In June 2026, EASE dedicated the 17th edition of its EASE Talks to the topic of active workplaces for sport employers.
The session, entitled “Active Workplaces for Sport Employers: Building Healthier and More Engaged Organisations”, was based on the contribution of Mr Nikolaus Kleemann, representing Firmen Sport Austria – Company Sport Austria, with the participation of Mr Dirk Van Haelter, member of the Executive Committee of the European Federation for Company Sport.
This EASE Talk opened an important discussion for the sport sector: how can sport organisations, which promote physical activity and well-being externally, also integrate these values into their own working environments?
A sector built around movement, but not immune to sedentary work
Sport organisations are naturally associated with movement, health and physical activity. Clubs, federations, associations, gyms, studios, events organisers and sport service providers all contribute, in different ways, to making people more active.
However, the daily reality of many employees in the sport sector is often very different from the image associated with sport. Many staff members spend long hours in front of computers, in meetings, dealing with administration, project management, communication, finance, legal matters, event logistics, reporting obligations or member services.
This creates a paradox. The sport sector promotes active lifestyles to society, but many of its own employees may face the same sedentary routines as workers in any other sector.
For EASE, this is precisely why active workplaces should become a topic for sport employers. Workplace health and well-being are not only questions of individual responsibility. They are also part of how organisations structure work, manage teams and create sustainable employment environments.
From health initiative to employer strategy
One of the key messages of the EASE Talk was that workplace well-being should not be treated only as a health topic.
For sport employers, it is also an employer issue, an attractiveness issue and a collective performance issue.
At a time when many sport organisations face recruitment difficulties, limited resources, staff turnover, administrative pressure and increasing expectations from employees, the quality of the working environment becomes central. A healthier workplace can contribute to stronger engagement, better retention and a more positive organisational culture.
This is particularly important for sport organisations, whose credibility often depends on the values they promote: participation, inclusion, health, community, effort and collective well-being. Applying these values internally is not only coherent. It can also strengthen the identity and attractiveness of sport employers.
An active workplace is therefore not an additional benefit reserved for large organisations. It can become part of a broader employer strategy: how to make sport organisations better places to work.
Reaching beyond the already active
A recurring challenge in workplace health is that programmes often reach those who are already convinced.
Employees who already practise sport, already value physical activity or already feel confident moving during the working day are usually easier to engage. But the real challenge is to reach those who do not yet have the habit, the confidence, the time or the motivation to take part.
This is particularly relevant for sport employers. Because the sector is associated with physical activity, some employees may feel that they are expected to already be active. This can unintentionally create barriers for those who are less comfortable with sport or who do not identify with traditional physical activity programmes.
The objective should therefore not be to create activities only for the most active employees. It should be to design inclusive, accessible and low-pressure opportunities that allow everyone to participate in their own way.
An active workplace is not about performance. It is about making movement easier, more natural and more inclusive in daily working life.
Small organisations need simple solutions
The sport sector is made up of many small and medium-sized organisations. Local clubs, small federations, gyms, associations, studios and sport service providers often operate with limited staff, limited time and limited financial resources. Many do not have a dedicated human resources department.
This reality matters.
If workplace health is presented as a complex strategy requiring large budgets, external consultants or sophisticated tools, many sport employers will feel that it is not made for them. But the discussion during the EASE Talk showed the opposite: active workplaces can start with simple and realistic actions.
A walking meeting, a short active break, a monthly movement ritual, a lunchtime walk, an internal challenge or a simple self-check can already create momentum.
The key is not to wait for the perfect programme. The key is to create small habits that can be repeated, shared and gradually embedded into the organisation’s culture.
For many sport employers, the most effective starting point may not be a formal policy, but a practical question: what is one small thing we can introduce next month to make our workplace more active?
Building a culture, not just organising an event
One-off activities can be useful. They create visibility, motivation and a sense of collective energy. But long-term change depends on habits.
This distinction is important. A single sport event may inspire people for a day. A repeated workplace ritual can change the way colleagues interact, move and experience their working environment.
For sport employers, the goal should not simply be to organise more activities. It should be to create working cultures where movement becomes normal and accessible.
This can take many forms. Some organisations may introduce walking meetings. Others may encourage active commuting, create team challenges, organise regular short breaks, invite local experts, develop partnerships with nearby sport providers or use digital nudges to remind employees to move during the day.
There is no single model. What matters is that the action is adapted to the organisation, easy to understand and simple enough to last.
Company sport as a source of inspiration
The contribution of Company Sport Austria provided an interesting perspective on how workplace health can be structured.
Company sport has evolved significantly over time. It is no longer only about competitions between employees or occasional sport tournaments. In many contexts, it has become a broader workplace well-being ecosystem, connecting employers, employees, sport providers, prevention, health promotion and engagement.
This approach can inspire the sport sector itself.
Sport employers can learn from company sport by focusing not only on physical activity, but also on how movement can support team spirit, prevention, motivation and organisational cohesion. The workplace becomes not just a place where tasks are performed, but a place where health and engagement can be actively supported.
For EASE, this connection between sport, work and employer responsibility is particularly important. It shows that sport organisations can play a double role: promoting physical activity in society, while also becoming examples of healthier employment practices.
Active workplaces and the future of sport employment
The discussion on active workplaces also connects with broader transformations in the sport labour market.
Sport employers are increasingly expected to professionalise their management practices, support staff development, address skills needs, adapt to digitalisation and create more attractive working conditions. Workplace well-being is part of this wider agenda.
Employees are not only looking for jobs. They are also looking for meaningful work environments, good management, flexibility, recognition and organisational cultures that support their health and motivation.
This is especially relevant in the sport sector, where passion for sport can sometimes hide difficult working conditions, high workloads or limited resources. Promoting active and healthy workplaces can help ensure that commitment to sport does not come at the expense of employee well-being.
For EASE, active workplaces should therefore be understood as part of responsible sport employment. They are one element of a broader effort to make the sport sector more sustainable, attractive and professional.
A practical starting point for sport employers
The main lesson from this EASE Talk is that sport employers do not need to start big. They need to start somewhere.
A workplace health approach can begin with a simple diagnosis, a small collective action, a recurring movement ritual or an inspiring moment. The objective is not to impose a model, but to help each organisation find what is realistic for its own size, culture and resources.
For some, this may mean introducing walking meetings. For others, it may mean encouraging active travel, creating a monthly team challenge, using short digital reminders, or simply opening a conversation with employees about how they experience movement and well-being at work.
The most important step is to make workplace well-being visible and manageable.
Leading by example
Sport employers have a particular responsibility and opportunity.
Because they belong to a sector that promotes the value of sport and physical activity, they are well placed to lead by example. By building healthier and more active workplaces, sport organisations can show that the values of sport are not only promoted externally, but also lived internally.
This does not require perfect organisations or perfect programmes. It requires coherence, creativity and a willingness to start with practical steps.
Through this EASE Talk, EASE invited its members and partners to reflect on how active workplaces can become part of the future of sport employment in Europe.
By supporting healthier routines, more engaged teams and more attractive working environments, sport employers can contribute to a stronger and more responsible sport sector — one that cares not only about participation and performance, but also about the people who make sport happen every day.