. The goal is to give employers the opportunity to demonstrate to workers that they take health seriously enough to actively improve it.

 

Why should employers sign-up?  

 Create a more attractive employer brand

 Businesses that are seen to challenge traditional norms to drive better workplace wellness put themselves in pole position to attract the brightest minds in today’s candidate-driven market.

Close the exit door

 Almost a third of employees would quit their job because their working environment is bad for their health. And over half of the managers surveyed think they’ve lost people for the same reason.

Improve productivity and avoid workplace lethargy

 Sit-Stand working and an increase in movement around the office can improve the way teams work and collaborate. Employers surveyed think their staff would be healthier, more productive, motivated and happier if they adopted a Sit-Stand approach.

Enjoy a better return[*] on your wellbeing investment

Sit-Stand and movement-based activity ensures that your wellbeing investment pays out. Adopting such practices gives you a first mover advantage as a preferred employer in a movement that is truly changing workplace wellbeing norms.

As 1 in 3 employees feel they have little or no control over their health at work and assign responsibility for this to their employer, taking this seriously really will put you ahead in the competition to attract and retain the best talent.

So, if your business is ready to stand up for improved workplace wellbeing, join the Sit-Stand Movement today.

 

 

 

[*] 70% of employees think workplace wellbeing initiatives need to be long-term to work