To succeed in encouraging exercise during the workday, you must find out what staff members need and want. They’re the people whose behaviour you are trying to influence, so it’s critical to understand their needs and gain their support.
The Staff Member Interest Survey
Ask staff members questions that allow you to assess such key characteristics as age, gender, social relationships, family responsibilities and current exercise participation.
It’s important to know this information so that your exercise initiative meets employees’ needs. Staff Members aren’t going to participate in something they are not interested in.
Ask workers what they want, and then implement changes that fit with their needs and working conditions. for instance, workers may not want to do activities that make them sweat, because they don’t want to shower at work.
Ask staff members what the organization could do to make it easier for them to be more physically active during the workday. When there’s a common trend throughout your organization, a single change could affect a lot of people .
For instance, suppose a large group shows interest in bicycling to work. They could want to shower and change after their commute. You could give priority to installing workplace showers and changing facilities. Secure bike storage could be important as well.
If you’re launching a program that requires going outside, begin in the spring. By the time winter comes around, participation is already a habit.
Involving staff members is key to increasing exercise participation rates. Individuals are more willing to participate in and support exercise programs when they’re involved in decision making.
The following tips will help you produce your own employee interest survey –
• Keep it short (no longer than 10 minutes to complete).
• Let staff members know why you’re doing the survey.
• Rather than using all open-ended questions, which can be long and challenging to analyze, ask people to select from a drop-down list of possible responses.
• Ask for comments and suggestions in one open-ended question at the end.
• Make it confidential and anonymous. Don’t request information that may identify a individuals.
• If you are including a list of potential programs or environmental changes, make sure your workplace has the facilities and resources to offer them.
Corporate Wellness Companies