Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Our future?*

Tuesday, May 15, 2007 8:01:00 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)

Ref: http://news.yahoo.com/photo/070515/photos_tc/2007_05_15t092458_450x299_us_obesity_desks;_ylt=Alfqy49QSb2OYDwSsrtNihuWWMcFDuring one of my "surf-the-web" breaks, I saw this photo and it shocked me and made me curious all at the same time. In my head I was thinking, "is this going to be us in the future?" I mean really, these days we spend hourrrsss at work glued to computer screens and some of us even go home and continue! Also.. last time I checked, we hardly burn any calories by just sitting on our bums all day long.

So.. what if one attempted to add some cardio in there and instead created a stand-up workstation (like in the photo) or even a cycling machine? Yea, at first, you're like.. "no way!" but think about its benefit to you.. Ideally for me, I wouldn't want to do it in a shirt and tie though! Probably in the future they'll relax how we dress as well?

The photo above was from Yahoo! but even today BBC have done an article titled "The nine-to-five treadmill" based on the same topic (exercising while you work).

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Wednesday, May 16, 2007 11:48:25 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I think I prefer the idea of encouraging employees to work out during their lunch break, or subsidizing gym membership fees (this is done by Sagicor here in bim). The bigger companies, if possible should also consider providing workout facilities on their premises (in the way that UWI provides a gym for staff, companies in the states provide gyms, tennis courts, the whole works). Another good idea, would be to provide incentives for employees to work out, increase their christmas bonus or monthly paycheck based on hours spent in the gym. I don't think local companies have yet realized the importance of keeping their workforce healthy, but maybe in time they'll clue in.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 4:02:55 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
I definitely dig the idea of subsidising gym membership fees or if the company is big enough, gyms "at work".

But .. after a lonngg 8-4.30.. would you REALLLY want to go to the gym?!

Then again, even exercising whilst working out CAN be hard. In the article I read, one of the main complaints was how hard it was to type and cycle/walk - a key issue if the job requires a good amount of typing!

I can't comment on the bim companies as I don't know much there so I'll go on your word. They better start taking health seriously though, health can bring moral dowwnnn and people can also become extra lazy.. Not good things in the work environment!
Jason Nurse
Wednesday, May 16, 2007 4:10:34 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
Companies have a tendency to be short sighted, and to not look beyond the obvious. Latent benefits and intangibles are often lost on them.
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