Desk jobs can be killers – employers should be offering strength training at work to help

Employers should be putting more effort into providing proactive, practical support for people to take care of their health at work, rather than waiting for staff to have a health crisis before they intervene.

That’s the argument put forward by Ashley Gluchowski, University Fellow and Clinical Exercise Physiologist at the University of Salford in a recent article for academic news site The Conversation.

“Physical inactivity is a killer. When we become inactive, we lose muscular strength. When we lack muscular strength, we may be more likely to experience a host of health issues, including cognitive decline, poor mental health and a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.”

The weakness caused by sedentary lifestyles places an unsustainable burden on carers and healthcare systems, says Ashley.

“Lack of activity comes at a terrible price. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the cost of physical inactivity to public healthcare systems between 2020 and 2030 will be around £232 billion.”

And it’s not just older employees who are impacted. Figures show that younger people are becoming increasingly inactive and physically weak – taking long term sick leave and retiring earlier. Inevitably this impacts their employers, with larger corporations (those with at least 100 employees) spending around £2million annually on sickness absence.

“For desk workers, taking strength breaks, such as body weight squats at your desk – has been shown to immediately increase blood flow, improve brain function including mental arousal and concentration, and reduce the feelings of fatigue,” said Ashley.

But it’s not something that staff or their employers are taking up. Ashley explained: “In my experience people tend to think they are not young, fit, energetic, or active enough to start strength training. But research has found the opposite to be true. Starting strength training, at any age and at any fitness level, leads to increased energy levels and spontaneous increases in physical activity.”

She argues that employers should be providing the time and space for their employees to get their strength training session in during the workday.

“This could look like hiring a strength coach to come into the office or even using technology to deliver strength on-demand to employees who work from home. Programmes could even gamify participation to build camaraderie within and between departments or companies.

“Providing strength training support for 30 minutes, twice per week seems like a small sacrifice for a healthier, happier, more productive, and resilient workforce. It’s the easiest way to improve physical activity levels, health, and office culture all at the same time.”

Read the full article on The Conversation here