BT’s workplace health campaign sees staff shed the tonnes

BT workers have lost 10 tonnes of weight since the telecoms giant launched the UK’s biggest workplace health campaign last September.

BT launched the £40,000 campaign after it emerged that one of their employees was dying every two weeks from a heart-related illness.

More than 16,000 staff signed up for the 16-week Work Fit campaign, which included free kitbags containing pedometers and health-food vouchers and involved a series of simple lifestyle and diet changes and moderate exercises.

A dedicated Work Fit intranet site was set up which included access to nurses who acted as lifestyle advisers, answered e-mail questions and provided dietary and fitness advice.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

Email(Required)

OptOut

From time to time, we will send you emails about selected products, events and services from Personnel Today and OHW+ - but you can choose to opt-out at any time. If you do not wish to receive these emails, please tick this box.

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Δ

Individuals were also sent tailored weekly activity programmes and tips for help in lifestyle improvements, such as information on food and reducing cholesterol.

Dave Wallington, BT group health and safety adviser, said it was heartening to see people making real changes to their lifestyles.