« Go Back Establish on-site fitness rooms or exercise facilities

Why:

On-site fitness facilities can range from a TV and VCR or DVD in your conference room available for employees to participate in lunchtime fitness classes, to a fully equipped and staffed, state-of –the-art gymnasium-type facility.  It is important to match your company’s goals (i.e. employee satisfaction vs. reduction in healthcare costs) with financial resources available for employee benefits.
Liability Issues: 

It is extremely important to assess your company’s liability when considering an on-site exercise facility.  Talk to your company’s legal department and see Appendix C for more detailed information on liability issues.

NOTE: It is strongly recommended that you review the following two books before implementing any on-site fitness room or exercise facility:

• ACSM’s Health/Fitness Facility Standards & Guidelines, Second Ed., American College of Sports Medicine, 1992.
• Health Fitness Management, A Comprehensive Resource for Managing and Operation Programs and Facilities, by William C. Granthan/Robert W. Patton/Tracy D. York/Mitchel L. Winick, Human Kinetics, 1989.

Benefits of an on-site facility

• Potential reduction in overall healthcare costs
• Potential reduction in employee absences
• Improved employee health and fitness
• Increased employee satisfaction
• Increased employee engagement
• Informal building of community networks
• Can aid in the recruitment of top talent
• Can help facilitate a positive company culture

Possible limitations of an on-site facility

• Cost prohibitive
• Space prohibitive
• Falls outside the realm of core business
• Considered a fringe benefit
• Difficult to prove return in investment

How:  Steps to take:

• Purchase the two books listed above.
• Read the books to learn about standards, guidelines, liability, and other issues.
• Create a survey to assess employee interest in an on-site facility. 
• Talk with your legal department regarding liability issues.
• Consider hiring a qualified consultant or fitness management company to assist in the design, start-up, and possible management of your exercise facility.
• Work closely with your company’s facilities department to assess cost and space issues.
• Write a business plan for your proposed on-site fitness center.

Cost ranges of an on-site facility

Minimum

• Minimal or no staff (not recommended due to liability issues)
• No locker rooms
• Conference room with TV, VCR, or DVD, mats and exercise balls
• COST: up to $500*

Intermediate

• Minimal staff
• Locker rooms or shower facilities on site
• Dedicated exercise space
• Universal weight-training machine
• 2 – 5 pieces of cardiovascular equipment
• COST: $5,000 - $20,000*

Advanced

• Staffed with qualified personnel
• Locker rooms
• Fully-equipped gym with strength training and cardiovascular equipment
• Fitness and health promotion programs
• Annual cost: $50,000 - $500,000*

*Cost averages do not include facility construction costs.

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