Work Wise UK is urging employees to walk to work today, to provide a boost to their health, happiness, and benefit the UK economy.

This, call for action, on the second day of Commute Smart Week, is also being made by champions of walking and improving our streets, Living Streets, through its Walking Works campaign.

WORK WISE UK NEWS RELEASE

Work Wise UK is urging employees to walk to work today, to provide a boost to their health, happiness, and benefit the UK economy.

This, call for action, on the second day of Commute Smart Week, is also being made by champions of walking and improving our streets, Living Streets, through its Walking Works campaign.

Just 90 minutes of exercise per week can cut the number of sick days an employee takes by half, according to research commissioned by Transport for London*¹. The CBI reports that in 2006, lost days from sickness cost the UK economy £13.4 billion

Commute Smart Week, organised by Work Wise UK, highlights how smarter working and commuting, such as working from home, staggering work journeys, cycling and walking, can reduce the massive financial, environmental and social cost of commuting.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive, Work Wise UK, said "Walking more, for part of or for the whole of the journey to work, is one of many ways that organisations can improve the working lives of their employees, boosting their health and productivity.

"Walking provides exercise, helps lower stress and avoids frustrating delays."

"Organisations that promote walking and other practices that reduce commuting stress, such as working from home or flexible working, reap major business benefits."

Tony Armstrong, Chief Executive of Living Streets, said: "Employers have much to gain by encouraging their workforce to get walking. By being in control of their journey staff are more likely to be on time, avoiding leaves on the line or traffic jams, and by doing more exercise they are likely to arrive ready to start their working day rather than having to recover from a stressful journey.

"And it's not just about a happier and more contented workforce. There are major savings."

Transport for London has revealed that car parking on average cost businesses around £6,000 *² a year for each staff parking space they provide.

Here are some top tips from Work Wise UK and Living Streets for safely walking to work, particularly during the winter months:

• Cross the roads carefully - it's easy to be distracted if you're on the phone or listening to music.
• Keep your personal music player volume down - you need to be able to hear what's going on around you.
• See and be seen - stick to well-lit paths in the darker months, you'll be able to see where you're going and be visible to car drivers and cyclists
• Plan your route - if you're headed home after dark make sure you know where you're going before you set off.
• Layer up - Start by wearing multiple layers which you can strip off as you get going and get warmer.
• More tips can be found on the Walking Works and Work Wise UK websites

National Commute Smart Week three remaining days will focus on:

• Cycling (why spend hours in the gym?)
• Health benefits of smarter working and commuting
• Road congestion and road safety (including car sharing)

A number of spokespeople will be available from Work Wise UK and from organisations which successfully practise smarter working, both national and regional.

Work Wise UK has published, with its supporting partners, a series of tips and guidance on working smarter, which will be circulated to the media and uploaded on the Work Wise website prior to National Commute Smart Week.

Further details about Work Wise UK can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org). There is also a dedicated pressroom available through the website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net.
More information about Walking Works visit the website www.walkingworks.org.uk
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Notes to editors:

• *1 Evidence Review on Physical Activity, Absenteeism and Productivity, Transport for London 2007
• *2 see http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/corporate/annual-costs-car-parking-london-businesses-report.pdf
• is organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
• Supporters of the Work Wise UK campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Equal Opportunities Commission, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health, Technology Means Business, Henley Management College and the Association for Commuter Transport.
• Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.
• A dedicated electronic media centre has been established for journalists to obtain further information, to download print-quality materials, and to register for media updates about Work Wise UK. This can be accessed either through the main website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net.
  

For more information contact Lucy Abell, Living Streets' Communications Manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , tel 020 7820 1010.