Is Work Killing Me? – Wii in an Unhealthy Workplace

As an international jet setting Pasty Muncher I have been fortunate to be able to work around the world.  Being a self appointed Pasty Reviewer has had its advantages – lots of freedom but alas little fortune. I am grateful for the opportunitiies that have come my way but over the past few years I’ve been confined to a “proper job” in the South West – stuck in an office.

Now don’t get me wrong – I love my job (ahem the Managing Director just breezed past whilst the header Is Work Killing Me? was in full view on screen) – but I can’t help passing comment on the down hill path the company in its attitude to serendipity and health has taken in recent times.

Fun and Games to Keep Fit

A policy to allow video games has always been in place.  Originally my colleagues clamoured to take the play station controls to test their nerve and skill fiddling around on pointless platform games then last Christmas great excitement as someone managed to pre-order and successfully buy a Nintendo Wii.  The bundle came with a variety of wii games and soon the wii playing became a very time consuming occupation – I still don’t see it on our timesheet system.

For someone who reflects back on Space Invaders  as being the ultimate video game the sight of seeing four grown men sat in a darkened room holding teeny weeny steering wheels acting out the movements of driving Mario Kart or a Land Rover Sport Freelander in one of the many Nintendo Wii driving games was very surprising.

Wii Fit Fever

Now the latest craze is hopping about trying to keep up with the moves on the Wii Wii Fit game.  reports that playing wii fit actually does increase fitness and improve health are widespread – even authority healthcare sites view wii fit as a favourable pastime see this Your BP post about the positive health benefits by lowering blood pressure playing wii games.

Healthy Food Fresh Fruit for All

Along with the exceptionally good coffee (which i am pleased to report remains) fresh fruit was freely available in the kitchen – supplied by a local greengrocer who selected local seasonal products (apples a plenty)  whenever possible and ensured that the fruit was at least half ripe – unlike the rock-hard efforts that the cost cutting supermarket which usurped him supplied.

Now the fruit bowl remains on the counter – its once gleeming shine populated with bananas, kiwis, pears and seasonal citrus fruit – now a sorry dusty coat.

Now in an attempt to return to the bygone generous day we have Bacon Butty Friday and sadly even though the maths dont add up there is no fruit alternative.

One of my first jobs involved mixing with the trailer trash of Crawley in and industrial estate serving Gatwick Airport.  I was horrified at the windowless, airless, badly lit office with low ceiling and dreary staff.  It occured to me that the state of the workplace conditions must have a marked effect on worker’s health,  so with this in mind perhaps I should be more grateful for my place of work – it still has great coffee and is close to some of the best pasties in the world!