The cégep Lévis-Lauzon wants to counter the sedentary lifestyle

Photo Simon Clark
The treadmills and bikes with a console installed in the common areas of the cégep Lévis-Lauzon for the purpose of moving students and employees, as demonstrated by the young Laurence Miville-Rioux and Philippe Voyer.

Daphnée Dion-Viens

Tuesday, 23 January 2018 00:00

UPDATE
Tuesday, 23 January 2018 00:00

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The cégep Lévis-Lauzon attacks the inactivity of its students and employees by providing them with bikes and treadmills with a desk, which could be a first in the college network.

Each morning, Jennie Pappalardo responds to his e-mails in… walking. This assistant to the executive starts his work day using a treadmill equipped with a table for at least 30 minutes.

“It allows you to integrate physical activity in working and it really helps us to think,” she said. Other employees have habit to spend three hours on the treadmill while working, and this two to three times per week.

Since the autumn, bikes and treadmills with desk are available in self-service at the library, in hallways and in other common areas of the cégep Lévis-Lauzon. We will soon have a dozen, a number that could increase if they do their evidence. The direction of the cégep is also studying the possibility to install them in the classes in order to integrate them to teaching.

These “office assets” are part of a wider initiative designed to counter the sedentary lifestyle. At the cégep Lévis-Lauzon, several meetings take place while walking (see other article), and employees are encouraged to move around during their breaks.

Since the beginning of the winter session, students and employees can also use for free the sports facilities of the college, a unique initiative in the region.

The chair worse than tobacco

Many studies have shown that a sedentary lifestyle has harmful effects on the health, recalls Isabelle Fortier, the director general of the cégep Lévis-Lauzon. “Remain seated, this is worse than tobacco, she said. We wanted to tackle it by putting in place several means. “

By this offensive, the direction of the cégep also hope to improve student success and employee productivity as research has shown that physical activity stimulates cognitive abilities.

“This is also a way to reduce the stress and anxiety in our students and to improve the well-being of our employees,” added dr. Fortier.

Some measures have been put in place without paying a cent, but others have a cost : approximately $ 2300 for a treadmill with desk and 1650 $ for a bike-desk. “It seems to us quite obvious that it is an investment rather than an expense. Alone among the employees, if it avoids a single sick leave, it pays for itself the extent, ” says dr. Fortier.

Other benefits associated with the work assets are also difficult to quantify, she adds, such as the increase of the concentration. A study by the HEC Montréal showed that “office assets” also stimulate the memory of the workers.

Photo Simon Clark

A first in Quebec ?

The bike-desks are more prevalent in the school system, but the cégep Lévis-Lauzon would be the only college in the province to be equipped with it, as well as treadmills with desk.

The Fédération des cégeps, no similar initiative has been reported. “It arouses a lot of interest,” said Isabelle Fortier.

At the cégep Lévis-Lauzon

• 2800 students
• 400 employees

Make meetings walking

Photo Simon Clark

Several teams of employees of the cégep Lévis-Lauzon make their meetings work as we walk down the corridors of the hotel or walking outside.

This is the case of Diane Martin and Katia Chandonnet-Morin, in the human resources department, which are part of the five employees who participate at least once every two weeks at the ” meeting payroll “, which runs walking for at least an hour. “It was the time to do three times around the cegep !” launches Ms. Chandonnet-Morin.

“In our bubble “

Even with folders in hand that could from the wind, it is possible to make the meetings work very effective while on the move, she says. “We forget what is happening around, it is really in our bubble,” adds his colleague, Mrs. Martin.

The assistant to the executive director Aurélie Pappalardo abounds in the same direction. “I think it promotes concentration, sometimes even more than in a closed room,” she said.

Walk in a meeting between colleagues is also changing the dynamic of the encounter, she adds.

“It takes the position vis-à-vis that when one is at the table, which could be a position of confrontation. Walking coast to coast, it [abolishes] the hierarchy, it instills confidence in the employee and it allows us to move forward in our records. At the beginning, some employees are more or less comfortable, but, after, all agreed to do it. “

Real pleasure

With the mild weather of last autumn, the meetings under the sun represented a real pleasure, ” adds Ms. Chandonnet-Morin. “We came out with our sunglasses and we came back tanned,” she said, laughing.

Since the beginning of winter, the frigid temperatures have convinced his team to swap the great outdoors for the corridors of the college.