After Work
– exercise for health
Stena Bulk’s employees work hard. In collaboration with Medikus, we have introduced an exercise initiative to improve our employees’ performance both on the track and in the office.
After Work is Stena Bulk’s exercise initiative instigated by CEO Ulf G. Ryder. Every Friday afternoon, employees exercise in Skatås, Gothenburg, supervised by company doctors Maurice and Elisabeth Westerlund from Medikus.
"We expect high commitment from our employees, so we should give something back in return. Better health means happier people who perform better. If your boss doesn’t understand and accept this, I suggest you change bosses," says Stena Bulk‘s CEO, Ulf G. Ryder.
"Employees in many professions are required to exercise during working hours. It’s no use having a fire fighter who's too tired to climb a ladder – and Stena employees also need to be healthy to work well."
From protests to enthusiasm
When employees were asked to leave the office at 4 p.m. every Friday to do an exercise circuit at Skatås sports centre in Gothenburg, many of them initially protested. But the initiative is now immensely popular. The employees get home at the same time as before; the difference is that they no longer fall asleep in front of the TV at 8:30.
Stena’s health programme has minimised sick leave and strengthened team spirit. What’s more, Maurice and Elisabeth Westerlund have documented the effects on employees who participated in the exercise programme. The employees taking exercise have better medical test results including blood pressure, blood lipids, fitness, weight, sleep quality and subjective sense of wellbeing.