Recommendations for Workplaces

Whilst shiftworkers can do a lot to prioritise their physical activity, workplaces have a responsibility to create environments that are supportive of health and wellbeing. Providing equipment on site and having a workplace culture that encourages physical activity are great places to start. Promoting an active workforce not only benefits employee health and wellbeing, but will improve absenteeism, safety, and productivity for organisations.

Workplaces will see significant benefits from encouraging employees to participate in physical activity. Whilst shiftworkers are ultimately responsible for their own physical activity, support from the workplace can go a long way in encouraging and sustaining physical activity over time (53). Some strategies that workplaces could implement include: 

  • Giving shiftworkers the means and the opportunity to exercise on shift can remove some of the barriers for them. Equipment such as skipping ropes, hula hoops, medicine balls, resistance bands, and free weights are all small and low-cost pieces of equipment that are easy to use and facilitate a variety of exercises.

  • Encouraging a workplace culture that views physical activity as a positive element of daily life can foster a sense of shared purpose around participating in exercise.

    There are small adjustments that workplaces can make to encourage shiftworkers to be more active, particularly for those environments where their roles are desk-based. Consider implementing standing desks, walking meetings, or 10-minute activity breaks. This has the added benefit of boosting alertness and combatting fatigue during shifts.

  • A sense of community around physical activity can boost enjoyment, increase motivation, and foster accountability—especially in shiftwork settings where long hours and demanding schedules are the norm.

    Voluntary workplace challenges are a great way to make physical activity more engaging and create a shared goal among staff. Simple ideas like daily step challenges or monthly movement targets can go a long way in building team spirit and promoting healthier habits.

    One evidence-based option is the 10,000 Steps Program, a free and interactive initiative designed to help people track their steps, set personal or team goals, and stay active every day. The program offers easy-to-use iOS and Android apps, and includes built-in Tournament features, which allow workplaces to run friendly competitions among teams. Research shows these challenges can significantly increase engagement and physical activity participation in workplace settings.

    For ideas and support to get your workplace challenge off the ground, check out the 10,000 Steps workplace guide.

  • Certain industries or workplaces are not able to incorporate physical activity into rostered shift time for operational or safety reasons.

    In such instances, you can encourage shiftworkers to maintain regular physical activity by subsidising membership fees for gyms or workout classes, or by providing them with monetary contributions toward fitness equipment.

We also encourage workplaces to explore the 10,000 Steps for Workplaces program—an easy-to-implement initiative designed to boost physical activity and team engagement. It’s a great way to promote movement across shifts and support a culture of wellbeing at work.