Soon you may not have to leave the office to squeeze in a workout during the workweek. Companies are turning conference rooms into gyms and offering employees ways to get fit at work for free or at a reduced cost to help them stay active and healthy, and in turn lower health care costs.
This makes sense for both employees and employers, says Chris Downie, founder and CEO of Sparkpeople.com. “I strongly believe that providing employees with the freedom and resources to take fitness breaks during the workday actually makes them more productive, because sitting at a desk for extended time periods can reduce energy, and mulling over current work challenges while working out can help employees think in different ways that can lead to innovative solutions," he says. It’s a win-win philosophy."
