Fun And Fitness At Work – Why NOT Use The Wellness Budget!

I do Pilates in Eltham with Michelle from the Yarra Plenty Regional Library. This is both physically and mentally stimulating as we frequently end up solving world problems (!) while tackling the machines.

This morning Michelle started talking about her pedometer and preparing to walk around the world in 125 days. She has joined the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC) and has motivated half of the Library’s 140 strong workforce to join as 10 teams of 7. The wellness budget is now being used!

What Is The Global Corporate Challenge?

Billed as

“the world’s largest and most exciting corporate health initiative, the GCC is specifically for the workplace and addresses the emerging health crisis resulting from the triple threat – longer workdays, sedentary occupations and little or no exercise”

the whole program sounds like a fun thing to do with work colleagues as well as being healthy and a way of losing unwanted kilos.

Specifically..

Participants receive a kit with a pedometer etc – it costs $90 to join – and they record their daily steps from their pedometer as they take a virtual walk around the world. There’s a daily target of 10,000 steps and teams can share their journey with others via Facebook.

Starting 21 May 2009

Registrations are still being taken though numbers are limited and the ‘world will get moving’ on 21 May 2009.

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Four Reasons To Join In

The GCC is:
1. Sustainable This is not a fad, it’s an invitation to develop a new and lasting relationship with exercise…in 2008 75% of participants reported an increase in fitness and energy levels.

2. Engaging GCC brings organisations together through teamwork, communication, fun and a little healthy competition. Absenteeism decreased by 41%.

Each year the GCC funds vital clinical research into afflictions including heart disease and diabetes. This study is carried out by the Heart Disease and Diabetes Prevention Centre (HDDP), experts on the links between diet, physical activity and disease risk.

In 2008/2009, the HDDP, in partnership with Monash University, is conducting world first research on low-impact physical activity interventions in the workplace.

3. Accessible All an organisation’s staff can participate regardless of age or fitness level or physical location. In 2008 97% of participants completed the 125 days challenge.

4. Measurable Statistics record every step of a participant’s journey allowing individuals and the organisation to follow employees’ progress and achievements. In 2008 81.8% of participants have changed their health and activity habits through being involved in the GCC.

This DOES sound like something that will directly and positively impact on a company’s culture and ‘bottom’ line – both physical and fiscal. Feeling active?