The Exercise According to Work Tool

Survey the characteristics and exercise opportunities of your workplace. Plan exercise and recovery of the personnel according to the work.

Duration Responding to the survey c. 10 minutes + development measures Content A survey in five stages, personalised feedback and further reading based on the answers Result Tips for exercise that is appropriate for the workplace and promotes recovery

Or read more below.

What?

The survey will help you identify the special characteristics of your workplace and provide you with tips on exercise, physical activity and recovery that is appropriate for your work community.

For whom?

Managers, supervisors, HR, occupational health care, occupational safety and health and personnel representatives. You should fill in the survey as a team, but it can also be filled in individually.

Benefits?

The tool will help you plan activities and promote exercise, physical activity and recovery as part of work ability management and the daily operations of the workplace.

Appropriate physical activity and recovery as part of work and practices of the work community

All work communities have the opportunity to facilitate recovery and physical activity that promotes well-being at work. It all starts with a positive attitude towards exercise and the desire to help the personnel cope at work. Workplaces should invest in employees’ opportunities and motivation to recover already during the working day using physical activity and exercise.

The Exercise According to Work survey will provide immediate feedback regarding the situation in your own organization or unit. You will also be provided with appropriate method cards containing further tips for promoting exercise, physical activity and recovery.

There are five method cards:

1. Exercise according to the characteristics of the work

2. Physical workload

3. Physical activity in sedentary work

4. Co-operation with occupational health care

5. Workplace practices that promote exercise, physical activity and recovery

Instructions for using the survey
- - You should respond to the survey as a team that includes representatives of management/supervisors, personnel, HR, occupational health care and occupational safety and health. You should also agree on development measures together.
  - The survey should be directed to a part of the organization/employee group whose practices related to exercise and physical activity are known. It is good for the management of this part of the organization/unit to be involved in responding to the survey.
  - The survey will provide immediate feedback regarding practices in the organization or unit. The survey will also provide you with method cards with further tips and links for improving your operations.
Used concepts
- Physical activity: Voluntary activity that increases energy expenditure and will usually lead to movement both at work and during leisure time (Current Care Guidelines 2015, WHO 2018).
  
  Exercise: Physical activity that is usually carried out for specific reasons or effects and mostly as a hobby (Current Care Guidelines 2015).
  
  Recovery: As the body recovers, it returns physically and psychologically to the state of equilibrium that preceded stress. Appropriately scheduled stress and recovery improve health and work ability.

Experts

Researcher Miia Wikström, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Programme Director, Docent Jyrki Komulainen and Development Manager Miia Malvela, the Liikkuva aikuinen (Moving adult) programme

Anu Kangasniemi, PhD, psychologist specialised in health psychology and occupational psychologist, Harri Lindholm, MD, medical specialist and Heikki Tikkanen, professor, medical specialist

Feedback and further information

mielenterveyden.tyokalupakki@ttl.fi

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