What physical exercise options are open to modern employers, to offer their employees?
We are all aware that health & wellbeing are at the very core of most of our working days. Whether PAYE or self-employed, maintaining our physical & mental health enables most of us to manage a work life balance.
Physical exercise is, as we all know, a great way to stay fit & healthy, maintain weight & support a healthy mind. Whether you are an ardent gym attendee, cyclist, dog walker, footballer, runner or yoga devotee (the list is endless); having some kind of physical exercise in your life, can help your body & mind be more resourceful & resilient.
Therefore, how are employees able to include some kind of physical exercise into their working week & what are employers in particular doing to address this ever growing need?
Onsite exercise programmes & HIIT sessions
A lot of larger businesses are now able & willing to offer onsite exercise programmes for their employees. A nationally recognised Optician chain offer lunch time HIIT sessions to employees, who are able to take advantage of flexible working patterns to attend.
Many companies are also taking advantage of employing personal trainers to offer bespoke & tailor made exercise programmes to employees.
Onsite Gym
Onsite gyms are common place for many larger companies & especially in companies which are running 24/7 shift patterns. Employees have access to these gyms 24 hours a day & are often actively encouraged to take advantage of flexible working patterns, to enable them to find the time to attend.
Gym membership options
If businesses are unable to offer onsite gym facilities, many companies offer their employees the option of discounts at a local gym & or have arrangements with a national gym chain. This can enable employees to access these facilities closer to home, particularly if they commute to work.
Outdoor sports & team building events
Outdoor sports are gaining in popularity. Military style training or ‘Boot Camps’ are a great way for employees to not only have access to varied exercise, but also allow a competition & team building to enter into the exercise programmes. In addition, a lot of businesses use boot camps as corporate team building & staff training days.
Team sports
A company team, whether it be football, netball, hockey, basketball, etc, is a great way for companies & businesses alike to encourage team building & exercise in one. It also allows healthy competition to take place between complimentary businesses & companies.
Additional wellness options for businesses.
To ensure employees remain fit & healthy & can subsequently perform their roles efficiently; many companies are offering flu jabs, biometric testing & regular health check up’s, as part of their employment packages.
In an ever changing world, employees are constantly mindful that without a healthy workforce, they are at risk of loosing momentum & being left behind by their competitors. It therefore makes sense for them to seek out the relevant tax cuts required, to be able to offer their employees access to health & wellbeing facilities.
Written by Katy-Jane on behalf of Virtually Smart Ltd
