Policy & Program Recommendations

The Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) offers the following recommendations for establishing policies and programming for physical activity based on their 2003 survey of workplaces:

• Adopt policies to reinforce alternative or indirect supports in the workplace that encourage physical activity and healthy behaviours. These include job-sharing, telecommuting, smoking bans, healthy food choices in vending machines or in the cafeteria, and related policies.
• Adopt policies that would allow employees to work flexible hours in order to participate in physical activity opportunities.
• Adopt general health promotion policies in the workplace, as well as written policies specifically supporting physical activity among employees.
• Promote multi-faceted physical activity programming. Programs should encourage participation in physical activities and teach life skills and concepts which are important in the workplace, such as teamwork, discipline, leadership, self-esteem, and equity.
• Support workers by offering comprehensive physical activity programming. This could include physical activity opportunities and programs in the early morning, during breaks, at lunch, after work, or during the weekends.
• Encourage programs in the workplace that demonstrate and offer a variety of structured and non-structured physical activities as well as competitive and noncompetitive activities. This will encourage participation by individuals of all skill and confidence levels.
• Encourage and provide examples of physical activity relevant to both genders, and different ages, cultures, and abilities or disabilities.
• Establish policies to ensure that appropriate facilities, equipment, and supplies for physical activity are available to support the physical activity needs of workers. They can be either on-site at the workplace or off-site in the broader community.
• Encourage shared leadership when organizing physical activity programming. Involve members from all levels of the company to participate as part of a committee that examines the role of physical activity in their workplace.
• Network with - or learn from - other companies that have implemented a physical activity program.
• Evaluate workplace programs regularly to ensure that physical activity programs, facilities, and instruction meet employees' needs.