A workplace gym is a way for employees to move, connect, and grow. Whether you’re actively hiring or looking for ways to keep your current employees, you are likely evaluating the value of your benefits and perks. To be truly valuable and attractive to your employees, your perks should enhance their quality of life. The same perks should also support company growth and success. Part of what motivates your employees is their desire to feel in control, be successful, and connect with others. The benefits and perks you offer to really attract top talent should align with these principles.   

Saying your workplace gym can achieve those goals for your employees may not be your first thought. But, if positioned correctly, your onsite gym can be a significant perk and a deliver tremendous value to employees. You have likely invested a lot in this physical amenity and want to leverage this asset as a recruitment tool during this employer war on talent. Let’s talk about the top 5 ways you can promote your onsite gym that will really work in 2022.

5 Ways to Market Your Workplace Gym

1. Mental Health

The mental health crisis is growing and as an employer, you can offer support in many different ways. One very strong method for improving mental health and emotional resilience is exercise. If you experience symptoms of anxiety, a workout may offer some relief. Additionally, regular exercise for those with depression at any age can reduce severity of symptoms.

You can leverage your onsite gym to promote easy access to exercise that not only reduces risk of chronic disease but elevates mental wellbeing at the same time. By sharing the connection between exercise and mental heath with your employees, you can encourage the use of your onsite gym. The more this asset is in use, the more it will attract new users as well.    

2. Flexibility

Flexibility is the most desired benefit in this new remote/hybrid working environment. Flexing your daily work hours or your physical location seems to be what employees value most in 2022. Your onsite gym can also offer an extremely flexible schedule. While employees are in the office, a quick walk on the treadmill can break up their day. Having the gym onsite also cuts down on any commute times. This gives your employees time back in their day, saving them a trip to an off-site gym before or after hours.  

Not having the time or lacking motivation are top barriers to sticking with an exercise routine at the workplace. By ensuring your onsite gym is available 24/7, you can make it simple for employees to access the space in short time increments. Short workouts also offer significant benefits. Quick sprint intervals can support brain function and help avoid depression. When your workout fits within the time you have available and boosts your mood, you’re likely to increase your motivation to continue with that exercise routine.

3. Social Connection

In 2020, we all experienced a social responsibility to stay home and do our part to slow the spread of the Covid-19 virus. As the restrictions and social distancing continued into 2021 and beyond, the importance of social connections grew. Research tells us social connections in the workplace can improve employee satisfaction and morale. We also know when trying to follow through on a fitness goal, social support serves as positive reinforcement and accountability.

Now in the post-pandemic era, your onsite gym can serve as a way to build stronger social connections between employees. Allow them to support each other’s fitness goals. Give permission to use the space when it works best for them because it shows, as an organization, you want your employees to thrive in all areas of their life.   

4. Recruitment

Your workplace gym may not be the sole reason someone wants to work for you, but it can certainly help seal the deal. Potential candidates are looking for uplifting, positive and enjoyable work cultures. When employees engage in exercise throughout the workday, they release feel-good chemicals in the brain. These chemicals boost their mood, making the atmosphere in the workplace more pleasant. Additionally, daily activity boosts time management. One study found that after working out at work, employees were more productive.

This benefit can help your employees feel like they have more control over their workload and increase their sense of success with their job. Those two things combine can support a greater sense of job satisfaction which promotes a more positive work culture. And when you’re recruiting new employees, there is no better way to get them excited to come to work than in a place that is oozing with positivity.   

5. Off-Set Expenses

An employee perk will see greater participation if that perk off-sets the employee’s cost of living. If your perk allows your employees to save money or time, engagement will go up. Make sure your workplace gym is a free amenity to all employees. Ensure it’s available to them when they want to use it. Creating a secure space where employees can come and go at their leisure can increase marketability and usage.

Consider offering personal training services or wellness coaching free of charge. This will create the perception of eliminating some personal expenses and drive value of the space. Personal training offers accountability to personal health goals that can improve your employee’s results. Wellness coaches can support whole-person wellbeing and address goals like sleeping and eating better. Change is hard. Personalized support from a real person can accelerate results.    

Promote your Onsite Assets 

Whether your onsite gym is big or small, having a space for employees to move, connect, and grow is a valuable perk. Promote your space with onsite events, raffles, contests, and more. Encourage employees to gather in the space, offer equipment orientation sessions, or set up group workout times. You can transform your onsite gym into a positive place employees want to be.