How to design the ultimate workplace gym

More and more businesses are incorporating gyms in their workplaces, providing many benefits for both employers and employees. In the long run, an investment in a corporate wellness space can help companies become more productive, create a more attractive working environment, and save money. P-O Osbeck, Residential and Corporate sales at Eleiko, shares his best tips on how to equip your corporate training facility.

Why should employers invest in corporate gym?

Offering employees a place to train at the workplace often increases workplace satisfaction, productivity, and employer well-being. It is also a great way for companies to attract new talent, as health and wellness initiatives highly rank every year when professionals are asked what benefits are most important to them. According to a leading Swedish study, 43% of professionals placed an workplace gym at the top of the list of what service or benefit they would like their workplace to offer.

Healthier, happier employees and increased productivity

“We spend a lot of time at work, and especially recently, our work and home lives are blurring, and workplaces need to start offering more than just a desk and a computer. Companies that invest in the health and wellness of their employees and colleagues will benefit from more productive, energetic, happy and loyal staff. Employees who prioritize training and health also generally take fewer sick days, benefitting the employer. By creating an on-site training facility, you’re lowering the barrier for your employees to train, giving them an alternative to their regular gym training and helping them make healthier choices to become the best versions of themselves,” explains P-O Osbeck.

Studies also show a link between price development in companies with a high score on the “health index scale” with S & P's 500 index. Companies with a high score on the "health index" had an increase in share value of 235% compared to S & P's 500 index, which had 159% over the same 6-year period.

Attracting and retaining talent

Offering a wellness strategy and on-site gym is also increasing in value when it comes to attracting and retaining top talent, explains P-O.

“People are looking for more than just a workplace today and are looking for companies who have the same values as they do. Health has consistently been at the top of the list in several studies of what makes companies an attractive, forward-thinking employer, and the added benefit of a company gym can add to your appeal as an organization,” says P-O.

What to think about when designing a corporate gym

So, where do you start when planning and designing an on-site workplace training space?

Space

Start by determining the square footage you have to work with. Are you planning for a smaller more personal gym, or a larger space? This will determine the type of equipment and design that is optimal. Perhaps you have a meeting room that isn’t being used, a spare office space or a loft area that can be transformed into a gym? Remember to space out the equipment so that it doesn’t feel cramped, providing distance between stations and enough space for gym users to exercise comfortably.

Users

Consider who your employees are, what they like and what needs they have. A versatile gym that offers possibilities for users who have training as a regular habit, and well as beginners, is a good starting point. Also consider what the gym will be used for primarily – training individually, or do you also want space to have team building activities to sweat it out as a group? Training together can be a great teambuilding activity.

Training Equipment

Choose equipment that gives you flexibility and pieces that support different variations or exercises. A mix of both strength and cardio equipment is a good starting point. When you choose high quality equipment, you will have trouble-free use for a long time. Remember to tailor the equipment to your employees and their training level.

Strength Stations are scalable concepts – rooted in lifting and free weights – that deliver space efficient, versatile strength training options which can be adjusted to fit any environment. These single user stations support distancing and give members control of their environment with dedicated equipment for each session. The stations can offer versatile training in a compact footprint of only 10-15 square meters – perfect if space is limited.

Flooring and Sound Reduction

Choose gym flooring that can withstand tough usage, is easy to care for and can withstand dropped weights and barbells. Rubber flooring and tiles are recommended. Choose materials designed to minimize noise. If the gym is on the second floor or if you want additional sound reduction, add an Eleiko SVR Platform that enables facilities to incorporate lifting and performance training in an inviting way that minimizes the challenges posed by noise and vibration from dropped barbells and heavy lifts.

Your Brand

Let your training space and design show off your company culture and what is important to you as a brand. Get your employees’ ideas and input into how they want their fitness space to look. This will help you effectively plan a workplace gym that your team will utilize and appreciate.

References

Grossmeier J, Fabius R, Flynn JP, Noeldner SP, Fabius D, Goetzel RZ, Anderson DR. Linking workplace health promotion best practices and organizational financial performance: Tracking market performance of companies with highest scores on the HERO Scorecard. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 2016;58(1):16- 23.

Castellum Report. https://www.castellum.se/globalassets/om-castellum/framtidens-arbetsliv/framtidens-arbetsliv_200527.pdf