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3 reasons employers are offering on-site fitness centers

It’s no secret that employers are in a constant struggle for top talent. And, it’s only going to get tougher in the future. Current government statistics tell us the U.S. employment rate was 4.2% in September. That’s down by more than half of its peak of 10.2% in October 2009. At the same time, a large portion of the workforce will be retiring in the next 15 years. By 2030, every baby boomer will be 65-plus, which means a full 18% of the U.S. population will be at retirement age. That’s a lot of retirees — and a lot of jobs left to fill.

Essentially, there just aren’t going to be enough good people to fill all the open roles in the next 10-15 years. And that’s a serious problem for today’s modern business — one companies need to address. That’s why many organizations are offering up a slew of unique and useful employee benefits to attract and retain the best employees.

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Among those offerings are on-site fitness centers. Why are on-site fitness centers an increasingly popular employee perk? Three reasons come to mind.

1. Employees want a more personal touch. According to research, a vast majority of employees say a personal touch is important in their health, well-being and fitness program. That means employees are seeking access to “live experts” who are credible, engaging, easy to access and provide one-on-one support for their specific needs. Corporate fitness centers meet this need directly by offering up a physical space where employees can work with these coaches and fitness consultants to develop individualized plans to meet their unique health needs.

2. Convenience is everything. Nearly half of employees who are offered on-site fitness facility access chose to participate largely due to their convenience, inviting environment and low- or no-cost membership. After all, it’s a lot easier to get a workout in if you only have to travel two floors down on the elevator versus 10 miles in rush-hour traffic. Convenience counts for a lot with employees.

3. They help employees’ increasing need to manage stress. Employees are under more stress than ever before. The World Health Organization recently called stress the health epidemic of the 21st century. And, it’s costing employers significantly. One recent study found that work-related stress costs U.S. businesses $30 billion a year in lost workdays (some estimate it at $300 billion). On-site fitness centers can not only help employees better manage stress with a host of programs but they can also help employers make a dent in those lost productivity costs above.

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