Moving more at work is a blind spot in many organisations. Employees spend the majority of their working day at a desk, which can lead to physical complaints, fatigue, and reduced concentration. In the long run, too little movement also affects health and work capacity.
Discover the approachMovement in the workplace is not a side issue. It touches directly on absenteeism and the costs that come with it. Average sickness absence in the Netherlands sits at around 5.8 percent, and a sick employee quickly costs an organisation between 250 and 400 euros per day.
Prolonged sitting is one of the risk factors an employer can actually influence. It goes hand in hand with more physical complaints, less energy and reduced concentration during the working day. That is precisely why it pays not to leave movement at work to chance.
The gain rarely lies in one big intervention. It lies in a working day where movement is the obvious choice, supported by policy that goes further than a one-off appeal.
Source: CBS & TNO (NEA 2025–2026).
Movement brings both physical and mental benefits. Regular activity improves fitness and boosts energy levels. This leads to better concentration and motivation while reducing stress, essential in a busy work environment.
Want to know more? Get in touchMovement doesn't have to be intense to be effective. Small moments of activity throughout the day can make a big difference. By embedding movement into work culture, employees feel more energised and engaged.
It often starts with awareness. When employees gain insight into their energy and health, they become motivated to move more. Organisations can support this by creating an environment where movement is natural.
VitsAll works with TNO to scientifically measure sustainable employability. This delivers reliable insights and a proven approach, effective for organisations of all sizes.
Movement in the workplace rarely takes hold through a one-off appeal. It works better when the environment and the working day make the healthy choice the obvious one. These six adjustments are low-threshold and can be applied immediately.
Let employees stand up, stretch or take a short walk every hour. Brief interruptions break up prolonged sitting most effectively.
A walking meeting with two or three people often works better for focus than the same conversation around a table.
Height-adjustable desks give employees the choice to alternate between sitting and standing.
Put the stairs front and centre. A change in the environment shifts behaviour faster than an appeal does.
Think of a bicycle scheme, good storage and showers at the office, so cycling becomes practically feasible.
From company sports to movement challenges, together with our network of 500+ partners.
Want to find out how movement can contribute to more energy, vitality and sustainable employability? We'd love to help you integrate movement into your vitality policy in a practical and accessible way.
Movement policy works best when you know where the need lies. Not every team sits equally still, and not every employee faces the same barrier to getting active. A generic programme for everyone therefore often only resonates with part of the organisation.
With the VitsAll Risk scan, backed by TNO, you map your employees' sustainable employability. This produces risk profiles showing which teams and departments benefit most from extra attention to movement in the workplace.
That way you choose interventions that fit the group. You then establish together what you steer on and measure again, so it becomes visible whether the movement policy is actually taking hold.
The Risk scan maps employability and risks per team.
Movement interventions go to the groups that need them most.
A repeat measurement shows what works and where to adjust.
Movement is one of the pillars of a vital organisation. Want the bigger picture? Discover how to measure sustainable employability and reduce absenteeism with a data-driven approach.
Answers to the most common questions about movement in the workplace.