Exercising during work hours can reduce long-term sick leave

– and it doesn't have to be difficult

It might seem a bit overwhelming to try to exercise during work hours. But fortunately, you can start small—with simple exercises. These can take many forms, but they don’t have to be anything too intense. For example, your workouts could consist of short 10-minute sessions using resistance bands or doing bodyweight exercises like stretching.

A little goes a long way

Research shows that incorporating regular short exercise sessions can reduce long-term absenteeism by 13 percent. This can benefit both employees and the workplace. At the same time, it is clear that it does not matter who performs the exercises—everyone can benefit from them.

Get started with exercise at work

But how do you get started? It can be hard to just suddenly start working out at the office. It would be a big help if this were incorporated as a regular activity at work. That way, you can work out together, motivate each other, and hold each other accountable.

Why not start small, for example by doing a 10-minute workout right before your lunch break? You can do exercises like squats, push-ups, and sit-ups and back extensions.

Another option could be to provide resistance bands at the workplace; they don’t take up much space and offer a wide range of possibilities. By incorporating active breaks and exercise into your workday, you can lead by example and help prevent absenteeism due to illness at your workplace.

Short workout sessions at work can therefore be a great investment, and they can also provide a nice break and boost teamwork among employees. If you need inspiration and help getting started, we’re here to offer advice and guidance on how to introduce exercise into your workplace.

See also our case study with Computersalg, where we helped reduce absenteeism due to illness by providing ergonomic training 2–3 times a week.