A Tameside initiative is encouraging employers to help staff become more active when they're at work to boost the physical and mental wellbeing of the local workforce.

Tameside Council say it is working with businesses across the borough through the Active Workplaces initiative to support employers create more physical activity in places of work. This approach includes helping employers understand the benefits of workplace activity and looking at innovative ways to encourage this in a workplace.

As staff spend 60 per cent of their waking hours at work, employers have a huge role in supporting their employees to be active in and out of work.

Current medical advice states a person should be moderately active for two and half hours each week. However, a third of the workforce in Greater Manchester is not active for this amount of time.

The aim is to support as many businesses as possible in Tameside so employers can allow more staff movement during the working day. This can include support and advice for local businesses that have staff working from home.

A lack of activity, including sitting for most of the day, is leading to health problems for employees and potential additional health issues for the future.

Evidence shows that it’s important to mix things up while working and be active during the commute. However, desk-based workers can be sitting for at least six hours a day and may also be sitting for their journey to and from work.

Employers that make changes can make a big difference. Even reducing one hour of sitting time has been shown to make staff more energised and engaged at work.

Encouraging the workforce to be active can boost their physical and mental health, and is proven to increase productivity, focus and creativity.

Greater Sport, that want to get two million people moving across England, including Tameside, by 2021, backs this initiative.

Councillor Ged Cooney, Tameside Council Executive member for Housing, Planning and Employment, said: “Active Workplaces is a fantastic project and it’s great to know this is open to any business across our borough. It’s vital that we encourage workers to become as active as possible and address any changes to habits brought about through pandemic lockdowns and staff working from home.

“If you’re a local business owner in Tameside please get in touch and we’ll work with you to support your staff to improve both their health and productivity. This initiative is all about simple steps to help your workforce move more. Starting with small targets such as just 10 minutes three or four times a week will start to make the difference.”

To find out more about Tameside Council’s Active Workplaces initiative or to get involved, email Marie.Hare@tameside.gov.uk.

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