b'PEOPLE| LEGAL SECTOR| 2021SUSTAINABILITY INSIGHTPHYSICAL WELLBEINGIntroduction Health is a state of holistic physical, mental, and social wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Increasingly, medical researchers are finding new evidence of the interdependence between our physical health and other areas including the resilience of our mental and social states.COVID ImpactsCOVID has significantly shifted the way many of us work and the demands of personal life which has combined with our personal choices to put pressure on our physical wellbeing and law firms were one of the most proactive and most highly publicised groups responding to this unknown risk by closing offices and implementing remote working to protect the health and safety of their employees and clients.COVID lockdowns have affected many of the key foundations of peoples physical health. A wellbeing survey by CSIROs Total Wellbeing Diet found that: 47 percent of people thought their levels of exercise was worse, 39 percent reported that they had gained weight 38 percent felt they had less quality personal time, 36 percent felt their diet was worse and 32 percent arent sleeping as well. At WorkEarly evidence suggests that people have responded in different ways. Some report that the flexibility of home-based working and agile management provided better work life balance and allowed them to prioritise selfcare, exercise and healthy eating. But others have found additional workload and family commitments has increased their unhealthy habits. Many people are finding that COVID working from home makes them more sedentary by spending longer working hours at their desks with less opportunities for movement and exercise. These long intense hours in combination with personal commitments can reduce the amount of health leisure-time and lead to poor choices in other areas including nutrition and drug and alcohol abuse. In addition, many home offices are poorly suited for long habitation with poor ergonomics, lighting, heating and ventilation and opportunities for incidental movement.While some physical health issues can be overcome, many others have a significant and enduring impact on individuals lives and life expectancy as well as the collateral effects on the wellbeing of families and partners.FORMAL POLICY PUBLISHED POLICYPOLICYPUBLISHEDYes 92% No 8% Yes 42% No 56%42'