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Sportswear manufacturer ASICS and ‘Succession’ star Brian Cox have launched a campaign ahead of World Mental Health Day (October 10) to promote the impact of desk-based work on employee mental health.
The #deskbreak campaign is based on studies completed by ASICS of employees across the globe, urging workers to get moving with just 15 minutes of exercise.
In a public service announcement video (PSA) to kick off the campaign, Succession star Brian Cox takes up the role of “world’s scariest boss,” warning workers of the cost of being tied to the computer screen.
“Hello workers, another long day at the office? Boss being a meanie? Too bad. Shut up. Listen. I’ve got some important news,” Cox orders with his typical authority.
“It turns out that I’m not the deadliest thing in the office. This is…” he continues, banging his fist on an office desk. “It’s a killer. Science has shown it can be bad for your mental health. But I don’t see you running away from it. No, your boss has you locked to it for eight, nine, ten hours a day.”
ASICS studies show impact of desk-based work on mental wellbeing
Cox continues his monologue, demanding to know why workers are prepared to trade in their mental health for pitiful benefits like a fruit basket or ‘Wellness Wednesdays.”
The message from Cox and ASICS couldn’t be clearer: Employees should take short movement breaks during their workday to protect their mental health.
Although it’s hard not to chuckle at the tongue-in-cheek references to the paltry wellbeing measures most employees have been subject to at some stage in their careers, the campaign is based on comprehensive research with serious implications for employers.
ASICS’ 2024 State of Mind study surveyed 26,000 participants across the globe, finding that mental wellbeing scores declined the longer individuals remained inactive.
Similarly, a follow-up global study of over 7,000 desk-based subsequently that stress levels rose and mental wellbeing scores declined after just two hours of continuous desk work. After four hours, stress levels increased by 18%.
ASICS also completed a further study, this time led Dr Brendon Stubbs of King’s College London & University of Vienna, monitoring the mental wellbeing of 80 office workers from countries around the world. The study found that 15 minutes of movement helped to reverse the effects of long periods of desk work.
Why should employers encourage the #deskbreak for staff?
The 2024 study behind the #deskbreak campaign revealed further compelling insights for HR professionals and employers on the need to encourage breaks from desk work.
When office workers added 15 minutes of movement into their working day, their mental state improved by 22.5%.
Over time, the benefits continue to rise. The experiment found that workers who took a daily #deskbreak for one week lowered stress by 14.7%, and improved productivity by 33.2%, focus by 28.6%, relaxation by 33.3%, and calmness and resilience by 28.6%.
Heeding Cox’s stern warning could bring benefits in recruitment and retention, too. 79.2% of participants said they would be more loyal to their employers if they were offered or encouraged to take regular movement breaks.
“What surprised us with the Desk Break experiment was how powerful the 15 minute movement breaks were in improving wellbeing and reducing stress,” explains Dr Stubbs. “It even changed people’s perceptions of their workplace for the better.”
According to Cox, encouraging a desk break can include any type of movement or exercise. “As I say in the film, run, jump, roller skate. I don’t care. Just move for your mind,” he says.
Creating a culture where employees don’t need permission to take a desk break
As a part of the campaign, ASICS is encouraging “office workers who are able to take a 15-minute Desk Break* to share an image of their empty desk, with images shared raising funds for mental health charities around the world.”
The asterisk, in this case, denotes a reminder to staff: “Employees are advised to check with their employer first before taking a Desk Break.”
There is an undeniable message in this campaign for employers too, as well as workers, in creating a culture where employees feel comfortable to take breaks from their desk before their wellbeing suffers.
Workplace wellbeing has been an increasingly pertinent topic for employers in recent weeks after the tragic death of employees at companies including EY and Wells Fargo, with both employers criticised by staff and HR experts alike for their workplace culture and demands for productivity.
The ongoing debate about office work, spearheaded by Amazon’s five-day RTO mandate, has also prompted conversations among HR professionals about the impact of desk work on physical and mental wellbeing.
This is the conversation ASICS hopes to spark around World Mental Health Day and beyond.
“Our global study revealed that the hours spent at your desk for hours on end are having a real and scary impact on our minds… We hope to encourage office workers around the world to move and feel the mental benefits,” says Gary Raucher, EVP of ASICS EMEA.
