We know that sitting in front of a computer screen all day doesn’t do our health any favours, but recent research published in The Lancet has again highlighted the true cost of a sedentary lifestyle: those who sit for eight hours a day have up to a 60 per cent higher risk of dying prematurely compared with those who exercise for an hour daily. For businesses, the cost of poor health is lower productivity, which is why the issue has found its way into the boardroom and subsequently into the workplace.
But telling employees to exercise at the start or end of their day isn’t a realistic solution. Nudging them in the right direction by providing workplace initiatives and a healthier environment is much more feasible. We’ve seen a rise in employers and landlords promoting wellness within the office itself. This goes far beyond subsidising gym memberships; very often it’s changing the very way the office is designed.