Working out at Work?

Corporate Fitness Programs are a win win proposition for the employer and the employee. Let’s face it, we all have to go to work at some capacity, whether we like it or not. For many people, their job is a necessity, and not an enjoyable one. The growing trend is companies offering a wellness program for their employees which may include health risk assessments and in some cases an on-site exercise program. For employees, an on-site exercise program such as a fitness boot camp program 2-3 times per week, can mean the difference between getting back in shape or doing nothing at all. Everyone is so busy today with family life, that they have no time to travel to workout before or after work. So, by employers offering such a program, the employee now has the opportunity to get in shape and take steps towards leading a healthy lifestyle. With their employees in better shape, the employer also benefits from the increased productivity, decreased sick time, and decreased health insurance claims. Working out during your lunch break, or immediately after work with your fellow employees in a group setting, helps to build rapport and teamwork that translates to the workplace environment. Some employers feel that offering a gym membership to employees will have the same effect as a fitness program on-site, but it doesn’t work for many reasons. The majority of people who own gym memberships pay their monthly dues and don’t show up to the gym for months (or sometimes they never go) because they don’t get the results they are looking for. They either don’t know how to do a proper workout on their own, or they can’t fit it into their schedule to travel to a gym. With an on-site exercise program, it eliminates the travel factor, the program is led by a certified personal trainer who will get them the results they want, and it creates accountability with a group working together with a common goal of fitness and health. If you have a Corporate Wellness or Exercise Program at your work, get involved. If you do not have a Corporate Wellness or Exercise Program at your work, ask why not? Taking the time to find out could be the start of a new healthy lifestyle for you and your fellow employees.