“More Americans Exercise while They Work” is an article published on 12 September in Miami Herald and written by Sam Hananel, which can be found at this link: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/12/3622097_p2/more-americans-exercise-while.html.
The article proposes a solution for dealing with the increasing work related stress that is installed in the office environment across America and in the same time for combating the employees’ health related problems associated with the sedentary rhythm imposed by standing at the office. This solution is the installation of workout equipment in the workers’ offices, so that they can balance their work (reading, writing or talking on the phone) with exercising.
The article indicates that companies such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble or United Healthcare are incorporating sports equipment into the employees’ workstations, reducing like this the risk that their employees would develop diabetes, heart diseases, high blood pressure or obesity. Likewise, the article points that this treadmills or exercising balls placed instead of chairs make the employees feel better after they end their schedule and in the same time, enjoying the benefit of walking on a treadmill while on the job reduces the work related stress. The article also points that the treadmills sales are expected to grow up to 25% in 2013, indicating the increasing number of companies that are concerned about their employees’ stress and health problems that can appear as a result of the sedentary work life. This trend of encouraging the employees to exercise by putting at their disposal exercising equipment defines a current organizational behavior orientation, precisely balancing the office related jobs with the employees’ need to move, to exercise, for maintaining their health, giving them good energy and a good work disposition, reducing work related stress. After reading this article I learned that there are companies that are disposed to invest in their employees, creating a proper working environment, to meet their evolving needs, such as the need to move during the working hours.
References
Hananel, S. (2013) More Americans exercise while they work. Miami Herald. Retrieved from
http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/12/3622097/more-americans-exercise-while.html
