Employees are the backbone of any company, and their performance at work depends on more than attendance and equipment. The state of your workforce’s health and well-being can affect your business, and supporting workers to be more active will help your company stay on the side of success! Exercises, like biking and walking, are effective ways employees can improve their physical and mental health every day. Encouraging workers to get in a good sweat whenever possible will help boost your business goals through lower healthcare costs, improved employee mental health, and increased workforce positivity.
Lower healthcare costs
According to Forbes, Georgia ranked eighth among most expensive states in the U.S. when it comes to paying for health insurance, with employers contributing about $5,653 for each single plan. The higher costs are partly driven by conditions such as cancer, heart disease, autoimmune diseases, and mental health issues, according to a report by the Business Group on Health. The effects of regular walking and biking combat these conditions with health benefits that include improved heart health and mood, stronger muscles and joints, weight loss support, and a healthier immune system. Encouraging employees to be more active will allow them to feel their best while your company saves money on medical costs and paid sick days.
Improved mental health
Untreated mental health concerns can cost businesses $60,000 annually. This is because dissatisfaction or unhappiness is often associated with absenteeism, less productivity, illness, and turnover – all of which can leave companies bleeding financially, according to the Center for Prevention and Health Services. Mental health issues are also one of the top conditions driving high employer healthcare costs. Encouraging workers to live more active lifestyles using exercises like biking and walking supports their mental wellness while driving down company costs. According to the U.S. News & World Report, biking is associated with a 20% lower risk of receiving a prescription for mental health problems while walking is associated with a 7% lower risk.
Increased positivity
Mood and motivation go hand-in-hand, so very little is likely to be accomplished when workers are not feeling happy or satisfied. Exercises, like biking and walking, produce more feel-good hormones in the brain called endorphins. Higher endorphin production reduces the harmful effects of stress on the mind and body while increasing feelings of happiness, according to Mayo Clinic. A happier workforce contributes to a positive workplace culture, which is important for retaining employees and attracting new ones. In fact, according to a report by SHRM, workers in positive organizational cultures are almost four times more likely to stay with their current employer. The same report found that over 8 in 10 employees in positive workplace cultures say they’re likely to recommend their organization to job seekers.
GCO partners with employers to provide ridematching services, worksite assistance, commuter incentive programs and more.