The perk of being boss is that the meeting is over when you stand.
The downside? You are responsible for your employees.
You are responsible for their work environment, safety, and compensation. You are responsible for their training, assessments, and productivity. And much of employee performance hinges on their health and well-being.
To save you from low-energy team members, diminished productivity, and possibly extra sick days, here are 8 reasons why you seriously need to consider purchasing exercise equipment for better workplace health.
Improved Health
In a fast-paced world, we like to perceive exercise as a luxury, something we would do if we had the time. Investing in exercise equipment in the workplace gives us this time.
Your employees don’t have to commute long or even pay much for gym services. What you, as a business owner, get in return are better-performing employees.
Consider adding a treadmill to your office space (or a couple of treadmill desks!), a stretching machine, or even an exercise bike. A little bit of office gossip in the sauna can help to improve blood flow and relieve stress.
Stress Reduction
Speaking of stress, some of it is imperative for life. But when it overwhelms us, it affects our production. Adding exercise equipment to your office won’t just benefit their physical health but their mental health as well.
Stressed staff are more likely to be absent, and those who show up ‘appear to be working’ but aren’t really. It affects their sleep and, ultimately, work production.
According to Mayo Clinic, exercise, in almost any form, acts as a stress reliever. It reduces the body’s stress hormones and, through sweating, releases endorphins to help your mind and body relax.
When you invest in your employees’ health by providing exercise equipment, you are actively supporting their well-being.
Work-Life Balance
The 8 to 5 work schedule is a hectic one. It becomes even more difficult to squeeze in a few minutes for the gym.
But not if you have exercise equipment at the office. You no longer need to commute for long to access gym services.
Short, focused workouts during work breaks makes it easy to keep fit amid a busy work schedule. It is convenient, easily accessible and saves time.
The workplace culture of working out promotes and encourages staff to lead a healthier lifestyle. Workers are healthier, more focused, and less stressed.
Increased Productivity
According to a study by the National Library of Medicine, a more immediate benefit of regular exercise is its impact on the way we think.
When working out, we focus on a more attractive physique, a healthy heart, and lower blood pressure. All these are important. But what’s even more critical is our brain’s health.
Your brain reacts positively to regular exercise, improving memory and concentration and enhancing creativity.
Less sick days and fewer grouchy employees mean happy workers. Happy workers equate to improved concentration, increased brain function, and enhanced creativity. All this means more productivity and more money.
Promotes Team Building
When you workout together, you are more likely to work together.
Having workers share activities is a corporate trick to enhance team work and strengthen bonds among employees.
The same way the employees train towards a common fitness or wellness goal, they will also collaborate during work. This creates a supportive environment where they foster camaraderie and encourage each other to push their limits.
Team members get to interact more during workout sessions, they learn from each other and build a cross-functional relationship.
The friendly competition on who gets to lift the most weight or run the most miles has more than physical benefits.
Lower Healthcare Cost
Fact: unhealthy employees cost more than healthy ones.
A study by the University of Michigan reveals that you save $177 a year for every employee who sheds their obese weight (30+ pounds), $1,100 a year for every worker who stops smoking, and $1,200 for every employee who lowers their cholesterol levels to 190 mg.
Even with the various medical equipment financing options, this is still expensive. Our lifestyle choices– whether it is smoking, improper nutrition, or lack of exercise– cost us a lot of time and money.
Investing in exercise equipment for your employees is an excellent initiative towards healthy living. Remember, you’re not only cutting off health-related expenses. You are also saving lives.
Job Satisfaction
Every employee wants to be in a comfortable work environment. No one wants to wake up in the morning only to look forward to when it’s time to leave for work.
An office gym is an excellent way of making staff develop an appreciation for their workplace.
The workers’ energy levels are increased, stress is reduced, there is more teamwork and cooperation among everyone, plus concentration is enhanced.
When everything is working according to your workers’ needs, they don’t have any reasons to look for greener pastures.
Legal Compliance
In many jurisdictions, there may be regulations or guidelines related to employee health and safety. For instance, labor laws require scheduled breaks in between work.
It’s also important for workers to attain a certain level of fitness to get the job done effectively while simultaneously keeping out of harm’s way.
Not complying with such regulations can lead to lawsuits, legal penalties, and damage to the company’s reputation.
Who wants that? Not you.
Sweat it Out
Remember the saying: You don’t build a business. You build people, and then people build the business.
It may be difficult at first, but investing in office exercise equipment is a win-win for everyone. Your workers get in shape, their moods improve, and their productivity increases.
This lowers your medical insurance claims, you remain on the right side of the law, and your profits increase.
A workplace gym doesn’t need to have state-of-the-art gear, but a few pieces of exercise equipment can make a big impact. Use whatever little space you have. Do some research, talk to your team, and devise a way and budget to make your employees healthy and happy.
