The Effect of Physical Activity on Work Engagement and Resilience Among Corporate Employees Research Completed

Title

The Effect of Physical Activity on Work Engagement and Resilience Among Corporate Employees

Lead Author

Michael Coom

Organisation(s)

University of Canterbury

Publication Year

2012

Publisher

University of Canterbury

Contacts

Joana Kuntz

email: joana.kuntz@canterbury.ac.nz

Abstract

A lack of work engagement among employees is costing US businesses a reported $300 billion a year in lost productivity, while absenteeism, turnover, workplace stress, and health care costs are also accounting for the same degree of financial loss. To investigate the effect of physical activity (PA) on work engagement (WE) and resilience among corporate employees, 200 employees from a range of corporate New Zealand businesses took part in a 16-week workplace-based health initiative known as the Global Corporate Challenge (GCC), which was aimed at increasing levels of PA among employees. Participants recorded their amount of PA through the use of a pedometer that uploaded daily levels into an online personal database provided by the GCC. Self-reported measures of WE and resilience were assessed both prior to, and following the challenge. The study provided support for the hypotheses that both WE and resilience would increase after participation in the GCC, however, contrary to further hypotheses, increasing levels of PA did not improve WE and resilience among participants. The results of this study may assist organisations in achieving not only a workforce better equipped to handling the challenges and stressors of today‟s workplace, but organisational success, and financial performance.

Keywords:

Workplace stress; Work engagement; Resilence

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1008

Added

June 12, 2013

Last Modified

June 14, 2013