Offering an hour of sport at work is possible, accessible... and it changes everything. Concentration, energy, team spirit: could sweating together be as good as working together? Bénédicte Fievez, a company sports coach, sees the effects every week. Here's what she has to say.
Cardio, Pilates, Zumba or strength training: an increasing number of companies are incorporating physical activity into their teams' routines. The idea is to offer employees an active interlude in their day, usually at lunchtime, to get some exercise, take a moment to breathe... and work better. 'You're using your body for an hour instead of your head,' explains sports coach Bénédicte Fievez, who has been giving courses at Beci and elsewhere for several years now. The result: more energy, better concentration, and often a calmer working environment.
A collective dynamic that does good
Bénédicte, an experienced coach who has worked for a number of years in companies such as ING, ExxonMobil and even the Brussels Parliament, points out that sport in the workplace is not just about individual well-being: ‘You don't share the same things in a meeting room as you do during a sports class. It brings people together and breaks down silos. There's a very strong team effect.’ She adds: ‘After the sessions, people tell me they sleep better and feel more concentrated,’ Bénédicte smiles. ‘There's an immediate effect on your mood, thanks to the endorphins you produce during a sports session!’ A fact confirmed in practice, and backed up by figures.
According to a study carried out by Decathlon in 2023 on sport in the office, 88% of participating companies reported positive effects on well-being and group cohesion. As for the latest barometer of sport in the workplace (carried out by the French mutual insurance companies Harmonie Mutuelle & Amaury Sport Organisation, 2024), it shows that 94% of employees who take part in physical activity at work report an improvement in their physical health, and 91% in their mental health. 89% feel that offering sport in the workplace is a real sign of recognition, and 86% feel that it reduces their stress (a figure which rises to 89% among female employees).
Get started without breaking the bank
Do you need expensive infrastructure or a dedicated gym to integrate sport into the office environment? ‘Not at all’, says the former belly dancer. 'A meeting room is enough, and even without equipment, a lot can be done'. The main thing, she says, is to provide the opportunity: 'All you need is a suitable time slot and a motivated coach. It's not difficult to organise, and the benefits are real'. Some companies fund the sessions in full, while others offer a token contribution. The model is flexible, but the goal remains the same: to offer a space to exercise together, without pressure. 'It’s a moment where hierarchies fade, and everyone is there to feel good.
And what if the solution to well-being didn't necessarily lie in standing desks or wellness apps, but in a group sports session in the room next door? According to the numbers, and the smiles after a Zumba class, sweating together has never made more sense.