Healthy workplace initiative a winner

Fitness Australia has won the Australian National Preventive Health Agency’s (ANPHA) inaugural Healthy Small Workplace Award for implementing best practices in creating a healthy workplace for its employees.

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for mortality causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths worldwide¹ and, when combined with being overweight or obese, it is associated with type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and various cancers.

The total economic cost of physical inactivity in Australia is estimated to be $13.8 billion² and the majority of this cost is attributed to the loss of productivity in the workforce - due to absenteeism and presenteeism (when employees are not fully functioning).

Fitness Australia’s workplace initiative focuses on increasing physical activity, raising awareness of healthier eating options and supporting mental wellbeing. The success of the initiative is due to the strong sense of community that it has created as well as the support from the Board and the management which has allowed staff to design and implement the program.

“Our initiative has been implemented for the past two years and, as a result, the team is always enthusiastic, motivated and happy. We have very little absenteeism and a high level of engagement and productivity throughout the whole team,” said Lauretta Stace, CEO of Fitness Australia.

“With more than 60% of Australians overweight or obese and two thirds being either sedentary or having low levels of exercise, it is critical that the place where we spend most of our time, outside of our home, promotes a healthy lifestyle.

“Employers can introduce a variety of initiatives to suit their workplace and they don’t necessarily cost a lot. For example, encouraging walking groups during lunch breaks, providing healthy eating options in canteens and at social events, providing healthy lifestyle education sessions, organising outdoor activities, team challenges or group training sessions, or providing discounted fitness centre membership. All of these things contribute to making the workplace healthier and fitter.

“Governments also have a role to play, through providing incentives to workplaces to help them implement healthy workplace initiatives.”

Currently, the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) Assessment Act 1986 provides employers a benefit where they offer ‘in-house’ facilities such as gymnasiums/studios/recreational facilities on the business premises only.

“One incentive that we have been talking to government about is extending the current Fringe Benefits Tax exemption to include off-site premises as well. We are of the view that the current FBT discriminates against small-to-medium sized businesses when it comes to competing against the big end of town in providing healthy options for their employees.

Stace said: “My message to all workplaces is simple: ‘make it happen’. The benefits are amazing for all involved!”

¹ World Health Organization
² Medibank Private Limited, The cost of physical inactivity. October 2008