Officers and civilian staff at Police Scotland’s Dalmarnock office were awarded the Walk at Work Award recently after putting in place a range of initiatives to encourage employees to be more active in and around the working day.
The team created a green travel action plan to encourage staff to walk or cycle to and from their Dalmarnock HQ, hosted monthly wellbeing walks, promoted the on-site gym with changing and shower facilities, displayed stair-climbing posters and made pedometers available.
Over 50 staff also took part in a Step Count Challenge, logging over 13 million steps in just one month, and three workplace walking champions have been appointed.
There are also plans for a wildlife garden on the grounds to enhance health, wellbeing and connection with nature.
Inspector Sandra Fleming from Dalmarnock HQ said:
“There was a lot of good work being undertaken at Dalmarnock Office in terms of encouraging our staff to stay active and healthy. We have great facilities in the form of our gym and lovely walking routes available to us along the Clyde Walkway and Glasgow Green. The garden project is in its infancy but already staff are being involved with its development.
It’s great for our staff to have these wellbeing opportunities both for their physical and psychological wellbeing and for all the effort that goes into wellbeing to be acknowledged by this award.
The Walk at Work Award is our workplace accreditation.
Launched in 2018, it celebrates employers who foster a culture of walking in their workplace. Police Scotland’s Dalmarnock branch are one of only 42 recipients of the award so far.
Frances Bain, our Walking for Health Manager said: “We’d like to say a huge congratulations to everyone at Police Scotland’s Dalmarnock HQ.
“It’s brilliant to see Scottish workplaces take the lead in creating a work-based walking culture and making improvements to staff health and wellbeing.
“Research shows that employees who are physically active in and around the working day take fewer sick days, are more motivated and productive, and are more able to concentrate, so walking is not just good for us, it’s good for business. I would urge any Scottish workplace to follow Police Scotland Dalmarnock’s lead and use Paths for All’s support to take steps to a healthier workforce.”
Taking part is free and open to any Scottish workplace that wants to promote an active workforce. Find out more here.