SAW Campaign
Let's start from some findings: figures, studies and best practices for physical activity and sport in the workplace.
Let's start from some findings
First finding
Stress, absenteeism, presenteeism, burn-out, bore-out, brown-out — the challenges in today's business world are many.
Second finding
All of this has direct and indirect costs, with obvious productivity losses.
Third finding
Companies have understood this well and have started mobilising to find solutions — and they have a role to play.
of productivity loss linked to illness in Switzerland
Productivity losses in Switzerland — 2019 study
« This is equivalent to 116 (95%CI 99-135) Swiss francs per inhabitant per year. Productivity losses were estimated at 117 (95%CI 94-142) Swiss francs per inhabitant per year. The two diseases that caused the highest economic burden were low back pain and depression. The analysis of regional differences revealed that the per-capita burden of sedentariness is about twice as high in French- and Italian-speaking regions as in the German-speaking region »
Source : Majli, Renato; Wieser, Simon; Probst-Hensch, Nicole; Schmidt-Trucksäss, Arno; Schwenkglenks, Majhias (2019). Physical inactivity caused economic burden depends on regional cultural differences. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 29(1):95-104.
A few figures
Each figure is identical to the source and accompanied by its reference.
Only 7% of companies encourage their employees to do sports at work
Source : Eurobarometer on sport & physical activity, 2022
45% of Europeans never exercise or play sport
Source : Eurobarometer on sport & physical activity, 2022
89% of workers at companies that support wellbeing initiatives are more likely to recommend their company as a good place to work
Source : Naz Beheshti, The Connection between Employee Engagement and Wellness, 2019
78% of employees would do sports if the conditions were right
Source : Sport office of Decathlon, 2017
6% to 9% is the productivity increase of a sedentary employee who starts practising physical activity regularly
Source : Etude sur les dispositifs du Sport en entreprise 2021, Goodwill-Management
93% of technology industry workers said they would stay longer at a company that offered benefits linked to a healthier work environment
Source : Forbes 2019
Up to 30 000 € in economic gains per year for the company, civil society and the employee for a company with 100 staff — company sport therefore has significant potential
Source : Etude sur les dispositifs du Sport en entreprise 2021, Goodwill-Management
In Switzerland : GSE & Friendly Work Space
The Workplace Health Management approach (GSE), offered by Promotion Santé Suisse, is the reference.
Friendly Work Space
| Part | Status |
|---|---|
| Occupational safety and health protection | Mandatory |
| Workplace Health Promotion | Optional |
The potential of physical activity
In the Workplace Health Promotion section, physical activity has potential that is still underexploited.
And yet, there is no shortage of scientific evidence proving the effectiveness of physical activity.
Role of physical activity in stress management
Role of physical activity in general health status (cardiovascular among others)
Role of physical activity in reducing sedentariness (and reducing musculoskeletal disorders)
And you? Where does your company stand on the Promotion of Physical Activity, Wellbeing and Health?
Are you among the companies that have started thinking about the tools to succeed? For the physical activity part, the Fédération Suisse de l'activité physique et du sport d'entreprise can support you.
Among the best practices identified for physical activity and sport in the workplace
- identify the needs, wishes and expectations of stakeholders
- ensure leadership from the top
- analyse the company's context and specificities
- plan and implement events / programmes / activities
- evaluate, track and measure results and progress
The company can also connect with other local initiatives (for example Active Schools, Active Cities, CSR, etc.).
By joining SAW, the company gains access to national and European networks to exchange with other companies in other national federations and to access events organised around themes related to physical activity and sport in the workplace.