Gym benefits for employees: top 5 reasons to invest
It's no secret that taking care of our physical health is important for our overall wellbeing. And while there are countless ways to stay active, one of the most convenient (and fun) ways is by joining a gym.
But did you know that investing in a gym membership for your employees can also offer a host of benefits for your business? From reducing absenteeism to improving morale, here we look at the top five reasons why you should consider investing in a gym membership for your employees.
But before we dig into the detail, what is normally included in a gym employee benefit product?
What are gym benefits for employees?
Gym benefits for employees are benefit schemes designed to give your employees money off their monthly gym membership. The employer pays an annual fee per head for the scheme, allowing employees to reduce the amount they have to pay in fees. There are a variety of gym benefit schemes out there, all offering slightly different packages.
Our Gym Discount Scheme allows your employees to save 15% off their monthly gym membership. If they already have a gym membership, this scheme can grant them additional savings, savings that they can pass on to their family members.
In addition, the scheme also allows employees to make extra savings on other health-related products, such as fitness devices, activity holidays and golfing greens. Gym discount schemes provide an employee benefit that employees really value and are shown to attract and retain top talent.
Gym benefits for employees: great for the workplace
There are many benefits to encouraging employees to exercise, not just because it supports their overall wellbeing, but because the impact can be felt throughout the whole company. Employees who exercise are happier, more productive and healthier. This leads to more creative and productive employees, which can only lead to better business for you.
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So, what benefits would a company get from providing a gym discount benefit to their employees?
1. Have a lower risk of developing depression
There is a clear link between exercise and improved mood. A recent study showed that even an hour’s moderate exercise a day could significantly reduce the risk of major depression. The same effect was felt after 15 minutes of high-impact exercise.
This can have a huge benefit for the workplace.
According to statistics from the HSE, 17.9 million working days were lost due to stress, anxiety or depression in the UK in 2019/20. Not only does this amount to a huge loss in terms of productivity for the companies involved, but the impact on morale as coworkers struggle to cover colleagues who are poorly can be significant.
Helping employees stay mentally well by giving them easy access to high-quality gym equipment and classes can reduce the chance of depression, anxiety and stress and help your employees stay mentally well.
2. Are more likely to take fewer sick days
In addition, exercise can also support a healthier immune system. Thirty minutes of regular exercise three to four times a week has been shown to raise immunity by raising levels of T cells, which are one of the body's first defence against infection.
Although this cannot prevent you from catching illnesses, a stronger immune system can generally reduce the severity of illnesses and get you back to normal faster. This can help reduce the number of days you need to take off sick.
3. Are better able to maintain energy levels
Also, exercising does help you maintain your energy levels, as it helps your body to produce Mitochondria inside your muscle cells. Mitochondria create fuel from the food and oxygen that you consume. This means you have more energy overall.
Exercise also helps your oxygen circulate better around your body. There are all sorts of wonderful effects from this phenomenon, such as increased hormone levels.
This feeling of being energised can really help creativity, productivity and general engagement at work, helping you stay focused for longer.
4. Have support for good musculoskeletal health
Exercise helps build healthy muscles, joints and hearts. All of this supports the maintenance of your musculoskeletal health.
In 2019/20 8.9 million working days were lost in the UK due to musculoskeletal problems, such as back sprains and repetitive strain injuries. Time off work, and the resources required to treat musculoskeletal injuries costs an estimated £7 billion a year in the UK.
Whilst there is no conclusive evidence that exercise prevents work-related injuries, those who partake in certain exercise activities, such as muscle strengthening activities, should feel the benefit in terms of better musculoskeletal health overall.
5. Are better able to be productive
All of this leads to the final benefit: fitter employees are more productive employees. Employees who suffer less from low mood or stress, who are physically fitter and who are generally healthier, are able to work better.
