Small Business Policies Toward Employee and Community Promotion of Physical Activity
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
Abstract
Background: Basic information is needed to develop strategies for promoting physical activity (PA) in small business. This preliminary study described small business policies encouraging PA.
Methods: Interviews were completed at 98 small businesses (5-100 employees) in 2003. Business policies encouraging PA participation by employees and the public were assessed. Stage of Change was used to describe intentions to develop such policies.
Results: A total of 53 PA policies (12 employee; 41 public) existed. The most common employee policy was incentives for gym memberships (41.7%). The most popular public policy was sport team sponsorships (60.1%). Most businesses (60.2%) were not thinking about creating a policy for PA while 33.7% had a policy in place (20.4% > 6 months).
Conclusion: Small businesses have few PA policies and most are not thinking about such policies. Research should determine why this is the case and what approaches could stimulate the development of PA policies.
DOI
10.1123/jpah.3.4.405
Publication Date
10-2006
Keywords
environment, exercise, health, survey, worksite
ISSN
1543-5474
Recommended Citation
Suminski R, Poston W, Hyder MM. Small Business Policies Toward Employee and Community Promotion of Physical Activity. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2006; 3(4). doi: 10.1123/jpah.3.4.405.
