Corporate Wellness Programs Continue to Grow in Popularity

Sept. 1, 2010 - PRLog -- WARRENTON, Va. – As the nation continues to recover from the economic downturn, employers are seeking increasingly innovative ways to reward workers while keeping an eye on the bottom line. One low-cost, high-return option that employers are increasingly embracing is a corporate wellness program.

According to the Wellness Council of America, 81 percent of businesses with 50 or more employees offer some form of employee wellness program. The benefits extend to both employers and employees, and can range from discounted gym memberships to offering complimentary health screenings at the office. The best programs offer a variety of benefits to the employees and the employers.

“Corporate wellness programs provide a number of valuable benefits to host organizations, including increased employee productivity, lower absenteeism and decreased health care expenditures," says Kim Forsten, owner of the Old Town Athletic Club in Warrenton, Virginia. “Whether we are in lean or booming economic times, taking care of our employees is both sensible and profitable."

Responding to local demand, the Old Town Athletic Club recently rolled out a new, comprehensive corporate wellness program tailored to fit the needs of the Warrenton community. The program provides employees of participating organizations with a complimentary health and wellness assessment, 15-day free gym membership and discounted ongoing membership rates for all family members ages 13 and up. Best of all for business owners, enrolling in the program doesn't cost them a dime.

More than a dozen local businesses have signed on to participate in the Old Town Athletic Club program since it was launched earlier this summer. Underscoring the program's versatility, the staff sizes of participating companies ranges from a five-employee small businesses to one organization with more than two thousand staff members.

“A well-planned corporate wellness program should provide large businesses with a valuable addition to an already comprehensive benefits package, and give the small business something that costs little or no money but will be appreciated by employees," Forsten explains.

In addition to the personal health and fitness benefits that employees will get by actively participating in the program, they also can compete in the Old Town Athletic Club’s 2010- 2011 Warrenton Corporate Wellness Challenge. Participating companies will receive special local media recognition, bringing yet another benefit adopting the program.

For more information on the Old Town Athletic Club’s Corporate Wellness Program call: 540-349-2791 or visit www.otacfitness.com

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