EMPLOYEE HEALTHCARE
Singapore – Research has shown that regular exercise and effective leadership go hand-in-hand but employers have to first take an offensive approach to managing their workforce’s health.
According to a study conducted by the Center for Creative Leadership, executives who exercise regularly are rated significantly higher than their peers on a wide variety of leadership attributes.
Yet some HR practitioners have said it can be challenging to obtain employees’ commitment to exercising regularly because work takes up a lot of time.
Jon Fong, co-founder of Racers' Toolbox, an organisation that provides companies with process-focused approaches to exercise, suggests taking an offensive approach to health management.
While basic medical tests can help identify health risks, Fong says they often fail to offer practical information that employees can use to improve their health. For example, a medical screening may uncover high cholesterol issues but it does not provide the right support to reduce the risk.
Fong says companies should use fitness tests to identify the ideal types of exercise that are specific for the individual’s heart zone and their health objectives so accurate measurements can be tracked over time. “We have found this to be an excellent way to keep people engaged and motivated in achieving their health and lifestyle goals.”
It also helps busy employees to “maximise the time they spend training”.
However, HR has to ensure that there are returns on the company’s investment in exercise programmes. Fong says that will require employees to make changes to their current lifestyle. “They will need to understand the reasons why health improvement is important and be armed with personally relevant information that they can integrate slowly into their lifestyle.”
Fong adds that companies can set up a support network that will foster a “community of health” at work.
With the rising trend of companies sending staff to participate in corporate runs, here are some tips Racers' Toolbox says can help employees prepare for their first long distance run:
- Give yourself enough time to prepare. Depending on the length of the event, you will need up to 16 weeks of training to safely complete the run.
- Conduct tests that will streamline the training process and maximise every moment spent on training. Lactate test looks at how the body clears lactate acid and identifies heart rate zones to help reduce muscle fatigue. Fuel efficiency test measures metabolism and identifies an optimal fat burning zone as fat is better than carbohydrate at sustaining running pace.
- Knowledge is power. Attend health talks or consultations to obtain advice on nutrition and maintaining good health in the long-term.
Here are more strategies to make exercise a priority.
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