CoreNet Asks: Are Our Offices Killing us?

29 Dec, 2014

Are standard offices killing us?

A new report from CoreNet Global, the world’s premier association for corporate real estate executives, service providers and economic developers, calls for companies to actively integrate exercise and movement into the work day.
The CoreNet Global Workplace Community and Eurocres Consulting recently conducted a survey of corporate real estate professionals which found that workers sit for an average of 6.3 hours per day.
The reported cited studies that have shown that prolonged sitting is a health risk factor independent of other physical activity.
“We have become so sedentary that 30 minutes a day at the gym may not counteract the detrimental effects of 8, 9 or 10 or more hours of sitting,” according to the report.
So what are companies doing?
While many companies offer healthy options such as athletic facilities on site, fitness classes and more ergonomic work stations, those efforts will be wasted unless employees actively participate.
Examples of elements that can be added to incorporate a healthy environment include stand up work stations, treadmill desks, company freedom to work throughout the office, including outside, use of stairs, and company policies that encourage walking throughout the day.
“In the long run a successful workplace health improvement strategy will rely on initiatives that totally change the workplace environment.” These include standing meetings and working opportunities that ideally integrate a flexible activity-based working environment.