Well it’s the start of a new year and decade and we wish all our visitors much health and happiness. Indeed it’s a popular theme at this time of year as many people resolve to get fitter and healthier. Wellbeing is quickly becoming just as important in the office as it is in our everyday lives. Many of us are becoming more concerned with wellbeing especially since about 30% of our lives are spent in the workplace and a majority of this time we spend sitting at a desk

Now a lot of us have trouble finding the time to work out during the work week. So it is an enlightened and rather smart strategy for a business to start introducing exercise and other wellness facilities into the workspace. Indeed there have been many studies that show how workplace wellbeing programs and facilities that promote healthier lifestyles and consider work-life balance are just as beneficial to businesses as they are to the employees themselves. These can lead to:

Increases in productivity

Healthier employees are less likely to take sick days and more likely to be more productive during the workdays. Healthier employees are more active and energized giving them the capability to get more work done during the day.

Less stress

Working out and eating healthy relieves stress. Having time to relieve stress during the work day can boost morale and increase productivity as well.

Healthier employees are happier employees

Working out releases endorphins that give your body a positive feeling. Promoting health and wellness and encouraging employees to work out or go on walks during lunch breaks will boost their endorphins and help keep them in positive moods throughout the day.

Boost to morale

The more employees that have positive attitudes throughout the day can be infectious on all their co-workers which can boost the overall morale of the office. This also helps massively in helping to retain the better achieving staff members.

Lower healthcare costs.

Because people spend so much of their time in the office it is important to start encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Healthier employees will have less frequent doctor visits and be less likely to sustain work related injuries.

Improved company image

 A healthier company is a happier company all around and will create a positive image on your company and show potential employees that it is a great place to work. Anything that helps businesses to recruit the best talent is worth the investment.

Practical steps: Fit for Fit Out

 There are numerous steps that a business owner can take to promote healthier lifestyles for the team ranging from the very simple like supplying fresh fruit daily, organising healthy social lunches through to introducing employee rewards which help improve their work-life balance such as awarding extra annual leave days or activity days. As a workspace design agency we can offer help in a variety of ways. Here at Blue Fig Interiors we are increasingly mindful of the need to incorporate wellness-thinking into our designs. So inspired are we by the need for workspace fitness and health that we have been running a campaign called Fit for Fit Out reminding potential clients that wellness matters and that BFI is ready and skilled at delivering solutions. So you’ll find lots of our workspace designs are based on principles of openness and sociability to encourage personal engagement and interaction. Even in a tight space configuration we can find solutions to improving personal wellness such as the use of ergonomically-designed desks or even desks that double as an exercise station or simple standing designs to discourage sedentary seating habits.

On-site fitness facilities

 One of the biggest developments in the workspace environment has been led by US corporates. Many of the very large tech giants and the leading co-working facilities are pumping significant investment into providing their staff/clients with some amazing on-site fitness facilities. It’s not uncommon to find the HQ atrium transformed with a massive climbing wall or a mass of hanging exercise equipment suspended from the ceiling. Many UK companies are fast catching up with some amazing facilities being installed within corporate premises. We work closely with specialist suppliers in this field and can recommend that any business considers the benefits of an on-site fitness facility such as a gym. They can be a great way to retain and attract new employees. Many people engage in fitness in their personal lives at their own expense, so offering this to your employees can help them in the following ways:

- the obvious benefit is that it will encourage your employees to live a healthier lifestyle, boosting their energy levels and ability to focus;

- they are a great staff benefit. If your employees enjoy the place they work and have access to great facilities, they’ll be happier attending their place of work every day and feel like they’re being rewarded simply for being an employee;

- it can save your staff money. If they’re already paying for gym memberships and having to travel to another fitness facility, you’ll be saving them money out of their paycheck every month;

- it encourages group activities and icebreakers. Having a workplace gym can open up opportunities to group exercise classes. They can be great to break down barriers and get your team in an informal environment without taking them off-site.

With our contacts we can commission a solution that is cost-effective for your company while ensuring your staff will be excited to use it. The benefits are there to be seen; exercise will increase the productivity, engagement and happiness of your staff, which can only enhance your business performance. We can also facilitate ongoing management services, such as digital gym programs and fitness staff to make sure your team is utilising the equipment correctly and benefiting from the new facilities as much as possible. Get in touch if you’re considering a corporate gym for your business and we’d be happy to advise you. Now there’s a new year resolution which could work out brilliantly for you, your staff and your business

Peter, MD, Blue Fig Interiors