DELPHOS — Corporations and other companies have been caring about their employees’ health for years, but some are starting to show it in a more tangible way.
Some businesses around the region have opened fitness centers at their facilities for employees to use.
Though it may seem philanthropic, caring about employees’ health also seems to make business sense.
“The healthier your employees, the better it is for your business,” said Deb Katzenmeyer, manager of the West Central Ohio Safety Council. “I think it’s just beneficial all the way around.”
A CULTURE OF HEALTH
K&M Tire’s focus on employee health began about six years ago at the prompting of its insurance company. It started small, encouraging employees to count their daily steps with pedometers.
The company has now created a sort of culture of health, with employees encouraging others to get healthier and participate in more of the company’s health programs, which it has added over time.
“We know just a little bit of that wellness is getting into everybody,” said Pam Rosswurm, huiman resources manager.
A culture of health is very important to have, as it can create a support network for employees, said Josh Unterbrink, program officer at Activate Allen County.
It can also mean companies not only offer fitness centers and health incentives, but healthier meal options and more, he said.
One of K&M’s values is continuous improvement, said Greg Ring, director of training and development at K&M.
“Everything we do we try to get a little bit better each day,” he said, and the fitness center it opened in October fits into that.
“I think if people are acting happier, healthier, they’ll miss less work,” said Cheryl Gossard, vice president at K&M.
WORKPLACE CONNECTION
In addition to the culture of health, K&M wants its employees to feel that the “company cares about them, cares about their wellness,” Rosswurm said.
Derrin Kuhn, a K&M employee, said the company talks a lot about being healthy, and the fitness center shows that it means what it says.
Investing in employee health can make employees be more connected to their workplace. If employees know their employer cares about them, they are vested in the company and it’s less likely to lose talent, Unterbrink said.
POET Biorefining in Leipsic opened a fitness center about two weeks ago because of an increased commitment to team member wellness, said Mark Borer, general manager at the plant.
The Leipsic location isn’t the only one that has opened a fitness center, as the company is opening them at each of its plant locations, according to a release.
Borer said the addition of the fitness center shows that the company cares for its employees.
“It’s not just what you’re doing on the job, if you care about your team members, you’re concerned with things long-term,” he said.
IT MAKES BUSINESS SENSE
Though many companies offer health incentives and fitness centers to improve their employees’ well being, they also get something out of it.
Having healthier employees makes business sense. Healthier employees may be more productive, miss less work days, and don’t cost as much to insure.
Paying for health insurance for their employees may be reason enough for companies to try to encourage wellness, Unterbrink said.
Smith, with St. Rita’s, said the medical center offers a fitness center to “help instill healthy habits” in its employees.
It also realizes that “the better employees take care of themselves, they’re going to come to work more energized, productive, healthier and not be absent,” he said.
Fitness centers are “absolutely” a “great investment,” Unterbrink said.
“The majority of the research says that spending this money on preventative care does help the bottom line for the company,” Unterbrink said. “With healthier, happier employees their attention is greater, they’re more ready to work and they’re not going to be off work as much.”
FINDING THE TIME
Kuhn has a newborn at home, so working out isn’t something he’s generally able to fit in to his free time.
That’s why it’s been so great that K&M recently installed a fitness center for employees. Now, he doesn’t have to lose time with his family to get healthy, he just works out during his lunch break.
“It’s just really, really nice to have this every day,” said Kuhn, a marketing designer at K&M. He said it makes him feel “really good” during the second half of his work day.
There’s no excuse for him not to work out now, as even if he forgets his clothes, he goes and walks with his friend in the fitness center.
K&M’s fitness center, as well as many other company’s, are open 24/7 for employees. The Delphos company has treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bike, yoga mats, weights and more at its gym, and plans to expand its offerings.
At St. Rita’s Medical Center employees not only have access to a fitness center, but also to a personal trainer, said Tyler Smith, market employee well-being leader. It also offers some fitness classes.
At Lima Memorial Health Center, employees can use a fitness center on site and be part of Weight Watchers at work, said Sarah Sarka, wellness coordinator at Lima Memorial.
Part of the reason for its offerings is that it wants to “promote health and well being to our own associates,” she said.
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News Greg Ring, director of training & development at K&M Tire in Delphos, describes the newly built fitness center for employees.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_KM_Tire_02co.jpg
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News Greg Ring, director of training & development at K&M Tire in Delphos, describes the newly built fitness center for employees.
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News Bonnie Marlow, an employee at K&M Tire in Delphos, works out on an elliptical machine in the new fitness center for employees.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_KM_Tire_05co.jpg
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News Bonnie Marlow, an employee at K&M Tire in Delphos, works out on an elliptical machine in the new fitness center for employees.
Photo Submitted
POET Biorefining’s newly opened employee fitness center in Leipsic.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_FitnessCenterPOET.jpg
Photo Submitted
POET Biorefining’s newly opened employee fitness center in Leipsic.
Photo Submitted
POET Biorefining’s newly opened employee fitness center in Leipsic.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_FitnessCenterPOET1.jpg
Photo Submitted
POET Biorefining’s newly opened employee fitness center in Leipsic.
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News Derrin Kuhn, an employee at K&M Tire in Delphos, lifts free weights in the new fitness center for employees.
http://limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_KM_Tire_04co.jpg
Craig J. Orosz | The Lima News Derrin Kuhn, an employee at K&M Tire in Delphos, lifts free weights in the new fitness center for employees.
By Danae King
dking@civitasmedia.com
LOCAL COMPANIES WITH FITNESS CENTERS INCLUDE
Honda Anna Engine Plant
Husky Energy Lima Refinery
INEOS
K & M Tire
Lima Memorial Health System
POET Biorefining
PotashCorp
Procter & Gamble
St. Rita’s Medical Center
Reach Danae King at 567-242-0511 or on Twitter @DanaeKing.
VideoID:
Nb1ZdxTcEjo&video_referrer=watch
VideoType:
YOUTUBE
URL:
https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=Nb1ZdxTcEjo&video_referrer=watch
Video Embed String:
Video Caption:
K&M Tire Fitness Center
Video Credit:
Danae King | The Lima News
Video Position:
(use the “for files…” link above to associate attached files with this source)