Looking for Athletes at Work? Make Fitness Part of Their Day

The life of an athlete commonly involves two hugely opposing lifestyles – our work life and our sporting life. As an employee, we generally have minimal control and indulgence when attempting to incorporate fitness in the workplace – especially if the specific job sector is far from sport-orientated. Managers, this one’s aimed at you – It’s time to mix it up.

The general attitude is that we go to work, to work. But a fitness-friendly company is hugely more beneficial than a completely dormant and lethargic deskbound workforce.

Being able to boast an alternative health benefit to working for your company will draw in just the type of potential employees every business needs – athletes. It will attract competitive and driven personalities and there will be more common traits and similarities between colleagues – they’ll be on the same wavelength, with the same drive and same attitudes.

Cutting to the chase, here’s how your business can incorporate healthy lifestyles into the workplace, and the benefits of doing so.

Offer on-site gym facilities

Working out before, during or after a daily shift is the norm for athletes so being able to provide these facilities on site will make it a more attractive place to work. Similarly, it’s an opportunity for less active staff members to improve their health and fitness. We get it, not every office is going to be able to make room for a two-floor sports complex. If you can – great; if you can’t, offer local gym membership discounts.

Benefit: Having fit and healthy recruits means a room full of endorphins and energy levels will be on a constant high, equalling constant productivity.

Organise outside-of-work sports and exercise groups

Whether it’s a morning running club, a Thursday-night football team, or something more moderate like a gentle-exercise walking group, this is a completely adaptable way of getting everybody involved in sport regardless of their age or ability.

Benefit: Anything that will involve working as a team is going to bond your workforce. This method also has the added bonus of keeping everyone fit and healthy.

A healthy food canteen

This is a concept that is growing more and more throughout larger businesses – providing staff with either a ‘grab and go’-style counter or a sit-down dining room serving amazing healthy foods. Regardless of their food preferences, it’s certain they will be fed an ideal portion of nutritious foods.

Benefit: Incorporating healthy food into the workplace will provide high-energy/non-sluggish behaviour post break time; it will again ensure energy levels are on a constant high, resulting in a continual flow of productive work.

Incorporating small changes into the workplace

Educating your workforce about posture at their desk is one of the small changes you can make to their health. By promoting regular breaks for them to get up and stretch or get some fresh air may seem irrelevant but it will not only benefit their posture, it will keep them vigilant. A unique idea that some business have integrated is replacing chairs with exercise balls – constantly working the person’s core and preventing a slouched posture.

Benefit: Little changes can make a big difference. Something as minor as ensuring correct posture can promote concentration.