Ireland’s second National Workplace Wellbeing Day will take place on Friday, 8th April next. Public and private sector organisations across the country are expected to participate in the day, which aims to improve employee health through promoting better physical activity and nutrition in the workplace.  

As part of this year’s activities, employers are being called upon to arrange a “Lunchtime Mile” - a one mile cycle, jog, run, walk or swim for employees in the vicinity of their workplace.  

According to research commissioned by the Nutrition and Health Foundation (NHF), organisers of Workplace Wellbeing Day only one in three workers takes the recommended level of exercise for a healthy lifestyle each week. Three in ten workers undertake no physical exercise during work time with just over a quarter (27%) describing themselves as fairly or very physically active.  

Launching Workplace Wellbeing Day 2016, Minister for Health Leo Varadkar said: “A healthy workplace is a happier and more productive workplace. That’s true for both staff and employers. We spend so much of our lives at work that it makes sense for so many reasons to foster a healthy workplace.

"It creates a happier environment, reduces sick leave, increases productivity, and helps to beat the Monday blues. So I would encourage everyone to take part on the day. The government will also shortly be launching a new obesity policy so I’m encouraged that industry is already taking a role to improve public health.”

Source: www.businessworld.ie