Work-life balance. It’s been a buzz word or phrase associated with Millennials and Gen Z workers who are looking for a fulfilling career as well as the ability to step away from that career and focus on self-care, mental, and physical health. Studies have shown that employees who are allowed to focus on these areas of their life are healthier, happier employees overall – leading to increased productivity (and profits!)
There are a number of ways you can help your employees achieve this balance, including work from home (WFH) options, an open office layout conducive to collaboration, and fitness areas or rooms that allow employees to dump stress and refresh during the workday.
Table of Contents
Your Employees’ Needs
Choose a Location
More Than Equipment
Facility Design
Equipment
Cardio Machines
Strength Training
Functional Training Equipment
Classes
Storage
Track Use & Make Changes
Final Thoughts
Your Employees’ Needs
As with any office improvement plan that includes benefits for your employees, you need to know what your employees will benefit from most. Anonymous surveys sent to company email addresses, one-on-one discussions, and/or whole-group discussions are great ways to get employee feedback on the additions or changes they’d like to see. Some questions to include:
– What type of machines (treadmill, elliptical, etc.) would you like to see in a fitness area?
– What type of equipment (yoga mats, balance balls, free weights) would you like to see in a fitness area?
– Where do you think is the best location for a fitness area?
– Any other questions you think will help guide your design decisions
Getting employee feedback early on in the process, or better – before you start, can save time and money and deliver a space where employees will actually spend their time. A bonus for your employees: they may be able to drop their gym membership and free up time and money they can use on other personal endeavors, helping to achieve the work-life balance they crave.
Choose a Location
Whether you can commit a separate room or office suite or only have a small amount of square-footage tucked in a back corner to allot to your project, choosing an appropriate location is important – possibly the choice that will make or break your new fitness area’s use and overall benefit. See our article on Creating a Relaxing Break Room Design to see how a fitness area can be a part of a larger break area.
The best location is within the office itself. One major problem people have with exercising is getting to the gym to do it. Packing up, driving to the gym, working out, then driving home exhausted after an intense, sweaty workout is reason enough to go straight home and relax on the couch. The same goes for your office fitness area. If employees are stuck going too far to get to it, they most likely won’t go. Setting aside space within the office, or convincing building management to construct a gym a convenient, central location, will go a long way in investing in your employees’ health and well-being.
More Than Equipment
Fitness is more than lifting weights or walking on a treadmill. Stress is a leading factor in decreased health and well-being, and having a way to dump that stress during the day and return to work or activities fresh and prepared is something the employer and employees will appreciate.
That said, your fitness area is more than the equipment it offers. Consider offering yoga, meditation, or other fitness/wellness classes in the fitness area. A healthy mind means a healthy body, and employees need both to perform at their highest level both personally and professionally.
Facility Design
This not only includes the data you’ve gathered on employee needs and preferences, but also the available space. Working with this hard data will give you the tools to create the perfect functional, safe layout to include the programs and equipment employees need and want.
The building your office is in was designed to meet ADA standards and regulations, as was each individual office inside the building. When adding to those ADA-compliant designs with office furnishings, break rooms, and fitness spaces, you need to take into account ADA standards as well. Accessible entrances, restrooms, and equipment are a must.
During the design phase, make liberal use of 2D and 3D tools to help visualize the space so it meets employee needs. Other things to incorporate for a positive and inviting employee experience include natural lighting, vibrant colors, and modern amenities.
Equipment
Once you’ve designed, built, and decorated your new fitness area, it’s time to fill it with the equipment your employees requested during the planning stages. To create a well-equipped fitness center, it is important to choose the right equipment based on that employee feedback you received during the planning stages of your project, the space available, and your budget. This may include:
Cardio Machines
Cardio machines help greatly improve cardiovascular health and endurance, burn calories, and improve overall fitness levels. Choose machines for durability, ease of use, and safety features. Some of the most popular machines include:
– Treadmills
– Stationary bikes
– Elliptical machines
Strength Training
This kind of equipment is essential for building muscle mass and improving overall strength – next time you need some help moving office furnishings around, you’ll have strong employees to help! Other benefits include stronger bones and joints, reduced risk of injury, and – like cardio machines – improved overall fitness levels. Versatility, durability, and ease of use are some of the most important factors to take into account when choosing strength training equipment. Some of the most popular additions to your strength training area:
– Weight machines
– Free weights
– Resistance bands
Functional Training Equipment
Equipment in this category is designed to improve a person’s ability to perform everyday tasks and movements, including balance, coordination, and flexibility. Take into account versatility, durability, and safety features when choosing this type of equipment to include in your fitness area. Some of the most popular functional training equipment is:
– Stability balls
– Medicine balls
– Resistance bands
These are the basics of fitness equipment you will likely include, but to help you choose the right equipment, consult with a fitness equipment specialist or corporate fitness center design expert to hit the bullseye.
Classes
Offering lunchtime or after-hours fitness classes gives employees the change to decompress without leaving the office. This isn’t to say you want to keep your employees on-site so they head back to the job after an after-hours workout session – many employees will appreciate the opportunity to workout on their lunch hour or before they head home for the day without making another stop.
Offering the fitness machines and equipment above is great, but if space allows consider offering classes in yoga and/or meditation. Such activities have been shown to improve mental clarity and enhance overall well-being – two things that will help increase productivity at home and in the workplace!
If staffed classes are currently out of the budget, consider offering TVs with workout recordings available or the ability to join a virtual class via apps and other online resources.
Storage
The storage solutions you choose will depend on the size of your fitness area. There are racks available for purchase which allow for the storage of balance balls, resistance bands, yoga mats, and other small items, plus racks for free weights and storage for weight disks for a bench press. Other storage solutions may include lockers or cubbies for employees’ personal items like bags, cell phones, and wallets they may not want to have on them during a workout.
Track Use & Make Changes
Once your fitness center is up and running, you’ll want to track employee usage and feedback periodically. In much the same way you asked for input on what went into the original design, check in every now and then to find out what is working and what isn’t. You may find that employees aren’t using a certain piece of equipment, want more class offerings, or may report a malfunction or needed repair.
Final Thoughts
Designing an appropriate fitness space that benefits your business and your employees is the first step in a happier, healthier workforce. The staff at Realty Asset Advisors is excited to meet with you and help define your needs and goals in order to create the fitness space of you and your employees’ dreams.
Contact us today!
