New Employer Guide: Promoting Physical Activity in the Modern Workplace
Helping employees move more throughout the workday doesn't require a large budget or a fully equipped fitness center.
It starts with creating workplaces where physical activity is supported through thoughtful policies, systems, and everyday workplace design.
We're excited to share a new national resource designed to help employers create healthier, more active workplaces.
An Employer's Resource Guide to Promote Physical Activity in the Workplace was developed through a collaboration of experts from the Physical Activity Alliance, the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan, the Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PAPREN), and other national partners. The guide brings together research, practical tools, real world case studies, and proven strategies that organizations of every size can begin using today.
Wellbeing Think Tank is proud to have contributed to this effort. Executive Director Chase Sterling served as one of the contributors, helping bring best practices and employer case studies into this collaborative national resource.
Why We Love It
Too often, conversations about physical activity focus only on individual behavior: exercise more, sit less, or join a fitness program.
This guide takes a broader approach by showing how employers can create environments where movement becomes a natural part of the workday. Rather than relying on motivation alone, it highlights how policies, organizational systems, workplace design, leadership support, and culture all influence physical activity.
We also appreciate that the guide recognizes that organizations of every size can make meaningful progress. Whether you're a small nonprofit, a growing business, or a large employer, there are practical strategies that can be adapted to fit your workforce and budget.
What's Inside
The guide includes:
Practical strategies employers can begin implementing immediately
Policy, systems, and environmental approaches that make movement easier throughout the workday
Case studies from employers across multiple industries
Checklists, templates, and additional resources to support implementation
Ideas that work for onsite, remote, hybrid, and mobile workforces
Why It Matters
Physical activity is about far more than fitness.
Research continues to show that regular movement supports physical health, mental wellbeing, productivity, and overall quality of life. Employers are uniquely positioned to create environments that encourage healthy movement throughout the workday, making physical activity more accessible and sustainable for employees.
One of the strongest messages throughout this guide is that meaningful change doesn't require doing everything at once. Small, intentional changes layered across policies, systems, and workplace environments can create lasting improvements over time.
Download the Guide
We encourage employers, HR professionals, wellbeing practitioners, and organizational leaders to explore this excellent resource and consider which ideas could work within their own organizations.
Download the Employer Resource Guide to Promote Physical Activity in the Workplace here and find even more resources inside your Community Portal. Not a member of our community yet? Create a free account here.
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