Member Article

Healthy employees are happy employees

Getting enough exercise each week is important not only for our waistlines, but also for our mental health. The time we spend staying active can have a direct impact on our energy and productivity levels. With many people struggling to fit in the recommended daily activity of 2.5 hours per week, it could be that their employers hold the answer.

Giving employees a gym membership could provide a solution to stalling creativity, and increase your workers’ efficiency in the workplace. Exercise can lead to a positive attitude and increased employee morale. If employers were to help promote an active and healthy lifestyle within the workplace, rather than expecting their employees to do this in their free time, then it would be expected that they would reap the benefits of a happier and healthier workforce. These are just a few of the benefits employers might expect to see if they were to offer gym memberships to their workers:

Top teamwork

Exercising as a group can develop healthy competition between teams, and also promote a harmonious workplace. Battling it out on the football pitch not only develops participants’ ability to work as a team, but also provides time for them to socialise, which will affect the way they communicate within the workplace.

Exercise classes, such as boot camp, Zumba or even yoga can allow your employees to bond over shared experiences and have fun whilst getting fit. Employees are more likely to speak up and share ideas amongst people they are comfortable with, so it could be in an employer’s best interest to ensure that the workforce create positive relationships with one another.

Promotes productivity

People who often attend early morning gym sessions report higher energy levels throughout the day than those who exercise in the evening. When people start their day with exercise, it leads to a domino effect throughout the day, helping them to make healthy choices, such as taking the stairs or having a healthy lunch. These small changes can positively impact the way they feel for the rest of the day, resulting in greater efficiency and motivation.

In Japan, many companies start their day with an exercise routine, known as rajio taisō, or radio exercise, as many Japanese companies tune in to a nationwide broadcast to take part in the daily routine.

Stress-busting

Tight deadlines, strict policies and taking too much on at once can lead to stressed-out employees. Encouraging them to take part in 30 minutes of activity a day can help to relieve this stress. Whether it’s boxing it out on a punch bag, or stretching and relaxing in yoga, employees will soon find that they are much more able to deal with life’s stresses, and anything which their work throws at them.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by DW Fitness .