Work culture and exercise - a thesis from the University of Copenhagen

Small efforts make big effects

Numerous studies have established the physiological benefits of exercise and are increasingly being used as part of occupational health and safety efforts in the workplace. A relatively small amount of exercise can have a big impact in terms of pain reduction in muscles and joints for employees. But what good is it if the uptake of exercise interventions is declining after the trial period?

Mandatory training - not sufficient for participation

10 nursing homes in the municipality of Copenhagen have implemented an exercise intervention aimed at preventing and "repairing" work-related pain. The typical barriers to exercise are distance to exercise facilities, lack of time and finances. These barriers were eliminated in this project, as the exercise was designed as a work task that took place at the workplace during working hours. This proved to be insufficient to get employees to exercise.

Success with exercise in the workplace

To achieve success with exercise in the workplace, it requires a radical change in workplace culture. A shared set of values should be created, where employees also have a say in the content of the workout to ensure they take ownership of the exercise-friendly culture. It is important to have management's support for the training and that they themselves pull on the training clothes and participate, thereby taking active responsibility for the training being carried out. It is important to be consistent and visible with fixed training times and to carry out the training despite low attendance. Eventually, exercise in the workplace will become an integrated and natural part of going to work. Such a drastic change requires time, patience and strong leadership.