Corporate wellness – a new potential for fitness business?

All activities connected with taking care of employees’ health and general condition – both physical and mental – give a huge potential to the fitness industry. Equipment manufacturers, management software suppliers such as Perfect Gym, health clubs and trainers have a lot to offer when it comes to this particular subject.

So what corporate wellness philosophy is all about?

A healthy employee creates a happy and effective staff. This simple relation is a key element of corporate wellness whose main goal is to improve the company’s financial results by looking after its employees’ health and general wellbeing. Effects? A lower cost of absence, smaller staff rotation, higher productivity and commitment. This comes as no surprise that fast-developing companies invest in solutions that allow them to pamper their teams and the health industry does not stay indifferent. More and more fitness-related companies answer those needs with larger product and service offers or completely new companies dedicated only to corporate wellness pop up on the market. In today’s world, every employer knows that the company’s main asset and strength are people. Catering for them can give measurable positive results in different areas of business activities. Funny enough, this wellness philosophy is not really new. In the fifties’ American scientists proved that systematic physical activities have a tremendous influence on health and general feeling – it gives positive flow for the body, mind and emotions. This philosophy is still evolving and constantly developing especially when we realize that employees become more aware and look not only for attractive remuneration but more and more extra perks and specialized benefits. An industry that is a pioneer in implementing most corporate wellness programs is the IT business which really pushes for the highest standards of work.

What are the biggest fears and hurdles to overcome?

As all new movements, corporate wellness is not that easy to implement and employees have numerous fears and are often reluctant due to:

1. General lack of time for participating in extra fitness and wellness programs and change of general health habits
2. Difficulty in finding motivation for a long-distance lifestyle change
3. Lack of individual approach while creating fitness and wellness programs
4. General scepticism towards the real influence of such programs
5. Fear of the company having access to personal health results
6. Great need to change environment and people after work

From a company’s perspective, 2 main obstacles are costs and simply awareness. Still, many managers do not treat employees’ health as a value and prefer to invest in new technologies.

Fad or element of long-distance strategy?

Depending on a country corporate wellness is on a completely different level of development. This gives a great opportunity for the fitness business for expansion and growth. Nearly every player in the fitness industry could bring something extra to this subject. As we observe the market it will definitely take time to make corporate wellness a strong and ongoing trend.

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