Creating Fitness Opportunities for Employees

A healthier, more active workforce is a happier, more productive one. Workplace fitness programs offer tailored opportunities to boost employee well-being. By encouraging at-home workouts, building an in-office gym, creating fitness challenges, or starting fitness groups, you can elevate your employees' health, reduce healthcare costs, and foster a more motivated, contented team. Investing in fitness isn't just good for your employees; it's good for your business. Learn how to make healthy resolutions your team can stick to in the new year.
employee fitness

Regular physical movement can improve moods, cognitive functions, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity. It also reduces the risk of obesity and diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Employees should have access to fitness programs tailored to their needs and desires while still being affordable. This will improve not only their health but also their productivity and satisfaction at work. Keep reading to learn about ways to create fitness opportunities for your employees!

What is a Workplace Fitness Program?

A workplace wellness program is an all-encompassing term that refers to activities that a company uses to improve employee health and wellness. A workplace fitness program is a subsect of a wellness program. These programs are designed to help employees find ways to enjoy fitness activities and improve their overall health. Workplace fitness programs can include various activities like informative posters, group fitness activities, fitness stipends, or fitness challenges.

Benefits of Fitness in the Workplace

Providing fitness opportunities to your employees can have many benefits. Regular physical activity can reduce employees’ risk for disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, physical activity improves brain health and reduces one’s risk for heart disease. Additionally, regular physical activity can have a positive effect on one’s mental state. Exercise releases endorphins which can reduce pain and improve mood.

Having fit employees also provides many benefits for employers. First, healthier employees mean lower insurance costs and fewer workers’ compensation claims due to injury and illness. A workplace fitness program also shows employees that they are valued by their employers, which leads to improved morale and boosted productivity.

Ways to Create Fitness Opportunities for Employees

Upon first thought, it may seem difficult to provide fitness opportunities to employees. Luckily, we have compiled a brief list of ideas for contributing to employee fitness.

Encourage At-Home Workouts

For many, fitness is a very personal thing. Some employees may not feel comfortable joining a gym or attending fitness classes. Try offering a subscription to an online fitness service that includes videos and live workout sessions. Oftentimes, these online workouts require very little equipment and are easy for beginners to join in. Additionally, encouraging the use of fitness apps can help employees track their activity and progress and even motivate them to do more. If it’s in the budget for your company, offering a stipend or reimbursement for home fitness equipment can encourage employees to partake in more fitness activities.

Build an In-Office Gym

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who work full-time spend approximately 8.5 hours a day at work. If you have the space and budget available, building an in-office gym space can be a great way to improve employee fitness. This allows employees to work out with quality equipment without going out of their way. According to some surveys, about 77% of respondents said they would work out if a gym were on-site at their office. An on-site gym, though it has a high upfront cost, could save your company money in the long run as employees use it more and become more fit.

Create an Office Fitness Challenge

Some people have a competitive edge. Creating a fitness challenge where employees can sign up and compete is a great way to involve those more competitive. Setting a big goal for your employees, like running a certain distance, allows them to step up to the challenge and track their progress. Be sure to make a deadline or a final event, like hosting a run/walk in your office park. Offering incentives like prizes or charitable donations can entice more employees to participate.

Start Fitness Groups

Working out with a group can keep employees motivated and accountable. Find some employees willing to start a sort of fitness club for various categories of fitness activities, like walking, running, or strength training. Other employees may be more willing to join these groups if they are led by employees. 

Creating fitness opportunities for your employees is a great way to improve employee health and wellness. As we head into the new year, consider implementing one of these ideas in your office! Make healthy resolutions you can actually keep.

How Can We Help?

Work Health Solutions offers comprehensive healthcare solutions for your medical needs. Our qualified team treats patients and employers alike and always provides top-quality service. Our quality service is backed by years of experience working with academic and research institutions, corporate healthcare, Fortune 25 companies, small governments, and local businesses. Reach out today with any questions about how we can assist you!

Work Health Solutions

Work Health Solutions

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Work Health Solutions is dedicated to preserving a safe work environment and improving existing programs and care for local, regional and national organizations.

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Dr. Glen Cheng

A physician-attorney with a dedication to healthcare innovation, informatics, and digital health.

  • Currently spearheads employee health protection and promotion within the VA Pittsburgh Health Care System.
  • Trained in residency at Harvard, achieving board certification as a physician; also a licensed patent attorney with experience as FDA regulatory counsel.
  • Co-founded Acceleromics, a consulting firm providing clinical and regulatory guidance to digital health startups.

Erin Davis

 Chief Clinical Officer at Work Health Solutions, certified in Adult-Gerontology (AGNP-C) and Athletic Training (ATC).

  • Oversees clinical operations and ensures high clinical standards across the company’s national field staff.
  • Former Manager of Clinic Operations and Occupational Health Nurse Practitioner at Stanford University Occupational Health Center (SUOHC).
  • Specialized in treating occupational injuries and illnesses, and provided medical surveillance and travel medicine consults at Stanford and SLAC National Accelerator Lab.
  • Dedicated to sports and occupational injury treatment and prevention.
  • Assistant Clinical Faculty at UCSF, mentoring students in clinical rotations within the Adult Gerontology and Occupational and Environmental Health Program.
  • Holds leadership roles as Treasurer and President Elect of the California El Camino Real Association of Occupational Health Nurses (CECRAOHN), affiliated with the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses (AAOHN).

Dr. Robert Goldsmith

Founder and President of NBS Healthcare Group, with a focus on innovation in healthcare consulting.

  • Previous role as Executive Director for Employee Health at Novartis Services, Inc., leading health services and clinical support.
  • Instrumental in creating an integrated healthcare system at Novartis.
  • Former private practice in internal medicine in Stamford, Connecticut, and Medical Director consultant for GTE Corporation.
  • Transitioned to GE as a Global Medical Director in 2000.
  • Holds a medical degree from Albert Einstein College, an MPH from the University of Connecticut, and completed training at Greenwich Hospital and Yale-New Haven Medical Center.
  • Assistant professor in the Department of Medicine at the Vagelos School of Medicine, Columbia University.
  • Serves as a team physician for high school athletes in Stamford.
  • Published works on occupational health risks, primary prevention, and exercise-induced asthma.