Innovative Wellness Initiatives Boost Employee Loyalty and Productivity

Businesses are concerned about employee loyalty, wellness, and productivity. And, all three of these issues can be addressed through corporate wellness programs.

The Houston Business Journal reported that many businesses are realizing the benefits of fostering a healthy workforce. Along with the obvious, employee health improvements, companies can save through lower healthcare related expenses. Designing onsite fitness facilities, along with other wellness initiatives are proven strategies that will help increase a company’s bottom line.

Along with businesses benefiting from worksite fitness centers, developers are finding the silver-lining in this trend. One particular 5,000 square-foot fitness facility in Houston has drawn quite a bit of local business interest and inquiries.

Property manager of the facility Don Emerson explained to the Houston Business Journal HBJ), “We had a number of tenants inquiring about fitness facilities for their wellness programs and prospective tenants from larger corporations who indicated a fitness center would be an amenity they would like to see in the building.”

Another popular and effective fitness strategy is offsite gyms and fitness centers. Houston businesses are taking advantage of Houstonian Lite fitness centers for their employees. Fitness center memberships are a popular incentive in corporate wellness programs.

The HBJ reported that 33 percent of the Houstonian Lite’s memberships are paid in full by employers for their workers. In addition to this, employers cover 25 percent of costs for another 33 percent of memberships.

Houstonian Lite’s director of sales and corporate wellness Kathy Jacobs explained to the new source, “This year we have seen increased interest and investment from companies who understand that wellness programs must include exercise, in addition to promoting it.”

While fitness and gym facilities are effective employee rewards, there are also other incentives that help enhance employee loyalty and productivity.

Start-ups, such as in the technology industry, are coming up with unique and engaging incentives to help reward employees, according to The Wall Street Journal. One such company, Airbnb, introduced a workday “wine and cheese mixer,” along with an end-of-the-week rooftop barbeque.

Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia told the paper, “[It] is like a really fun school where you get paid. Or maybe it’s more like camp.”

Mega-popular Facebook is also using innovative strategies in its corporate wellness program. One such initiative is the implementation of an annual game day. This event brings workers together for “classic games, like kickball.

Other companies, including Dropbox and Yelp, are also kicking-it-up-a-notch with innovative wellness initiatives. Dropbox offers its employees a musical instrument portal, “rock room.” And, Yelp offers its employees “what’s on tap party room.”