Boston—June 19, 2018—Many employees who clock in at 9 a.m. and leave at 5 p.m. during the workweek spend the vast majority of their day sitting.

Sitting at desks.

Sitting in meetings.

Sitting while eating lunch.

Sitting while commuting.

We know that sitting for a long time is bad for us, but our environment can make it hard to change.

Fortunately, health clubs are helping more businesses see why it's essential for employees to move more and are working to get more people active while on the job. To help clubs engage with more companies, IHRSA released a new resource on How to Run Effective Corporate Wellness Programs.

According to a recent study, employees who participated in a corporate wellness promotion program and improved their healthcare or lifestyle choices regained an average of 10.3 hours in annual productivity—demonstrating that corporate wellness programs provide substantial benefits for both employers and employees.

These benefits are part of the reason companies around the world are partnering with clubs to provide a plethora of wellness offerings to their employees. These offerings can include access to any of the following services:

  • Spaces for employees to be active
  • On- or off-site group exercise classes
  • Tailored group or individual programs to improve employees health or reduce stress
  • Access to experts such as dietitians, trainers, physical therapists, etc.
  • Management of an on-site fitness center

IHRSA’s new How to Run Effective Corporate Wellness Programs resource explains how health club operators can use these program and service ideas—and more—to successfully work with companies that are interested in implementing a corporate wellness program. More specifically, this resource examines the benefits of programs that improve employee health, discusses what successful programs look like, highlights best practices from successful clubs, and offers tips and resources for marketing worksite wellness offerings.

If our industry can help shape more workplace environments that prioritize:

  • Standing at desks
  • Standing in meetings
  • Exercising during lunch
  • Active commuting

Then we can begin to help more workers feel energized during their office hours and build a culture that recognizes the powerful benefits associated with an active lifestyle.