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Work ability is declining, and it’s an opportunity for smarter support

Work ability is becoming one of the most critical topics for modern organisations. Not because people are less skilled or less motivated, but because the way we work places increasing strain on both body and mind.

For HR managers and team leads, declining work ability shows up as fatigue, reduced engagement, rising sick leave, and employees who feel drained long before the end of the day. For employees themselves, it often means having just enough energy to get through work, but too little left for life outside it.

Understanding what work ability is, why it is declining among sedentary workers, and how regular movement during the workday can strengthen it is key to building sustainable performance.

What is work ability?

Work ability describes how well a person can meet the demands of their work, now and in the future. It is not just about skills or motivation. It is the balance between:

  • physical and mental health
  • functional capacity
  • work demands
  • recovery and resources

Strong work ability means a person can perform their work without excessive strain and still have energy left for recovery and personal life. When it weakens, everyday tasks start to feel heavier, focus declines, and recovery takes longer.

Why work ability is declining in knowledge work

In many organisations, work has become more sedentary and cognitively demanding than ever before. Long hours at a desk, constant screen time, and high mental load are now the norm.

This combination has several effects:

  • prolonged sitting reduces physical capacity and circulation
  • low daily movement weakens the body’s ability to recover
  • continuous cognitive load increases mental fatigue
  • stress accumulates across the day without proper release

The result is a gradual decline, not because of one dramatic event, but because small strains add up day after day.

Sedentary work and the hidden cost

Sedentary work does not usually feel harmful in the moment. The impact builds quietly over time. Employees who sit most of the day often experience stiffness and musculoskeletal discomfort, slower recovery after work, persistent fatigue, and reduced resilience to stress.

When the body does not move, it becomes less capable of supporting mental performance. When recovery is delayed, even manageable workloads can start to feel overwhelming. 

Now that we understand what drives declining work ability, organisations have an opportunity to support employees more effectively by providing tools and a culture that encourage regular movement.

Why regular movement is essential

Movement is one of the most effective ways to protect and improve work ability. Not intense exercise, but regular, light activity during the workday.

Short movement breaks help activate circulation and muscles, reduce physical strain from sitting, release built-up stress, and support mental clarity. When movement is spread across the day, recovery starts to happen before exhaustion sets in. This makes work ability more resilient over time.

Taking breaks at work also supports energy levels after work. People who move regularly at work are less likely to feel completely depleted in the evening.

How Cuckoo helps strengthen work ability through regular movement

Cuckoo is a tool that supports work ability in a practical way. Cuckoo helps employees build regular movement and recovery into the workday through short, guided breaks that fit into real schedules. The focus is not on doing more, but on doing small things consistently.

By supporting regular movement during the day, Cuckoo helps:

  • increase daily activity among sedentary workers
  • reduce physical and mental fatigue
  • stabilise energy levels
  • support long-term work ability

Work ability does not decline overnight, and it does not improve overnight either. The most effective improvements come from small, repeatable actions that protect energy every day.

You can test this with Cuckoo. Start a free 14-day Cuckoo trial and see how regular, well-timed movement can support your team, today and in the long term.

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