What is corporate fitness?

Preventive measures. Corporate Fitness is a concept that more and more companies are realizing needs to become a high priority. Healthy employees are simply more productive, energetic, creative and dependable while unhealthy employees directly effect your bottom line.

The unhealthy employee costs you money due to lost production time and profit resulting from excessive sick days, doctor's appointments,and the psychological and physical impact that a lack of fitness can have on the workforce. Corporate Health and Wellness Initiatives are key in controlling and combating this source of drain on your bottom line. Increased productivity Reduced absenteeism gher morale Improved employee decision-making and creativity Lower disability claims and health care costs Attract and retain top-notch employees FACT: Participants in worksite fitness programs average 27.7% less in medical claims per year over non-participants.

American Journal of Health Promotion, 1994, 8(3), p 216-223. FACT: By lowering health care costs and absenteeism, worksite health programs generate $8.22 for every dollar invested. Art of Health Promotion, 1998 2(1), p 1-8.

FACT: An estimated 61% of U.S. Adults are overweight with 26% obese. Health care costs for treating diseases caused by obesity are estimated at approximately $100 billion. FACT: Notably, health-care costs in the United State are more than $1 trillion annually, but preventable illnesses account for approximately 70% of the illnesses and related costs.

FACT: Motorola has 45,000 employees. They spend $6 million dollars annually on wellness and work/life programs. Their cost is $133 dollars/employee (Motorola does distinguish participants from non-participants).

For every $1 invested in wellness benefits, they save $3.93. Aggregate health care costs only rose 2.4% for participating employees as compared to 18% for non-participants Motorola experienced annual savings of $6.5 million dollars on medical expenses for lifestyle related diagnosis' (obesity, hypertension, stress) when compared to non-participants. FACT: You'll get all this for less than you spend on office supplies each month.

Sources: my www search .

Companies that are striving to make physical fitness part of their employees' lives, to be simplistic Plans vary, but basically the corporation provides the means and often the place for its workers to become involved in a health fitness program. Some biz' places create gyms at the workplace, others buy memberships outside. Rather intriguing.

Health Fitnes Corporation is just one of many plans. Here are some tesitmonials from their clients:"(An international courier service) stakes its reputation on Customer Service. Therefore, we have extremely high expectations from vendors who provide service to our employees.

HFC consistently meets, and often exceeds, these expectations. "Employee Health AdministratorAn International Courier Service"During the pre-opening period, HFC exceeded my expectations and we were able to open our facility with 1,620 members, with a target of 1,500 members. I have very much appreciated their enthusiastic 'can do' attitude, which rubs off on others they come incontact with."Vice President/Chief Operating OfficerWaukesha Memorial Hospital, Waukesha, WI"Our partnership with HFC and the staff's dedication to excellence has afforded us the opportunity to positively impact the lives and health of thousands of employees.

"Corporate Health Strategies ManagerHewlett-Packard"I am probably a particularly hard client to please since I was once a Health Club Director. The HFC Executive Director of the Texas Instrument Activity Centers, has met and exceeded my expectations with his professionalism and bottom line attitude that does not compromise service to our members."Manager, Health Benefits Wellness and Recognition ServicesTexas Instruments, Dallas, TX"We have found the people with HFC to be very qualified, competent, and professional. They were able to recruit an outstanding manager for our facility, who in turn recruited a very qualified and competent staff.

We have received nothing but complements from our customers and the community regarding our Health and Wellness Center."Director, Wilton P. Herbert Health and Wellness CenterSt. Elizabeth Hospital, Beaumont, TX"Health Fitness Corporation has managed the UAW Ford Woodhaven Fitness Center for many years and has consistently exceeded all of my expectations. HFC's staff provide our members with safe and professional instruction to improve their personal fitness level in an environment that appeals to all employees regardless of their age, gender, or ethnic background."UAW Ford ESSP RepresentativeUAW Ford, Local 387 Corporate Fitness ProgramsSince 1975, Health Fitness Corporation's corporate fitness programs have been helping employees get fit and stay healthy.

HFC delivers a full range of assessment, fitness, wellness, recreation, injury prevention, and rehabilitation programs and services with measurable results. Choose from one of our comprehensive corporate fitness programs: * Needs Assessment - analyzing the goals and philosophies of the organization as well as the physical environment to determine the best course of action * Facility Planning - comprehensive, strategic planning of the facility working in conjunction with the organization's facility management team and architects * Design - determining anticipated utilization and traffic patterns and the optimal type, amount, and floor plan layout for furnishings, services and equipment * Program Delivery - planning, implementation, and execution of a complete fitness and wellness programhttp://www.meritcare.com/specialties/occupational/corporate/CORPORATE FITNESS AND THE BOTTOM LINECompanies of all shapes and sizes are striving to make physical fitness part of their employees' lives. Aside from the proven health benefits of exercise, physically fit employees can also handle physical work tasks better, deal with stressful situations more easily and tend to be less susceptible to illness and injuries.

Statistics show that companies with corporate fitness programs enjoy:Reduced Health Care CostsAt Steelcase Corporation, medical claim costs were 55 percent lower among corporate fitness program participants than non-participants over a six-year period—an average of $478.61 for participants, versus $869.98 for non-participants.(American Journal of Health Promotion, Loize Tze-ching Yen, Sept. /Oct.1991)Increased ProductivityUnion Pacific Railroad found that 80 percent of its employees believed their exercise program was helping them become more productive at work, and 75 percent thought regular exercise was helping them achieve higher levels of relaxation and concentration.(Health Values, Joe Leutzinger, M.D. , and Daniel Blanke, Ph.D. , Sept.

/Oct.1991)Reduced AbsenteeismOver a six year period, DuPont saw a 47.5 percent reduction in absenteeism among participants in its corporate fitness program.(Health Behavior, D.W.Edington, Ph.D. , March 1992)Reduced TurnoverThe Canadian Life Assurance Company found turnover among its fitness program participants 34.4 percent lower over a seven-year period compared with non-participants during that same time.(Canadian Journal of Public Health, Peter Leatt, Jan. /Feb.1988)Positive Return on InvestmentOver five years, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Indiana realized a 250 percent return on its corporate fitness program investment—$2.51 for every $1.00 invested.(American Journal of Health Promotion, Kenneth R.

Pelletier, March/April 1991) Here's a biz plan from one corporate health clubhttp://www.bplans.com/spv/3060/ Sources: http://www.meritcare.com/specialties/occupational/corporate/ .

Has anyone had good experiences with Planet Fitness Health Clubs.

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