Walking trails and on-site gym facilities

Employers are looking for new ways to help their employees lose weight and tone up their bodies. Installing a company gym is just one way some companies have been able to promote health in the office. Larger corporations like Nike, Inc. actually have a complete building that is dedicated to exercise. They also have running and walking trails all around the campus and several soccer fields, golf courses, basketball courts, tennis courts, and other areas for employees to get in some exercise. Not every company was founded on the exercise philosophy like Nike, so they have developed their own on-site gyms for their employees to go and get in some exercise.

Sweating next to your co-workers and your boss may not sound like your ideal workout, but what about stretching next to everyone in a yoga class at 3:00 in the afternoon? Since a lot of employees don't like to get all sweaty while they are at work, companies have begun offering alternative workouts like yoga during work hours. If employees can take a 20 minute break from work to do a quick workout, they will be healthier and happier. Their stamina will increase and their ability to concentrate on their work will improve.

Several companies have even been able to install walking trails around their building. The employees are able to go outside for 15 minutes on a break or during lunch and get a brisk walk in. Try to make the walking trail at least a mile and a half. If everyone can walk for at least a mile and a half each day, it will be easier to keep their weight under control.

Having an on-site gym is convenient for employees, especially those that do not want to pay for a gym membership. If you charge them to use the company gym, make sure it is a reasonable amount and that they aren't paying the same high prices you would expect to pay at a local health club. What really makes an on-site gym attractive is the time that workers will save. They no longer need to get up at 6 in the morning to exercise at the gym before work; they can simple squeeze their workout into their lunch hour. Other people can stay a few minutes longer after work and they don't need to rush from the office to the gym before they return home. This will give your employees more time to spend with their families.

While an on-site gym may sound like a great investment, it may not be the solution your company needs. Some people only talk about work while they are exercising, and this doesn't give them the emotional break they need from their daily lives. The purpose of the on-site gym is to get the employees to exercise and not worry about their jobs. You may be able to reduce some of the "office talk" in the gym by installing a television. This way the employees will be able to listen to something else instead of their coworker that is babbling abut the project they are working on.

If you do install an on-site gym, you also need to install locker rooms and shower rooms. Your employees will need to go somewhere to freshen up before they head back to the office to finish working for the day. This may be why it is a good idea to offer gym passes instead of an on-site facility or to consider offering yoga classes during the day instead. Whatever you decide, make sure your employees are committed to their health. It would be terrible to install a gym only to see the employees walk by it each day and only have one or two people in there.

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