The effects of a two-minute original exercise program supported by theworkplace unit on the workers’ work engagement: the Bipoji exercise

摘要

[Purpose] This study examined whether workplace support of an exercise program wouldincrease the workers’ engagement. [Participants and Methods] Employees at two facilitiesof the Kyoto Industrial Health Association (the Uji branch and the headquarters) wererecruited. A survey of 238 employees was conducted. A seminar was held, at the facilities,about the “Bipoji” exercise program and afterward the participants underwent differentprocedures. The Uji branch (the support group) supported the continuation of the programfor two months. At the headquarters (the control group), the individual decided whether tocontinue the program. Data were collected at the time of the seminar (the baseline) andtwo months later. A questionnaire measured work engagement using the Utrecht WorkEngagement Scale. [Results] At the follow-up, data were collected from 65 people (60.2%)from the support group and 97 people (74.6%) from the control group. The average change inthe Utrecht Work Engagement Scale scores was 1.7 and −1.2, for the support group and thecontrol group, respectively. When adjusted for background factors, the change was 1.6 and−1.2, for the support group and the control group, respectively. This indicates asignificant increase in work engagement for the support group. [Conclusion] These resultssuggest that a workplace exercise program can improve work engagement.