Australian researchers are preparing to test a bold idea: should workers be paid to exercise during their shifts? A new trial at a Western Sydney hospital will track whether giving employees 30-minute exercise breaks improves their heart health, mental well-being, and productivity.
Why target physical inactivity in the workplace?
Heart disease remains a major health challenge in Australia. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, more than one million Australians aged 18 and over, or 6.4 per cent of the adult population, were living with heart, stroke, or vascular disease in 2024.
Regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to a third. It also helps lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and strengthen the heart muscle. Yet the Heart Research Institute estimates physical inactivity costs the Australian economy more than $2 billion every year.
Cardiologist Dr Faraz Pathan, who is leading the study, describes physical inactivity as a costly problem. He says it contributes to cardiovascular disease, mental health issues, and an increased risk of certain cancers.
“That means we lose staff to absenteeism. We lose people to illnesses. We lose people to the premature truncation of their careers,” he told SBS News. “Amplified at the level of society and economy, this is a very costly exercise.”
How the trial will work
The 12-month study will involve 100 healthcare workers at Nepean Hospital in Western Sydney. Participants will receive 30-minute exercise breaks during their shifts, with activities including walking, boxing, and virtual reality tennis.
Researchers will compare two groups. One group will start receiving exercise breaks immediately, while the other will begin six months later. This design allows the team to measure the impact of the intervention over time.
Dr Pathan says the study will track changes in cardiovascular health and fitness. But the team will also look closely at mental health outcomes.
“Is depression improved? Is burnout improved? Is anxiety improved? Because I think some of the benefit may not only be cardiovascular. It may actually be in your mental health and wellbeing as well,” he said.
Why hospital shift workers?
Dr Pathan acknowledges that testing the idea in a hospital setting is challenging. Shift work is a known cardiometabolic risk factor, and hospital staff face competing priorities.
“I do think doing a trial like this in hospital is doing it on hard mode, because there are competing priorities. But if we can pull it off in this group, and if we show that people are doing better, well then I would love to see this implemented in businesses and in environments across Australia,” he said.
What workers think
Nurse Lisa Barry, a mother of three, says exercise has often fallen down her priority list as life gets busier. She believes paid exercise breaks would make a real difference.
“You get home from work absolutely exhausted, and the last thing you feel like doing is exercising. So having it as part of your workday would be fantastic,” she told SBS News.
Barry also expects the breaks to boost her energy and focus during shifts.
“I think it’ll be good for a mental reset. And then you come back, and you’re ready to go, you’re hyped up, you’re ready to keep on going with your shift,” she said.
Could paid exercise breaks become standard in Australia?
Dr Pathan hopes the trial will provide the evidence needed to expand the concept nationally. He envisions Australia leading the way on workplace wellness policy.
“My dream is for Australia to be the first country that brings this into existence for workers. We’ve led the world in public policy before so I think we can be ambitious,” he said.
The trial is set to begin next year. If successful, it could reshape how Australian workplaces approach employee health and productivity.
Frequently asked questions
Will workers be paid for exercise breaks?
Yes. The trial at Nepean Hospital gives healthcare workers 30-minute paid exercise breaks during their shifts as part of the study.
What types of exercise are included in the trial?
Participants can choose from walking, boxing, and virtual reality tennis, among other activities.
When will the results of the study be available?
The 12-month study begins next year. Researchers will compare health outcomes between participants who receive exercise breaks early and those who start later.