UK bosses are being urged to offer their staff discounts on gym memberships amid concerns that increasingly long working hours are preventing employees from staying fit.
A survey by Peninsula Businesswise found that 82% of office workers think their job limits their ability to exercise, thus preventing them from staying healthy.
“The issue of workers believing that their job has a detrimental effect on their ability to remain fit and healthy is a serious one,” said Peter Done, managing director of Peninsula.
“It leads us to question whether employers are fully carrying out and enacting the duty of care which exists for their members of staff.”
Done said bosses might be advised to examine the possibility of getting discounted memberships in local gyms for their staff, to encourage employees to keep fit around their working practices.
The survey suggested that because modern businesses were on a constantly evolving 24-hour cycle, employees were working increasingly longer hours.
“Due to the fact that workers cannot get away from the office to exercise, they believe their health is compromised by their employment,” Done continued.
“Employers simply need to be aware of this growing issue in the modern business environment, whilst also ensuring they carry out the duty of care they must have for their employees.”
© Crimson Business Ltd. 2007
