Employee Fitness
Employee Fitness: Why
Employee fitness is becoming more and more important because employees are becoming more and more sedentary. How can the average employer make employee fitness a priority without hurting employee morale and productivity?
Of the employee fitness programs available, walking programs are among the most effective, according to a seminar at the American College of Sports Medicine. Here’s why: employee fitness programs with small, attainable exercise goals are simply more effective in aiding sedentary adults to start (and maintain) exercise programs than initiatives which have challenging exercise goals.
An interesting 8-week research study was conducted on a group of adults who said that they hated exercise. A randomly selected group of males and females were presented with relatively difficult-to-reach fitness goals. The other group was given a less-difficult walking program.
The results of this employee fitness program found that group given the easier walking program demonstrated far better levels of fitness at the end of the employee fitness program, because they were able to maintain their programs.
Employee Fitness: Pedometers Boost Employee Interest
Employee fitness programs that focus on walking work much better when employees use pedometers. Here’s why: pedometers are an easy, non-invasive, low-cost way for individuals to raise their awareness as to their daily physical activity and enhance their overall level of fitness.
The majority of people who participated in the research study said they intended to continue using their pedometer after the research study ended.
- There are many different types of pedometers available. Some tips for selecting the best pedometer for your employee fitness program:the easier and cheaper the pedometer, the easier it is to use and/or replace
- If you want more sophisticated pedometers but are worried about the price, consider having participants pay a part of the cost
- purchase pedometers with practicality in mind. Example: pedometers which use straps are generally more practical than “pocket pedometers.”
Employee Fitness: Challenges
The U.S. is becoming a slave to “convenience.” From remote controls for the television; drive up windows at banks and fast food restaurants; elevators and escalators everywhere. Obesity is an epedimic among Americans because of our love of “convenient” things. In short, we’ve become lazy. Why should a business owner care? How does obesity impact the way I run my business? If employees are doing their job, then it does affect me. But that is where you are mistaken. There are many reasons why it’s important to promote employee fitness. For example:
- Exercise and healthy diet provides employees with the energy they require to get through the day. It’s been proven that by getting at least 30 minutes of exercise during the day enhances an individual’s mental and physical wellness. Would you encourage employee fitness if you knew they would be more productive? And if that meant a higher quality product and increased sales for your business, would you encourage employee fitness then?
- The average American adult works more than 2000 hours per year. Most are working more hours which leads more stress a lack of motivation. Employee fitness and exercise contributes to maintaining a healthy body weight and less stress.
- Employee fitness is good for the mental and physical wellness of employees – and that saves you money. Not all companies understand that overweight and sedentary employees are, or will cost them more money than those employee which maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly.
Employee Fitness: Without it, You’re Losing Money
- Overweight and obese employees are more likely to file for worker’s compensation.
- Sedentary employees have higher rates of absenteeism and have higher healthcare claims. Wellness statistics indicate that overweight employees miss 10 more days annually than employees who maintain a healthy body weight.
- Overweight employees cost business between $50 and $2,000 per year in higher healthcare costs and loss of productivity.
Employee Fitness Program Experts
So, you need to make employee fitness a priority. To do otherwise is to waist money. If you need assistance in starting, maintaining or improving an employee fitness program then consider contacting a wellness consultant for a free wellness quote. Some companies offering no-cost wellness quotes are the following:
