Posted by Health Handouts | Posted in Health Handouts, Health Tips | Posted on 15-08-2009
To succeed in encouraging physical activity during the workday, you must learn what employees need and want. They are the people whose actions you are trying to influence, so it’s vital to know their needs and gain their backing.
The Employee Interest Survey
Ask employees questions that allow you to assess such key characteristics as age, sex, social relationships, family responsibilities and current physical activity participation.
It’s important to know this information so that your physical exercise initiative meets employees’ needs. Staff Members will not participate in something they’re not interested in.
Ask workers what they want, and then implement changes that fit with their needs and working conditions. By way of example, workers may not want to do activities that make them sweat, because they do not want to shower at work.
Ask employees what the employer could do to make it easier for them to be more physically active during work. If there’s a common trend throughout your organization, a single change could affect a lot of individuals.
For example, suppose a large group shows interest in biking to work. They may want to shower and change after their commute. You might give priority to installing workplace showers and changing facilities. Secure bike storage might be important as well.
If you’re starting a program that requires going outside, start in the spring. By the time winter arrives, participation is already a habit.
Involving staff members is key to expanding physical activity participation rates. People are more willing to participate in and support physical activity initiatives when they are involved in decision making.
The following tips will help you produce your own employee interest survey:
• Keep it short (no longer than 10 minutes to complete).
• Make sure staff members know why you are doing the survey.
• Rather than using all open-ended questions, which can be long and tough to analyze, ask people to choose from a drop-down list of possible responses.
• Ask for comments and suggestions in one open-ended question at the end.
• Make it confidential and anonymous. Do not request information that may identify a person.
• If you’re including a list of possible programs or environmental changes, see that your workplace has the facilities and resources to offer them.