Why is workplace wellness important?
We all know that keeping active and eating well are essential for good health but that on its own is not always enough to get us moving or eating well, especially when positive habits can easily be disrupted. Given that we spend an average of 8.5 hours of every day working, one simple way to boost your physical and mental health is to find small, sustainable ways to be more active in and around the working day.
Physical activity, exercise and movement are vital elements of workplace wellbeing
Research from Sport England has shown 62% of adults currently consider exercise to be more important than ever and 65% of people believe exercise is helping with their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UK's Chief Medical Officer has continually stressed the value of physical activity: “Anything that can be done to encourage and to allow people to take exercise is clearly a good thing”.
Individuals who sit less and move more live longer, healthier lives.
Taking steps to include daily physical activity and movement while reducing the sitting time of yourself and your employees contributes to a longer healthier life.
Adults spending eight hours a day sat at a desk are up to 60% more likely to die early from diseases such as cancer and heart disease. This risk is reduced with regular, moderate physical activity
An active workforce leads to a more agile, productive and resilient team
Small businesses and sole traders can be hit hard by business interruption through illness and the costs this incurs
2019 research found that if the recommended physical activity guidelines were met globally, it could make employees up to 5 days more productive each year and boost the world economy by an estimated $100bn a year.
Only 6 in 10 adults currently achieves the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
24.6% of adults in England are currently classed as inactive, this means over 11 million people are currently doing less than an average of 30 minutes activity a week.
Government Guidelines state that being active reduces your chances of Type II diabetes by 40%, cardiovascular disease by 35%, joint and back pain by 25%, colon and breast cancers by 20% and can reduce the risk of mental illness by 30%.
Focusing on employee health and wellbeing creates an attractive workplace culture.
Research by CBRE showed that 80% of employees agree that a company’s culture will be crucial in recruiting and retaining them within the next 10 years.
Developing a wellness based culture doesn't need to be complex and expensive, simple solutions to encourage healthy behaviours such as boosting activity levels can positively impact on how your current and future employees perceive your organisation.
Sources: Sport England covid-19 Physical activity tracker | Government press briefing 15th April | The Lancet, July 2016 – physical activity series | Fitter bodies, fitter economies – Vitality and RAND, 2019. | Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey November 2018/19 Report, published April 2020 | Wellness in the workplace: Unlocking Future Performance – CBRE – occupier survey 2015 –2016

Looking after your mental health
Now more than ever, looking after your mental health and those around you is incredibly important. Not only does your mental health contribute to overall health and wellbeing but also to the productivity and success of your business. Our curated resources contain information and tips to help you manage your mental health and where to go if you need support.
Checklist: Looking after your mental health during COVID-19
FSB Care share advice for looking after your mental health and where you can go if you need support.
Checklist: How to support your employees’ mental health
Download our checklist from FSB Care on how you can support the mental health of your employees during COVID-19.
Effective support of mental ill health is more than counselling
Small businesses owners can’t ignore the mental wellbeing of themselves and their employees but how can they know what would help?

Supporting your mental health through physical activity
Being active is central to our mental health, depression is increasing in all age groups. Public Health England found people who are inactive have three times the rate of moderate to severe depression of active people. Visit our activity hub for resources and guides or get started with one of our blogs.
How to have an active working day in three simple steps
Download our guide to building activity into your working day.
Boost your productivity with an active working day
Keeping moving through a working day is vital to the wellbeing of individuals.
How to hold a moving meeting
Moving meetings held via phone allow you to catch up while talking a walk

When you need extra help
Running a business isn't always smooth sailing, especially if the worst should happen and you become unwell. Find out more about how FSB Care can help to support you with your mental or physical health and wellbeing when you need it most.
Visit the FSB Care Hub
Visit our dedicated hub to find out more about FSB Care and how they can help support your physical and mental health
My Story: Dave Sharpe
Dave shares his story of how FSB Care supported him through coronavirus and caring for his parents, all whilst running his own business.
My Story: Ann Barkas
Hear how FSB Care supported Ann through a bereavement and her recovery from cancer.

Further reading
Blue Monday: How to cope with the winter blues
Download our exclusive guide for seven ways to help you deal with the winter blues.
Meet the FSB Care team: Sue Kinsella RGN
Ever wondered what goes into the day-to-day care service provided by RedArc nurses?
Meet the FSB Care team: Zena Mayhew RGN RMN
We asked Zena Mayhew, one of our personal nurses to give us a run down of how she helps FSB members through FSB Care