Encouraging team sports boosts employee satisfaction levels finds Standard Chartered Bank

Employers that encourage their staff to play team sports have higher levels of employee satisfaction, research has shown.

The link was discovered in a nationwide poll commissioned by Standard Chartered Bank in the build-up to its Great City Race later this month.

It found that people participating in team sports were five times more likely to work for a company that had experienced at least a 50% growth in the past year.

Staff cited increased levels of personal satisfaction and improved communication and rapport with colleagues among the benefits of taking part in team sport.

The Great City Race, taking place on Thursday 19 July, is a 5km run entered by 6,000 employees representing teams from British companies.

Race ambassador and former 110m hurdles world champion Colin Jackson said: “The research commissioned by Standard Chartered Bank clearly shows that businesses can reap huge rewards by encouraging their staff to take part in group sport.

“The race on 19 July is a wonderful opportunity to get City workers out from behind their desks and focused on fitness and health.”