They see it as “a public health issue”. Wishing to reduce chronic illnesses and improve working conditions through sport, two deputies, one from the majority, the other from the opposition, recommend encouraging physical activity in the professional environment, pointing to the “favorable” context of the Games Olympic Games in Paris, in a report presented on Wednesday.
“Physical and sporting activity at work is a public health issue: doing sport is good for your health, not doing it is a danger for society,” insisted Karl Olive (Renaissance) and Claudia Rouaux (PS) at a press conference.
16 propositions
The two deputies, who worked on the subject as part of a “flash mission”, affirm in their conclusions that “physical and sporting activities remain too underdeveloped in the professional environment”. Due to “lack of time” or “infrastructure”, according to them, physical and sporting activity is practiced by “less than 10% of employees” in a professional environment. However, it would be a “win-win”, reducing employee absenteeism by improving their productivity, they believe. They also point out the dangers of a sedentary lifestyle which “would cost health insurance nearly 500 million euros each year”. “Office workers spend on average 75% of their working time sitting,” they point out.
Among their 16 proposals, these deputies recommend greater awareness, the creation of a “sports company label” and tax incentives for those who play the game. They also propose the creation of a “sport title”, based on the model meal vouchers, or even a strengthening of local sports facilities, while calling on social partners and mutual societies to take up the subject.
The authors also call for institutionalizing physical activity in communities, following the example of the town of Poissy. This commune of Yvelines is a “pioneer” on this subject, by granting two hours per week to all city agents to practice an activity during their working time. Implemented in 2017, this program resulted, according to them, in “a sharp reduction in absenteeism”.
” Culture shock “
“It seems relevant to us to invite all employers to integrate regular physical activity practices into their daily working days by offering, for example, muscle awakening sessions at the start of the day, well-being activities during breaks or even training on the right postures to adopt,” write the authors, who call for “a culture shock” on this subject.
Recalling that sport has been declared a “great national cause for 2024”, they also describe this year marked by the Paris Olympics (July 26-August 11) as “favorable” to the implementation of stronger measures in this area. . In January, Emmanuel Macron called on the French to exercise “at least 30 minutes a day”.
