Corporatefitness centers not only help with recruiting; they also improveoverall employee health, reduce workplace stress. (Photo:Shutterstock)

Ask any member of the C-suite what keeps them up at night andyou're sure to hear about the war for talent. With low unemploymentrates and ongoing demographic shifts, companies are continuallycompeting to attract and retain top talent.

And, today's candidates have choices. They search for anemployer the same way consumers search for products. Sure, theymight be sizing up healthcare and pay packages, but they are alsolooking for benefits beyond these benefits.

Like corporate fitness centers.

Many employers are bolstering recruiting efforts by featuringthese onsite corporate fitness centers. Given how tight the currentjob market is, when job seekers are faced with competitive offers,benefits like corporate fitness centers can make a realdifference.

And, these corporate fitness centers not only help withrecruiting; they also improve overall employee health, reduceworkplace stress and help retain talent. Put simply: good health isgood business!

But, how, exactly, do these corporate fitness centers helpcompanies and organizations recruit and retain top talent? Let's goto the front-lines to hear from the managers of some of thesecenters and what they're doing each and every day:

1. Indiana manufacturer makes it as easy as possible foremployees.

Job seekers are looking not only for benefits they need (healthinsurance), they're also looking for benefits that make their lifeeasier. Like getting a workout in before or after your workday!Kenya Orr, a program manager serving 1,200 employees at a globalplastics manufacturing company in Indiana, takes a unique approachthat definitely makes it easier for employees to get in that quickworkout after an 8-to-12 hour shift.

To encourage participation in the fitness center, Orr ensuresemployees have everything they need for a workout, including cleanworkout clothes! Orr's team takes customer service to a whole newlevel by washing and drying employees' workout clothes and puttingthem in their lockers before each workout.

2. Harvard University gets creative with fitness and well-beingprogramming.

Even though it's a prestigious academic institution, HarvardUniversity faces many of the same challenges in engaging studentsin health and wellbeing as most companies do. The students don'thave time. The students can't get to the gym. So, Kim Lacasse,general manager of Harvard Recreation, has to get creative withfitness and well-being programming to attract students. Sure,Lacasse has the Malkin Athletic Center and Hemenway Gymnasium and100 group fitness classes as draws, but the more creative offeringssometimes work just as well (if not better).

For example, one night each fall, the team organizes "pottingand plant night" where students can use succulents, potting soil,colorful rocks, moss and fish bowls to get their hands dirty and becreative. It is typically one of the most successful events of theyear—and it's designed not only to inspire creativity, but tofoster well-being in terms of caring for a plant on a dailybasis.

3. Silicon Valley biotech firm provides "fitness geek"-levelstaff.

A big part of the fitness center experience, for most people, isthe staff. These are the people who assist with classes, weightsand general wellbeing tips and information. At Genetech, abiotechnology company in San Francisco, Fitness Program ManagerJoey Bareng has developed a team of "fitness geeks" who pridethemselves on not only providing a stellar experience at thecompany's 37,000-square-foot facility, but also staying one stepahead when it comes to fitness trends and technologies. To helpensure his team remains knowledgeable, Bareng sends his trainers tocontinuing education classes and seminars, including the annualIDEA World Conference and IHRSA, among others. And, his staff makesit a priority to continually check out the newest equipment,products and trends.

4. Manufacturer attracts remote workers with virtualprogramming.

Since more employees are looking for flexible and remote workarrangements, catering to the modern mobile workforce is moreimportant than ever. But, obviously, onsite corporate fitnesscenters don't typically help fill that need. So, some companies aretaking creative approaches to leveraging those onsite corporatefitness centers for remote workers.

To reach remote employees throughout the company's 11 U.S.locations in nine states, Orr and her team created REVIVE, avirtual, on-demand health and fitness program. Here's how it works:Remote employees receive a calendar via email each week with a linkto the REVIVE Skype sessions and employees can participate fromtheir office or from home. Through REVIVE, the team offers morethan 15 sessions per week called Energy Breaks covering topics suchas Desktop Yoga, Balance & Breathe, Office Dance Party, TensionTamers and Get Up & Go. Onsite corporate fitness centerscontinue to be a huge draw for employers to use in attracting newemployees. What's more, an investment in employee health is notonly an exceptional benefit for candidates in today's workforce, italso pays off in building happier, more productive and motivatedteams.

Ann Wyatt isvice president, program management & engagement at HealthFitnesswhere she oversees a national account management team. Her roleincludes strategy development and driving engagement for new andexisting health management and corporate fitness programs, employeerecruiting and training, program quality assurance and operationsmanagement.