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

And, today's candidates have choices. They search for an employer the same way consumers search for products. Sure, they might be sizing up healthcare and pay packages, but they are also looking for benefits beyond these benefits.

Like corporate fitness centers.

Many employers are bolstering recruiting efforts by featuring these onsite corporate fitness centers. Given how tight the current job market is, when job seekers are faced with competitive offers, benefits like corporate fitness centers can make a real difference.

And, these corporate fitness centers not only help with recruiting; they also improve overall employee health, reduce workplace stress and help retain talent. Put simply: good health is good business!

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

1. Indiana manufacturer makes it as easy as possible for employees.

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

To encourage participation in the fitness center, Orr ensures employees have everything they need for a workout, including clean workout clothes! Orr's team takes customer service to a whole new level by washing and drying employees' workout clothes and putting them in their lockers before each workout.

2. Harvard University gets creative with fitness and well-being programming.

Even though it's a prestigious academic institution, Harvard University faces many of the same challenges in engaging students in health and wellbeing as most companies do. The students don't have time. The students can't get to the gym. So, Kim Lacasse, general manager of Harvard Recreation, has to get creative with fitness and well-being programming to attract students. Sure, Lacasse has the Malkin Athletic Center and Hemenway Gymnasium and 100 group fitness classes as draws, but the more creative offerings sometimes work just as well (if not better).

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

3. Silicon Valley biotech firm provides "fitness geek"-level staff.

A big part of the fitness center experience, for most people, is the staff. These are the people who assist with classes, weights and general wellbeing tips and information. At Genetech, a biotechnology company in San Francisco, Fitness Program Manager Joey Bareng has developed a team of "fitness geeks" who pride themselves on not only providing a stellar experience at the company's 37,000-square-foot facility, but also staying one step ahead when it comes to fitness trends and technologies. To help ensure his team remains knowledgeable, Bareng sends his trainers to continuing education classes and seminars, including the annual IDEA World Conference and IHRSA, among others. And, his staff makes it a priority to continually check out the newest equipment, products and trends.

4. Manufacturer attracts remote workers with virtual programming.

Since more employees are looking for flexible and remote work arrangements, catering to the modern mobile workforce is more important than ever. But, obviously, onsite corporate fitness centers don't typically help fill that need. So, some companies are taking creative approaches to leveraging those onsite corporate fitness 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, a virtual, on-demand health and fitness program. Here's how it works: Remote employees receive a calendar via email each week with a link to the REVIVE Skype sessions and employees can participate from their office or from home. Through REVIVE, the team offers more than 15 sessions per week called Energy Breaks covering topics such as Desktop Yoga, Balance & Breathe, Office Dance Party, Tension Tamers and Get Up & Go. Onsite corporate fitness centers continue to be a huge draw for employers to use in attracting new employees. What's more, an investment in employee health is not only an exceptional benefit for candidates in today's workforce, it also pays off in building happier, more productive and motivated teams.

Ann Wyatt is vice president, program management & engagement at HealthFitness where she oversees a national account management team. Her role includes strategy development and driving engagement for new and existing health management and corporate fitness programs, employee recruiting and training, program quality assurance and operations management.

Instant Insights /

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