Why every modern office needs a gym space and how to build one
Offices today are evolving beyond rows of desks and cubicles. Employees want a better work-life balance, and employers are rethinking what it means to create truly supportive work environments. The shift? Introducing a dedicated gym and wellness space within office buildings.
Whether you’re a building owner, facilities manager, or office decision-maker, incorporating a gym into your site is a strategic move that benefits both business performance and people’s health. Find out how you can benefit from an office gym, the equipment you could include, and how you can design it to align with your branding.
The rise of workplace wellness
Since the pandemic, employees have been seeking added value from their place of work. With flexible working and work-from-home routines offering additional time and freedom, employee benefits have shifted toward prioritising wellness and work-life balance, especially as 63% of people experience at least one characteristic of burnout at work.
Mental health schemes are no longer supplements but an essential and proactive component of wellness strategies. Alongside check-in programmes and discounts for mindfulness apps, more and more office owners and business decision-makers are starting to provide physical activity benefits to their staff.
How a gym space benefits you as a business
Many people think investing in a gym for your office is costly, has little ROI and
has the potential to become a real eyesore. But we're here to put these common
misconceptions to bed. For every £1 spent on supporting the wellbeing of their
workforce, employers get an average of £4.70 back in increased productivity,
according to a Deloitte study. That’s a 370% ROI.
As a business owner or facility manager, you can also:
- Attract more talent to your office
- Increase staff retention
- Enhance your company culture
- Provide additional team-building opportunities
Similarly, with an on-site gym, your employees can benefit from:
- Increased focus
- Improved physical health and wellbeing
- Savings on gym memberships
- Less time commuting from work to the gym
- Reduced stress levels
How should your office gym look?
Your modern office probably already has a sleek design that matches your company branding and culture - and at Wolverson Fitness, we consider this in the design process. We incorporate your branding into equipment and accessories, even down to the astroturf. Cohesive gym equipment instead of mismatched items enhances your employees' experience of the gym. Everything looks more visually appealing, and their workout flow is streamlined as they have better knowledge of the equipment.
What equipment should you include in your office gym?
Firstly, you need to consider what kind of gym your employees would prefer. If they want a calm atmosphere to relax and decompress in the quiet, they’re not going to enjoy walking into a space filled with weights and music blasting. Equally, you want to blend the space between work and workouts to ensure it feels like a part of your building, but that also allows employees to get into a mindful, healthy headspace. It’s all about balance. At Wolverson Fitness, we can help you achieve this with our free gym design service.
The styles of gym and equipment you should consider include:
- Minimal/studio style – think mats and rollers for yoga, pilates, and
stretching. - Strength training – this includes all free weights like dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, and weight plates - so you’ll also
need storage, benches, and power racks to complete the
setup. - Cardio – an ideal starting place includes treadmills, exercise bikes, and rowing machines.
- Functional items – accessories to complement all gym styles, like resistance bands and medicine balls.
- Multi-functional machines – suitable
for bigger office spaces, offering an all-in-one solution.
How can Wolverson Fitness help?
If you want a fitness space which integrates seamlessly into your office but don’t know where to start, we’ll work with you to create a functional, aesthetic gym tailored to your tastes and costs. Invest in your employees’ health and reap the rewards today with Wolverson Fitness.
