In addition to being cost-effective for companies corporate gym memberships also assist in reducing depression and stress within employees, improve employee satisfaction, motivation and productivity, increase retention of employees, encourage teamwork, and enhance the culture of the business. The additional benefits of offering gym memberships for employees at a corporate level will be discussed in more detail below.
Reduce Depression and Stress Among employees
Studies have shown that physical activity regularly releases neurotransmitters such as endorphins, serotonin and dopamine as well as norepinephrine that are found in the brain.
Endorphins affect receptors in the brain, and decrease the sensation of pain. “Endorphins can also create an emotional sensation within the body, like morphine.” This reduces anxiety and stress.
Regular exercise can also increase the serotonin concentrations in our brains. This can improve mood, a general sense of wellbeing as well as sleep cycles and appetite, all of which are adversely affected by depression.
Dopamine is an chemical signal which plays a significant part in the way people feel satisfaction. It aids people to think and plan, to work, and keep their eyes on their targets.
Regular exercise also aids in maintaining an equilibrium of the stress hormones within the body, including adrenaline. This hormone plays a crucial role in the fight-or-flight reaction of the individual.
Two of the most significant causes of absence and lower productivity at work is depression and stress. Regular exercisers tend to be more content and less stressed and also manage their emotions in work.
Enhance Employee Job Satisfaction and motivation, and productivity and increase retention of employees
Serotonin and Endorphins are often referred to as happy hormones due to the fact that they boost mood and provide a feeling of wellbeing. The research shows a clear connection between positivity and happiness in the workplace , and higher productivity. According to studies conducted by the Oxford University’s Said Business School, there is at the very least an increase of 13% efficiency when people are satisfied and optimistic compared to when they’re unhappy.
Get in touch with our team for information on corporate gym membership discounts.
Regular exercise keeps employees healthy relaxed, calm and enthusiastic at work. “This coupled with a better working environment can improve employee satisfaction, but obviously there are additional factors that play into this.”
A rise in motivation of employees as well as productivity and job satisfaction can lead to an increase in retention of employees. Healthy and happy employees are more likely to stay at their jobs for a longer time than unhappy or unhealthy employees.
When a business incorporates fitness memberships “as an element of their health and fitness plan,” it is considered by employees as an important benefit for employees. The employees are afraid of losing their benefits when leaving the organization. This helps retain employees within the organization.
According to a study unengaged employees cost companies in the US between $450 and $500 billion each year. Additionally, companies with employees who are engaged have a 21% higher profit than those with less engaged employees. Industry experts have also stated the importance of health insurance as among of the primary reasons employees decide to remain at one particular firm across the US. These assertions highlight why companies should put a premium on gym memberships at corporate to boost retention of employees.
Encourage Team Building and Enhance the company’s culture
Fitness experts agree that working in teams makes workers “less likely to give up and more motivated to exercise, and more motivated to accomplish the goals they set for themselves.”
A gym membership program for employees “fosters more teamwork as it allows employees from different categories or departments to come together and communicate. This aids in the development of solid internal relationships, which results in an improved workforce.” The group members are able to interact more effectively with one another “during their down time and can discuss topics in group exercise sessions.” This encourages teamwork and team building.
Training for team building during gym time can increase the motivation of employees, boost productivity, encourage greater collaboration between teams, contribute to better communication between employees, and promote creativity. All of these have an positive impact on the corporate the culture.
Numerous studies have proven that the company’s culture is a major factor for employees of US businesses. According to a research conducted by Robert Half International, Inc. 35 percent of employees working in the US wouldn’t take any job if the culture didn’t appeal to them.
Based on a study carried out by Randstad North America, Inc. 38 percent of employees in the US will leave their current position when they don’t feel valued by the group or if the culture of the company does not appeal to them anymore. “An even greater percentage (58 percent) have quit their jobs or are contemplating going elsewhere due to negative workplace politics.”
In a study conducted by Glassdoor the majority workers in the US stated that the company’s culture was “one of the most important factors that motivate them to stay at their jobs.”
In the 2019 National Workplace Culture Survey conducted by Eagle Hill Consulting, the majority of US respondents said that their company’s culture “influences the majority of their job performance, including their most effective work (77 percent) in terms of performance and effectiveness (76 percent) and their capacity to provide the best service to customers (74 %).” In light of the above companies that integrate gym memberships into their employee programs are more likely to succeed in creating a more positive company culture and increasing retention of employees as compared to companies that don’t include gym memberships.
Cost-effective solutions for the company
It is well-established that those who are healthy and fit have a higher chances of avoiding “chronic long-term, chronic illnesses which require costly medications or expensive procedures.”
Giving gym memberships to employees is an economical option for a company because “gym memberships are generally cheaper that monthly medication” or costly medical bills. Through corporate gym memberships, companies can bargain discounts for employees who use local gyms. In the end, gym memberships can help in decreasing the cost of healthcare for an organization.
Businesses that are located in US “usually think of healthcare as an essential part of the contract of employment. It is believed that those who work out regularly basis can save significant costs. If a business offers fitness and health benefits such as membership plans to the gym for employees this will have an enormous impact on the amount of money spent on medical insurance.”
According to the SHRM Employee Benefits 2019,’ report 58% of businesses in the US offer wellness programs to their employees. The equivalent percentage in 2015 was 70 70%. This decline is in line with the increasing healthcare expenditure by US firms in recent years.
“According to an RAND Corporation study, every dollar spent on overall wellness programs results in an ROI of $1.50. If you invest focused on programs that target chronic diseases, like obesity and diabetes The ROI is increased by $3.80.”
A study by the American Psychological Association (APA) found it is “more than 500 billion dollars” is taken away out of US economy as a result of stress at work, and more than 550 million working days are lost every year because of stress from work. 60-80% of workplace accidents can be attributed to stress and it’s believed that over 80percent of doctor appointments are due to stress. Stress at work is linked to ailments that range in severity from the metabolic disorder to coronary diseases and death.” These are the hidden costs incurred by businesses in the US that could be dramatically decreased by offering gym memberships for employees.