Pump Up Your Productivity
Corporations face many challenges in today’s economy: motivation
and retention of staff, burgeoning healthcare costs, saving money without
sacrificing efficiency or product quality . . . and the list goes on. Corporate
fitness programs address these vital concerns and can go a long way towards providing a healthy, co-operative and responsible work environment.
By Earl Salzman
The benefits of fitness training have been well documented: weight loss, stress reduction, increased energy, stamina and strength, improved self-esteem and mental health. According to NASA Research, companies with fitness programs demonstrate a 12.5% increase in productivity. Because there are fewer sick days - including long-term disability time brought about by heart attacks, strokes and diabetes – medical costs are therefore significantly reduced.
Here are just a few examples of savings reported by companies, as researched by The Public Health Agency of Canada (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca).
For every dollar invested in fitness programs, the following companies reported these returns:
• Coors Brewing Company - $6.15
• Equitable Life Assurance -$5.52
• General Mills - $3.90
• Motorola - $3.15
• Pepsi Co.- $3.00
• Dupont - $2.15
• Blue Cross - $3.00
New technology brings affordable, portable personal training to the workplace. With a minimal investment in equipment, space and a training expert, an office area can be easily transformed into an effective training environment, where employees can enjoy the benefits of regular, facilitated exercise. As a result, employees benefit from increased physical and mental stamina and stress reduction, as well as socialization in an on-site fitness facility.
Is it time to put your company in the vanguard of this growing phenomenon? In a nationwide survey of 1,700 companies, The Washington Business Group on Health reported that 32% of companies with 50 or more employees have a fitness program, and 64% of companies with over 750 employees have such programs.
It is becoming increasingly obvious that there really are no barriers to implementing a corporate fitness program. In fact, there is a great deal for a company of any size and budget to gain. Stay lean physically and not only will your bottom line improve: you just might leave your competition gasping for breath!
EYE-OPENING STATISTICS
B.C. Hydro reported a 3.5% staff turnover rate
for fitness program participants, compared to
the company average of 10.3%.
Northern Gas employees who participate
in the corporate fitness program have
80% fewer sick days than those who do not.
A nine-month study at Purdue University
concluded that as fitness levels increased,
executives were 70% more able to make
company decisions than non-exercisers.
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