PART 6

Gaining support and commitment from within your organisation

Activity

Think about your organisation and how you have or could gain and maintain support and commitment from:

• Management• Champions• Employees

Gaining management support

• From the start• Management sponsor• Meet with management – what do they want?

• Aims, objectives, success indicators• Key drivers e.g. sickness absence, retention, CSR,

productivity

• Share success of other organisations• Build a business case

Gaining management support

Build a business case• Sell benefits to organisation• Link to indicators/ key drivers/ business benefits/

organisations mission and vision statement• What staff are saying• Be clear - what the programme is trying to achieve• Transparency – time and resources

BHF Building the business case booklet - webpage, template tool, evidence report and cost calculator

Maintaining management support

• Agree time• coordinator/ champions • employees to take part

• Health at Work policy • Encourage active participation • Regular contact – updates, results, success stories

Gaining champion support

• Getting the right champions is vital• More than 1 is essential – share responsibility• People from different departments/ sites• People at different grades/ ages• Volunteers/ enthusiastic people• Promote opportunity

• Intranet/ internet, notice boards, team meetings, social media, staff survey

• Role description - clarify benefits, make attractive, opportunities for involvement, support

• Clear expectations

Gaining champion support

• Find out their interests/ skills/ experience/ how they want to get involved

• Identify hidden talent at your workplace!• Suggest ways they could be involved:

• Communication/ brainstorm ideas/ working group/ specialist skills/ organise activities/ provide feedback/ lead or run activity sessions/ offer coaching

• Establish one off/ regular commitment

Maintaining champion support

• Support - meetings and 1:1’s- regular• Training – personal and professional development• Champions get together - share experiences and ideas• Dedicated time per week• Recognition• Responsibility• Leadership• Reward

Gaining employee support

• Time, persistence and constant communication• Make the purpose very clear• Make them feel part of the programme• Find out what employees want• Management to show support – time to participate• Communication

Engaging employees

• Visible management support• promote activities• participation with employees• recognise success

• Workplace champions• communicate and encourage peers• gain feedback

• Work with employees who show early interest• get initiatives started, create early success• communicate success widely

Maintaining employee engagement

• Incentives• Prizes/ awards• Competition (friendly)• Maintain communication• Success – personal stories• Feedback – update

Case StudiesEnvironment Agency

Support and resources to get your workplace active

Get your workplace active!

• Workplace Challenge resources and ideas:

• www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/webinar-workshop-resources

• www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/resources

Workplace Challenge Competitions

• Organised by Herts Sports Partnership and partners

• After work • Team based sports tournaments• Mixed gender • Cost effective• Social• FUN !!!

• Book online at: www.workplacechallenge.org.uk/competitions

Employee Health MOTs

• 1-2-1 appointments – Exercise professional and employee

• Body composition readingsBMI, Body fat %, Blood pressure

etcLifestyle and nutritional adviceProvides a snap shot of

individuals health• ½ day or full day• Beneficial for employer and employee

On site / off site activities• Link with NGBs for support and

assistance

• HSP and partners can provide instructors/coaches for;

Sports, Fitness, Pilates, Dance, Zumba, small group, personal training Other services include:

Talks or workshops on back care, joint care, nutrition, stress management

Bespoke offer can be created based on individual needs of your organisation

Additional support from HSP and BHF• Further training – sport specific/ NGB activator/

coaching course, SCUK; First Steps into Coaching, How to Deliver Engaging Sessions

• Information about local activities, clubs, coaches, facilities, NGBs.

• Workforce education programme• Ideas for activities• Equipment

What works well

• Launch event and health checks• Involve employees in planning of activities• Choice and variety of activities• One-off and taster events• On-site activities – convenience• Before / after work, lunchtime activities• Inexpensive/ nominal fee• External instructors – inspiring, friendly, professional• Linking to national events• Fun, innovative and social activities• Team based challenges and competitions, sports teams• Incentives – ‘freebies’ or linked to achievement of goals• Flexible working hours to enable physical activity• Facilities – shower and changing, secure bicycle storage

• Awareness-raising - champion, talks, leaflets, posters

• Activities/ opportunities - pedometer challenge, walk leader training, lunchtime walks, organised walks, using the stairs

• Creating a supportive environment - safe walking routes, workplace travel plans

BHF, Walking for Health, Nordic walking, Walk to Work week (May)

Walking

• Awareness-raising - champions, talks, leaflets, posters

• Activities/ opportunities - cycle lessons/ training, cycle maintenance workshops, BUGs, cycle events

• Creating a supportive environment - safe cycle routes, secure and safe storage, lockers changing/showers, bicycle pool, bike purchase scheme, mileage allowance, workplace travel plans

• British Cycling initiatives: www.goskyride.com

Led rides, Breeze rides, Social cycling groups, free route mapping

Cycling

• Organising activities/ classes• Location - on-site activities – convenience• Time - before / after work, lunchtime activities• Duration • Cost - inexpensive/ nominal fee• Instructors - external instructors – inspiring, friendly,

professional

• Arranging leisure centre discounts/ membership

Activity classes and access to leisure facilities

Promoting physical activity in your workplace

• What physical activity ideas will you promote/deliver in your workplace?

• How will you engage/ encourage participation with the least active?

Group activity

Barriers and solutions

What barriers have you faced or do you think you will face in your workplace?

• How will you get management on board?• What additional support or resources might you

need?• How will you engage the least active

employees?

Context & circumstances

Barriers to participation

• Time, perception of sport and PA, fitness, availability, self image, how to get started, money

• Groups under represented in sport;WomenBME groupsDisabled people

Final thoughts for increasing physical activity

• Increase in moderation, one step at a time.

• Encourage fellow colleagues to seek advice/ support about any health/ injury concerns any individual may have.

• Working together can increase enjoyment levels, improve mood, challenge each other.

BHF Health at Work programme & physical activity resources

Membership – join HaW

• It’s FREE!

Includes:• Welcome pack• E-newsletter• Quarterly member pack• Resources• Website• LinkedIn• Helpline

HaW Toolkit

Coordinator resource includes:

• Introduction booklet• Physical activity booklet• Healthy eating booklet• Mental wellbeing booklet• Quit smoking booklet• Posters• Pocket mission booklet

HaW resources

• HaW toolkit• Posters• Pocket mission booklet – employee• Pedometer challenge pack• Workplace event guide• HaW calendar• Business case – booklet, template tool, evidence

report, cost calculator

HaW Website

• BMA Patient Information award 2011

• Physical activity, healthy eating, mental wellbeing, stop smoking

• Resources and events

• Challenges – Pedometer, Be active, Stair climb

• Success Stories – including videos

• News

• Events

Pedometer challenge pack

Coordinator resource includes:• Co-ordinator guide• Posters• Editable desk drop letter and folder• Editable weekly emails• Individual + team step count sheet• Team captain booklet• Progress chart• Rules and safety tips• Certificate• 1 pedometer

Resistance bands

BHF physical activity resources

• BHF activity calories calculator• Ten minutes to change your life – Time to get

moving• Get active stay active booklet• Put your heart into walking booklet• Activity diary• BHF events• Training zones• Heart matters – magazine, tools, recipes,

motivational emails

BHF resources

• E-mail us: healthatwork@bhf.org.uk

• Order resources

- By calling: 0870 600 6566

- Or email: orderline@bhf.org.uk

• Health at Work website: bhf.org.uk/healthatwork

Break