Enough has been written and said about the benefits of employee welfare programs for an organization. That a healthy and fit workforce impacts a businesss bottom line has been proven beyond doubt.
Almost all businesses now have comprehensive employee welfare programs and those who are yet to join the ranks of these companies are doing a great injustice to not just their employees, but also themselves.
Corporate gyms form an important part of integrated employee welfare plans and many businesses now prefer setting up in-house facilities to offering discounted membership of commercial fitness studios to their employees.
Of course, there are various benefits of having a fitness facility right at the workplace. Employees can access corporate gyms absolutely free of cost; they can use their free time to squeeze in a workout session if the facility is on campus; and exercising together is believed to increase camaraderie among co-workers.
However, proper planning is the key for setting up corporate gyms. Here are some steps that can help you with your corporate gym set up.
Employees The Most Important Consideration
First and foremost, keep in mind that the fitness facility youre setting up is for your employees and therefore it is important to seek their active involvement. Forming a committee of a cross section of employees to gauge their health needs and fitness goals will go a long way in helping you set up a gym that they will use and enjoy.
Once you have identified your objectives and earmarked a budget, its time to start designing your gym. One of the most important considerations in gym design is the available space. The kind of footfall or traffic you are expecting in your gym will determine the amount of space you require.
If you foresee a lot of participation from your employees, then your space requirement will obviously be more than if you expect a mediocre response from them.
The next step of setting up a corporate gym is preparing the floor plans and selecting the appropriate exercise machines. The floor plan of your gym will essentially be a blueprint if its layout. From positioning of equipment and fixtures to aesthetic details, the floor plan of your gym should include everything.
Right Equipment is the Key to Wholesome Workout
The selection of exercise equipment is a factor of your budget, available space, and the fitness objectives of your people.
Depending on the above factors, you may want a lean facility with a few basic machines or create a more elaborate workout environment for your employees complete with a variety of fitness equipment like treadmills, exercise bikes, elliptical trainers, bench presses, weights, etc.
But just having the right equipment will not make corporate gyms an inviting place for employees. Environmental factors like ventilation, lighting, and dcor play an important role in adding to the overall appeal of a fitness facility.
So, take steps to make sure there is adequate air flow in the gym at all times. Use pedestal or ceiling fans to keep fresh air circulating within the facility. You should also have enough sources of natural light and if required, compliment that with artificial lighting to keep the ambience of your gym warm and welcoming.
Some Extras to Add Oomph to your Facility
As far as dcor is concerned, you could make use of motifs and paintings that are both attractive and inspiring for those who visit the gym. Adding some greenery through potted plants and affixing full-length mirrors would also help creating a nice environment that everybody would like to work out in.
Accessories like towels, exercise mats, tissue papers, etc. can be provided for the convenience of your employees.
You may also want to equip your corporate gym with television units and music systems or boom boxes for that much needed entertainment during workout.
A final word here designing and planning a gym requires specialized expertise and its best to let professionals handle it. If you want your gym to be the hub of fitness and health you envisioned, then engage a corporate fitness solutions provider to do the job for you!