Sport and business: love story or fool’s errand?
- Jennyfer MONTANTIN
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
The need for physical activity is well established. Its benefits can be observed both individually and collectively. Among them:
Improvement in general health (heart, blood pressure, mobility, transit, etc.).
Better stress management and feeling of well-being.
Development of concentration and intellectual performance.
Reinforcement of values such as respect, tenacity, listening or courage.
On paper, many companies claim to be aligned with these values. Few employees would want to join a structure that values the law of the strongest or malice. However, a gap persists between rhetoric and reality .
A very real demand... but still not very encouraged.
According to a study conducted by Decathlon in 2017 , only 7% of companies actually approve of their employees participating in sports, while 80% of employees consider themselves to be regular or occasional sportspeople.
Among the main obstacles mentioned:
Lack of time.
Difficulty finding a suitable place.
No changing rooms or showers.
Registration cost.
Need supervision by a coach.
Real estate and HR: a complex equation.
Commercial real estate is a real challenge: prices are rising, and every square meter counts. Many organizations are forgoing the idea of developing spaces dedicated to sports.
A pragmatic approach is to test on a small scale , before considering larger investments.
4 simple actions to test:
Offer a 3-month membership to a nearby gym.
Share a dedicated space , if the premises are shared with other structures.
Organize occasional gentle activities (yoga, Pilates, dance) led by a coach. A meeting room can be redesigned for this purpose, ensuring employee safety (and insurance).
Introduce urban walking after lunch. This is a common practice in some countries, such as Germany: walking 3,000 to 5,000 steps in a group before returning to work.
Without managerial involvement, there is no sustainable leverage.
For sport to truly become part of a company's DNA, there must be a clear commitment , driven by management. Without this, no system will be sustainable.
A successful program involves:
Exemplary and committed managers.
Freed up time in the schedule for practice.
An adapted logistical organization (no meetings on these days, accessible schedules, etc.).
The creation of a space for exchange between employees to share this experience.
Sport in the workplace is not just a matter of well-being: it is a lever for sustainable performance , a strong act of recognition and a powerful vector of corporate culture .
And you, what values do you want to embody through your managerial practices?
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