How to reconnect employees through physical activity ?

At the beginning of 2021, the lock-up was everyone’s reality and the question of when it would be lifted was still unknown. At the CSEM of Bred (Banque Populaire Coopérative; BPCE group), a good number of social and cultural activities have been shut down, as in many other Economic and Social Committees.

How to recreate social links with 3,500 employees, to create synergies between them while encouraging them to practice a physical activity hampered by teleworking? These are issues that Stéphane Quennet, secretary of the CSEM Bred Île-de-France-Normandie, and his team were faced with, back in February 2021.

In addition to the reflection on the ecological transition, the social aspect and the ASC (Social and Cultural Activities), their winter university allowed Xavier de Vichi (treasurer) and Stéphane Quennet to brainstorm on ways to break down the barriers between employees, employees and elected representatives and to fight against the consequences of home office on health.

“We obviously ended trips and excursions and were looking to recreate links among the beneficiaries of the CSE via dematerialization, because we were still in the middle of a lock-down. We also wanted to fight against the damaging effects of a sedentary lifestyle,“ recalls Stéphane Quennet.

“Our solutions have made their way and many CSEs recommend us by word of mouth,” confirms Vincent Tharreau, CEO of Kiplin, which has a track record of success with CSEs such as Groupe Fauché, Forsk, Mediameeting, Arpège, Alten, GRDF, Orange and H&M. But of course, Kiplin’s portfolio also includes small and medium-sized businesses.

“After that, everything moved very quickly. The Recreation Committee voted at the end of February and we had our first kick-off meeting in early April. Kiplin took over the entire management of the digital games we chose.”

On June 14, 250 employees of Bred Métropole took part in the second digital game. “Encouraging participants to walk or use public transport instead of the car, our 1st game took place in April and received excellent feedback. So we ran a 2nd one in June. The more people walk, the more clues they gain to help them solve the riddles to progress in the game”, explains the secretary of the Economic and Social Commitee.

The 3rd game proposes a system of donations to associations chosen by the teams. “This was done so as not to forget the social vocation of the CSE”, as Stéphane Quennet explains. At the end of the three games, the members of the CSE decided to award small ecological prizes to all the participants to reward their participation.

How do you play? “All you have to do is to download the application on your smartphone and enter a code associated with the company. Then, each player validates his or her participation individually,” explains Stéphane Quennet.

“Employees can then access to an activity specially designed for their company, including challenges to be completed: number of steps to be taken as a team in one day, data, quizzes, riddles to solve…. The whole thing constitutes a collective challenge and allows each participant to track his or her activity, to evaluate his or her physical condition,” states the digital health game publisher born in 2014.

“The number of daily steps appears on all smartphones, but we have gone further by providing the company or the client CSE with a dashboard to analyze the evolution of the physical activity of all participants. In addition, we offer a sports program associated with the challenges. Non-compulsory video-conference courses are provided by teachers and coaches,” explains Vincent Tharreau.

Kiplin’s connected games have a long-term objective, which is to stimulate a lasting change in individual behavior.

At the end of these challenges, the level of physical activity of the participants increases, on average, by more than 50%. 70% of the participants are no longer sedentary. “It is effective because we are not talking about an injunction to do sport, or about making those who do not practice it feel guilty,” emphasizes Vincent Tharreau. We adopt a playful approach that meets our collective need to move together”.

Article by Aude Aboucaya / Social CSE Magazine