October 28, 2008 - WALK TO BOOST BRIT ISH BUSINESS AND HEALTH
EMBARGOED: 1.00AM, Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Work Wise UK is urging employees to walk to work today , to provide a boost to their health , and happiness, and the benefit the UK economy.
Th is call for action, on the second day of Commute Smart Week, is also being made by champions of walking and improving our streets, Living Streets, under through its Walking Works campaign.
Just 90 minutes of exercise a per week can cut the number of sick days an employee s take s by half, according to literature research commissioned by Transport for London *1. The CBI reports that in 2006, lost days from sickness cost the UK economy £13.4 billion .
Commute Smart Week, organised by Work Wise UK, highlights how smarter working and commuting, such as working from home, staggering work journeys, cycling and walking, can reduce the massive financial, environmental and social cost of commuting.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive, Work Wise UK, said “ W Doing more walking more, for part of or for the whole of the journey to work, is one of many ways that organisations can improve the working lives of their employees, boosting employee their health and productivity.
“Walking provides exercise, helps lower stress and avoids frustrating delays.”
“Organisations that promote walking and other practices that reduce commuting stress, such as working from home or flexible working, reap major business benefits.”
Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said: “Employers have much to gain by encouraging their workforce to get walking. By being in control of their journey staff are more likely to be on time, avoiding leaves on the line or traffic jams, and by doing more exercise they are likely to arrive ready to start their working day rather than having to recover from a stressful journey.
“And it ’s not just about a happier and more contented workforce. There are major savings.”
Transport for London has reveal ed s that car parking on average cost businesses around £6,000 *2 a year for each staff parking space they provide.
Here are some top tips from Work Wise UK and Living Streets for safely walking safely to work , particularly during the winter months:
- Cross the roads carefully – it's easy to be distracted if you're on the phone or listening to music.
- Keep the your personal music player volume down – you need to be able to hear what's going on around you.
- See and be seen - stick to well-lit paths in the darker months, you’ll be able to see where you’re going and be visible to car drivers and cyclists
- Keep some water /soft drinks with you – you can get dehydrated easily, and not just on the rare hot days.
- Make sure you are seen - when you're on narrow pavement, or if you have to step onto the road, walk towards oncoming traffic so drivers can see you.
- Stick to well lit routes on winter evenings – don't cut through quiet parks or back streets if you're walking on your own.
- Plan your route – if you're headed home after dark make sure you know where you're going before you set off.
- Layer up – Start by wearing multiple layers which you can strip off as you get going and get warmer.
- More tips can be found on the Walking Works and Work Wise UK websites
Commute Smart Week involves five themed days to encourage employers and commuters to adopt smarter working and commuting practices.
National Commute Smart Week three remaining days will focus on:
- Cycling (why spend hours in the gym?)
- Health benefits of smarter working and commuting
- Road congestion and road safety (including car sharing)
A number of spokespersons spokespeople will be available from Work Wise UK and from organisations which successfully practise smarter working, both national and regional.
Work Wise UK has published, with its supporting partners, a series of tips and guidance on working smarter, which will be circulated to the media and uploaded on the Work Wise website prior to National Commute Smart Week.
Further details about Work Wise UK can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org). There is also a dedicated pressroom available through the website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net.
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Issued on behalf of Work Wise UK by Chelgate Limited
Notes to editors:
- *1 Evidence Review on Physical Activity, Absenteeism and Productivity, Transport for London 2007
- * 2 see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/annual-costs-car-parking-london-businesses-report.pdf
- Work Wise UK is organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
- Supporters of the Work Wise UK campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Equal Opportunities Commission, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Technology Means Business, Henley Management College and the Association for Commuter Transport.
- A dedicated electronic media centre has been established for journalists to obtain further information, to download print-quality materials, and to register for media updates about Work Wise UK. This can be accessed either through the main website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net
- Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.·
For further information and images, please contact:
Roy Turner,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or
rt@chelgate.com
Katie Daniels,
Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or
kd@chelgate.com