Health and fitness programs at work. Social responsibility or improving the bottom line?

The philosophy that good health is good business has encouraged many companies across the country to establish in-house health and fitness programs for their employees. Healthy programs are becoming commonplace offering free flu vaccinations through to running an on-site gym.
Chris Bakens is a Master Trainer and Performance coach, with Brisbane based Healthy Executives. “As an industry, corporate health has been around since the mid eighties. Healthy initiatives are becoming common-place in many businesses where they need professional fitness specialists to instruct, supervise, or assist. Health and fitness programs will differ from company to company. Many have incorporated less expensive health promotions such as group exercise sessions, nutritional seminars, flu vaccinations, and smoking cessation classes. It seems there would be a rebellion if their healthy programs were cancelled.”

One of the arguments for initiating a company health promotion is that it improves productivity in the workplace – whether that comes from fewer sick days due to flu vaccinations, or greater output from fit and motivated employees. Studies have found that physical activity programs at work reduce absenteeism by up to 20 per cent and physically active employees take 27 per cent less sick leave.