Keeping My Employees Fit

How would you feel if you found out you could make an investment in your business that would ensure your employees were happier in their jobs, more productive, and less likely to take sick days? Quite possibly over the moon.

The good news is, you really can make such an investment, by offering fitness services to your employees.

Read on to find out why offering fitness services could be one of the best things you've ever done for your business, plus some great tips on where to start.

Healthy Employees are Happy Employees

Focusing on health and fitness has many benefits.

Does a workplace where people are generally happy and energetic seem like a dream? In fact, taking care of your employees' health can help make that dream a reality.

If you help keep your employees healthy they will be:

* Fitter and more able to perform tasks;

* More energetic and more productive;

* Happier and more positive – great for teamwork!;

* Less likely to take sick days – meaning savings for you!

What would it mean to your company to have a happier and more productive team who took less sick days and claimed less on their health insurance?

Fitness services are a great boost to your business, plus you can feel good knowing you're taking care of your people.

Happy Employees are Your Best Asset

Increased productivity, a more positive workplace atmosphere, and less sick days are great incentives for any employer to offer fitness services. But there's more!

Think about it – good employees who you can trust and who get the job done are worth their weight in gold.

Offering fitness services will help you retain the best employees in three clever ways:

1. Happier employees feel more positive about their jobs.

2. Happier employees work better together, meaning a boost to morale and a workplace that is worth staying in.

3. By creating a culture of health and positivity, you're showing yourself to be a caring and forward thinking boss that employees want to be loyal to.

I'm Convinced! How Do I Start?

Right now you might be wondering if you have to start offering yoga by the water cooler or have a team of personal trainers on hand every lunch time.

Of course you can do those things if you want to! Or, you can start smaller. The choice is yours.

Here are some ways you can start your in-work fitness program:

* Swap out the snacks in your vending machines for healthy choices;

* Replace the fried food in the cafeteria with good fresh whole foods;

* Keep plenty of fresh H2O available;

* Start regular stretch and movement breaks;

* Offer free meditation classes on site;

* Give out subsidized memberships to the local gym;

* Offer financial incentives for reaching fitness goals;

* Arrange active team-building activities;

* Install some exercise equipment if you have the space;

* Arrange regular deliveries of fresh fruit;

* Start up a walking program.

Make Fitness Fun

Remember, you're not their Mom! Your people are less likely to be enthusiastic about your fitness services if you make it feel like another task that needs completing.

The secret to a successful fitness program is to make it fun for your employees. You can send out reminders in company newsletters and emails, making sure they are positive in tone. Talk to your employees and ask for their input on what they would like.

A good fitness program is an excellent investment in your business, helping your staff to be more productive and bond better as a team. Not to mention saving you money on days lost to sickness and stress.

Be sure you take advantage of the fitness services too – after all the best way to lead is by example.