How can employers support staff wellbeing with employee fitness benefits?

Neil Harmsworth, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer at Hussle

Neil is the co-founder of Hussle, a leading UK fitness marketplace which enables companies to invest in the wellbeing of their employees through highly inclusive, affordable, multi-brand gym access, available in 96% of UK postcode regions.

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Efforts to improve employee wellbeing are an increasing priority for organisations, all across the globe. More and more forward-thinking businesses are recognising that a good salary and other financial rewards aren’t enough anymore within an increasingly competitive recruitment market. Not only do such companies become better able to attract and retain top talent, but the benefits on key business outcomes are profound. Employes who are happier and healthier in there roles are much more likely to perform well.

But when it comes to supporting the wellbeing of our staff, there is no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. Companies that take a systematic and preventative approach to wellness, taking into account the diverse needs of their employees, will be the most successful in achieving widespread benefits across their workforce.

Typical wellbeing provisions may include physical, social, emotional and financial support for employees. Often, within the conversations we have with HR professionals and employee benefits/ wellbeing specialists across the UK, we find that anything health-related tends to receive the best reception. Fitness benefits are especially popular- a recent Hussle survey amongst employees revealed that discounted gym access was their number one choice of corporate benefit.

But how can fitness have an impact on the way that our employees carry out their day-to-day roles?

There’s some concrete science behind it. When we exercise, the activity helps to reduce the levels of some of the body’s main stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, mitigating the negative impacts that these can have upon our mental health.

Beyond its stress reduction capabilities, exercise actively makes us feel better, too. Ever heard of ‘runner’s high’? This is the feeling that we get after being active, when the body releases endorphins, which are natural painkillers and mood elevators. So there really is some clear chemistry behind it.

Less directly, exercise can also have a psychological impact upon the way that we behave. When we’re active, and work to achieve our fitness goals (whatever they may be) we tend to feel much better about ourselves, and can transfer this confidence across to other areas of our lives. At work this may equate to increased productivity and less time taken off due to sickness, enabling us to focus more heavily on progressing within our careers.

Regular exercise isn’t always easy. Those who partake also develop key workplace skills such as better organisation, enhanced focus, and improved timekeeping. Engagement in physical activity is also closely linked to an improvement in cognitive function, and a greatly enhanced ability to manage stress. For all of these reasons, workers who exercise are well equipped to navigate the biggest challenges that they face within their daily working roles.

So how can we support our employees in staying active?

Even simple steps can have quite a significant impact. Many organisations are now championing ‘walking meetings’ to prevent their staff from becoming too sedentary in their day-to-day roles. Other traditional office-based initiatives may include lunchtime walking groups, company challenges or on-site fitness classes.

However, working routines have changed dramatically over recent years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, just 4.7% of UK employees worked from home, whereas now, almost half of us have at least the opportunity to do so.

For that reason, a more inclusive approach is needed to have a true impact across an entire organisation. Companies need to find ways to take care of the wellbeing of their staff, whether working at home, on-site, or traveling regularly. It’s also important to understand the unique challenges that different groups of staff may be facing.

When considering a range of available fitness benefits, perhaps the most inclusive option are multi-gym membership programs. These benefit providers (such as Hussle) hold relationships with a full network of gyms, pools, and often virtual fitness apps.

Thanks to our extensive UK coverage, here at Hussle we see uptake levels as high as 25% within the companies who partner with us. They value our variety in terms of venues and geographical reach, meaning that our members can work out where they want, and how they want to.

For any business owner, HR professional or wellbeing specialist out there considering offering fitness benefits to their staff, the message from us is simple and clear. The decision should be seen not as a cost, but as an investment, for both your colleagues, and your business.

For more information visit: hussle.com