How to encourage your employees to exercise

One of the most important things that employers can do for their employees is to encourage them to exercise. Exercise has been shown to not only increase on the job productivity but can also help to decrease the health costs that businesses can incur. The health benefits from regular exercise will help your employees avoid the major health problems that affect so many workers today. Best of all, when your employees are participating in regular exercise and they get sick they are more likely to get well faster, and use less health care, and sick time while doing it. However, many employers are unsure as to how to motivate their employees to exercise. Here is what you need to know about how to encourage your employees to exercise-

- Offer an onsite gym-This has been shown to be the best way to encourage your employees to exercise. An onsite gym provides your employees with the chance to exercise before work, during lunch, or after work with the convenience of having it all right there. Studies show that employees who exercise before work or on breaks work at a much higher rate of productivity while employees who take advantage of after work exercise report reduced amounts of stress. It is important to keep in mind that an onsite gym can be a major expense. However, the good news is that each business can offer the type of gym that best meets their needs and their budget. While some companies may be able to offer fully staffed and equipped onsite gyms complete with showers, changing rooms, and even a pool other companies may need to clear out a conference room to add exercise bikes and weights. The bottom line is that each business that wants to offer an onsite gym can find the right solution for their budget and the needs of their employees.
- Offer unique solutions that fit your business-Be creative and think outside of the box. There are as many ways to exercise as there are businesses. Many businesses that cannot offer an onsite gym have found other ways to encourage their employees to exercise. One creative company has installed bike and walking paths between their buildings so employees can either grab a bike or walk a path either while they are at work or after. Another business has spent a few dollars lighting their stairways and painting them with encouraging sayings. Employees are encouraged to walk the stairs instead of taking the elevator. When the stairwells are lit and brightly painted it almost becomes an onsite gym. The bottom line is to find the best way to incorporate exercise into the culture of your business that will give your employees a reason to use it.
- Offer discounted gym passes-Sometimes due to space or budgetary reasons there is just not a way to offer exercise options at work. Many businesses that have found themselves in this situation have gone to offering discounted gym passes for their employees as part of their employee wellness program. This way the business is able to stress the important of employee exercise while still staying on budget for their employee wellness plan. Despite the success of this type of exercise program many business owners have seemed reluctant to offer this option for fear that it is not being used. However, you can combat this problem by requiring a certain number of gym visits per month in order to keep the discounted gym pass. This option allows employees to continue exercising while the local gym takes on the liability and expense of running the gym.