Why Corporate Fitness Is Important For Your Company

Corporate Fitness is something relatively new in the last decade or so, but It’s great that companies are taking initiative to help their employees take better care of themselves and live a healthier life. Aside from helping their employees do something beneficial for their health, why else is corporate fitness important? Here are a few reasons:

1. Company image

Who would you rather work for?

• Company A. They provide a $500 health spending account for each employee, and once per month they have a health professionals in for a lunch and learn (eg. Dietitian). Further, they sponsor active-type charity events (like a 5km run) which employees can do for free and are encouraged to participate.
• Company B has no health spending account, but the workers often hit up a nearby pub after work where the boss covers the first round.

Yes, the above examples were purposely made to show that Company A would likely be the more favourable choice. But the point is, many would rather work for a company that has a positive and healthy workplace culture.

2. Increased morale, decreased stress and absenteeism

I included these together since they are all related, let me break them down a little more:

1. • i. Increase morale: Imagine a workplace full of happier, healthier employees. Health is one of the major concerns throughout the world. As obesity climbs and sedentary lifestyles increase, so do health complications and preventable diseases. Many people fall into a constant cycle of excuses, using lack of time as an excuse for not fitting exercise into their busy work and life schedules. Incentives are extremely effective motivators that can aid individuals on their journey toward a healthier life. Something like a corporate weight loss or fitness challenge is a great way to motivate employees to exercise and become more health conscious; while also providing motivational incentives.
   • ii. Decrease Stress:  Healthy habits and exercise are incredible stress busters. A less stressed employee is a more productive employee; statistics have shown that healthier employees are more productive overall.
   • iii. Reducing Absenteeism: This can be a direct result of a healthier lifestyle. Healthy eating and an active lifestyle lead to a stronger immune system, which in turn results in a healthier employee who misses fewer work days due to illness. Sick employees cost companies a lot of money – in direct money and lack of productivity.

3. Social Cohesion & Support

Maybe you have some new employees, or employees that are in different departments and rarely see each other. Maybe John from sales recognizes Joe from the IT department, whose name he saw on the leaderboard (think weight loss challenge). Not having known each other well before, they spark of a conversation “Oh, you’re doing the weight loss challenge too?” After talking for some time they realize they have a lot in common, in fact their daughters go to the same school. This increased connectivity leads to increased camaraderie and loyalty to the company.

Further, losing weight is hard and having support is needed – in one form or another. Fun fact: one of the biggest predictors of someones weight loss success is their social support network: are they encouraging, or discouraging? Said differently, are the people that you spend the most time with during your day supporting you, or discouraging you? This can be indirectly (are your co-workers engaging in healthy, or unhealthy behaviours) or directly.

An article by the Harvard Business Review said the following:

“Companies can expect reduced absenteeism and presenteeism, greater employee engagement and productivity, less unscheduled paid time off, fewer workers’ comp claims, greater employee retention, increased employee satisfaction and morale, and demonstrable competitive advantage”

Here’s something interesting: In the UHF and APHA Annual Report Dec 2005 (yeah that’s a little old, but the results were interesting), it was shown that a business with 100 employees could have following breakdown:

• One employee uses cocaine
• Five are being treated for diabetes
• 10 drink alcohol heavily
• 10 have high blood pressure
• 10 have diabetes (5 of them don’t know it)
• 25 smoke cigarettes
• 25 have high cholesterol
• 25 have heart disease
• 30 are overweight by more than 20%
• 50 feel moderate stress

As a company owner, or influencer of company activities and spending, you can help reduce some of those numbers above.

If you or someone you know would be interested in working with us for Corporate Fitness event or program, we’d love to help. Get in touch with us by clicking here.