Office Productivity and Gym and Health Spas
Posted on January 8th, 2007 by garyPosted in Fitness, Health
Many companies offer perks such as an onsite gym, health centers, classes or other health related offering however do these services offer any productivity benefits for the employer?
The best example of a company who offers a wide array of on site health related benefits comes from the technology giant Google. They have on site physicians, dentists, sports, classes and lectures. Most companies offer much more modest packages. Larger office building may have a small gym with some weight machines, stair machines, treadmills and other exercise equipment. Others offer classes throughout the year on managing stress, nutrition, and general wellness. There is even a growing trend of companies offering yoga, tia-chi or meditation sessions. Let’s take a more in depth look at some of the benefits to employees and employers.
The Psychologically Healthy Workplace Awards holds a yearly award listing companies who provided health workplaces Last years Winners were Versant, The Comporium Group, ARUP Laboratories, IBM’s T.J. Watson Research Center, Great River Health Systems, Green Chimneys School. Some of the factors criteria used in making this judgment included:
- Efforts to help employees develop a healthy lifestyle, such as stress management, weight loss and smoking cessation programs
- Health screenings
- Access to health/fitness/recreation facilities
Another big concern many employees have is finding the balance of work and personal life. According to AllBusiness.com one of the easiest things an employer can do to relieve this stress is offer flexible schedules and unscheduled comp time.
Employee burnout is caused by a number of things, including an employee’s own abilities, their workload, their responsibilities and how much support they have in the workplace. But there are things you can do help employees juggle work and home life. Even the smallest efforts show your employees that you respect their personal time and make them feel good about their relationship with you and the company.
Give employees comp days. Certain projects or seasons require an unusual amount of work or overtime. After these busy periods are over, reward your employees with a comp day or two. It will emphasize how much you appreciate their efforts and the sacrifices they’ve made. Plus, it increases the chances that they’ll voluntarily pitch in for the next big project.
For an employer looking to justify the expense of providing this service workplace productivity is a key metric. Again looking at AllBusiness.com we can find see that these benefits often have the desired outcome:
Proper nutrition and regular exercise have been proven to increase workers’ performance and boost their immune systems (meaning fewer sick days). Instead of chips and doughnuts, stock the kitchen with fresh fruit and granola bars. Always provide plenty of water. Consider offering employees subsidized gym memberships and/or yoga classes. Encouraging better eating and exercise habits will have them feeling better both physically and emotionally, thus reducing their stress levels and improving the quality of their work.
In some instances providing these services directly isn’t possible for space, economic or staffing reasons. In that case choosing a location that has an onsite gym or health spa can be an attractive option. The gym usually offers discounted rates for people who work in or near the building or complex, providing a win-win situation for everyone involved.
A small but interesting trend is the number of companies who are combining health spa visits with brainstorming sessions. The company will send a small team of employees on a three or four day retreats. During these retreats employees get massages, wraps, aromatherapy and many of the other treatments normally offered during spa visits. Putting employees in a relaxed mood and non workplace setting can often be helpful in coming up with new and creative ideas and solutions and encourage stronger ties and bonds between the employees, resulting in a better overall work environment.
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