A healthy staff is a productive staff. This year, get everyone in the office geared up and ready to participate in Bike to Work Day. Or, better yet, make it a weekly event. Each Friday allow staff to dress casual and cycle to work.
Why? Aerobic exercise, like cycling, walking and swimming helps you live longer by maximizing the amount of oxygen in your blood, increases feel-good hormones called endorphins and helps you lose extra pounds or maintain a healthy weight, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Cities like Denver have organized bike to work days that turn out thousands of bikers. If your city doesn’t have an official day, create one! Try partnering with fellow companies or organizations to kick start a new tradition.
So, let’s get everyone into the groove, and on bikes. Here are a few ways to motivate employees to pedal to the office.
- Offer a later start time on biking days. If most employees report to work at 8:00am, let them arrive at 8:30am, so they have an hour to cycle to the office and enjoy the scenery along the way.
- Present a healthy breakfast on bike to work days. Create a small spread of fresh fruit, oatmeal or scrambled eggs in a slow cooker and a selection of herbal teas and juices in the conference room.
- Give out awards to active participants. Present certificates to the people who biked to work the most often in a given month or who traveled the furthest. Keep the presentation lighthearted and fun!
- Partner with a local cycling club. Have the members come to the office and present some cycling performance and safety tips so the employees feel ready to tackle a new type of exercise.
- Keep it casual. One days employees ride to work, relax the dress code and keep the schedule light. Desk work and small department meetings are fine. Skip the big client presentations or appointments away from the office.
Sometimes all you need to do to get employees to participate in a bike to work event is let them know it’s happening and why it will benefit them personally. It’s hard to turn down an opportunity that makes the work day more enjoyable, your body healthier and your co-workers happier!