Ryan FowlerMore than a third of business owners have seen staff sickness fall as a result of employees playing sports together, new research from Mercedes-Benz Vans has found.
The study revealed 35% of business owners said staff were less likely to take sick days when they played team sports, while 63% actively encouraged staff to play together to improve health and happiness at work.
Half of those surveyed said team sports made their employees more productive, while 48% reported stronger team spirit as a result.
The findings follow reports that 149 million working days were lost to illness or injury last year, with sick leave and absence costing the UK economy £103bn annually.
The research coincides with the return of Vantasy Football – the UK’s only football tournament for van drivers – hosted by Chris Kamara at the England team’s training base, St George’s Park in Staffordshire. The event brings together teams of van drivers and colleagues from across UK businesses to compete for the Mercedes-Benz Vans Vantasy Football cup.
Kamara said: “Mercedes-Benz Vans has found that team sports reduces sick days at work and drives a better work culture. So the message is clear: Get out playing team sports.
“Being with friends, talking to people and making sure once you finish work you mix with others is so important, particularly for those who spend a lot of time working alone.
“I absolutely agree that more businesses should be encouraging team sports – and if they do this new research shows they are likely to see their productivity improve.”
Ross Baxter, fleet manager at medical delivery firm Sciensus, managed a five-a-side team at last year’s Vantasy Football tournament and said the event inspired his colleagues to create their own competition.
Baxter said: “I can’t explain how positive the players were after the tournament – they said it was fantastic to be a part of something bigger and build a bond with their colleagues.
“We’ve now set up our own annual Sciensus Soccer Saturday, and many of the teams who played together in that now play five-a-side every week.
“It’s created a real sense of community and team spirit, and the feedback has been fantastic. We’ve also seen a 17% reduction in sick days taken since the initiative began, and staff turnover has also fallen. We are really thrilled with how positive it has been.”
Iain Forsyth, managing director of Mercedes-Benz Vans UK, said: “It’s clear from our research that team sports are a huge benefit for van drivers – giving them both a way of relieving stress as well as a chance to connect with their team-mates.
“Our research shows 80% of van drivers say playing grassroots team sports has had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing, which in turn has a positive impact on their productivity and the role in the businesses they work for.
“The benefits for team-building and boosting morale are also a valuable insight for business owners.
“Physical and mental health are critical in any business that operates vans. I’m proud to be leading a business showing the benefits of team sports among our own employees and the businesses we work with.”
The study also found 57% of van drivers said being part of a workplace sports team was the best way to relieve stress, while a third said it helped them see colleagues in a more positive light.
Mercedes-Benz Vans noted the findings come amid a 37% rise in the number of van drivers on UK roads since 2012, driven by the growth of home delivery and online shopping.
