Local companies see the benefit in keeping employees healthy.

If you’re an informed and somewhat aware Canadian born within the last 50 years (and if our demographics hold, you are) then you are well aware that physical fitness is a key component to a healthy, productive life. Whether we heard it from Ed Allen, Participaction, or Hal and Joanne, the need to get, and stay, in shape has been drummed into the baby boomer psyche for as long as we can remember. Aside from reducing the risks of any number of potentially lethal maladies, fitness would also improve our moods, give us boundless energy, improve our sex lives, etc. Who wouldn’t want to be fit?

And it sounds so easy, doesn’t it? Fifteen minutes a day could give us “the shape we always wanted” with “rock-hard sculpted abs,” “a leaner, tighter core,” and everybody’s favourite: “Buns of Steel!”

But the reality is that it’s not that easy. More to the point, the other tenets of baby boomer existence: home, family, and career tend to get in the way of that fine pursuit. And of these, it seems to be career that has the most detrimental impact on the need for fitness. People are spending more time on the job than ever before. Stress levels are through the roof. And when you’re expected to arrive early, meet all your deadlines, and stay late, how does anybody find time for exercise?

In a perfect world, employers would acknowledge that a fit employee is a happy, productive employee, and they would do what they can to contribute to the well-being of their staff. But it seems that unless you work for a Scandinavian furniture maker or Google, you’re out of luck.

Until recently.

Today, a wide range of companies are coming to the realisation that the health and well-being of their employees is definitely in their interest and they are taking steps to do something about it.

And it’s not just about physical fitness. All facets of wellness are being addressed. From providing workout facilities and Pilates and yoga classes, to hosting seminars on nutrition, companies are making the overall health of their employees an integral part of how they run their business.



“Our employees are our biggest asset, and it just makes sense for us to do what we can to help them stay healthy and happy,” says Linda Doolan, Director of Human Resources with Winnipeg based Smith Carter Architects and Engineers Incorporated. Planner Ana Coppinger and I.T. Manager Darrell May are co-chairs of the Wellness Committee at Smith Carter and it is part of their task to come up with ideas that address different elements of wellness for the company’s 120 Winnipeg employees. These range from “fruit day,” in which employees are encouraged to snack on a piece of fruit rather than something from a vending machine, to a well-equipped workout room with full change and shower facilities. “Our intention is to make the workplace a more enjoyable place to be,” says Coppinger. “People burn out quickly if the sole focus of the day is work, work, work. So, if people hit the 3 p.m. drowsies, they can take a break in our nap room. Or, if they need to burn off a little steam, we’ve got a foosball table.”

“This is not a typical work environment,” adds Darrell May. “There’s no such thing as a formal office here. No cubicles either. This configuration encourages informal communication, which we believe is more effective and productive than memos, e-mails and formal meetings. The idea is to make the workspace more collaborative, integrated, and fun.”

Being a responsible corporate citizen also contributes to the overall sense of wellness Smith Carter strives for. According to May, “A significant part of our (wellness) initiative is our drive and desire to give back to the local community. Our 2006 United Way Campaign resulted in 86 per cent staff participation and we received the prestigious Diamond Corporate Award.” The global community benefits too. The office was designed with the environment and sustainability firmly in mind.

With Pilates classes conducted on the outdoor deck, a big screen TV in the lobby (which comes in handy when Canada’s national hockey teams are playing) and a workspace known as “the beach,” Smith Carter is clearly embracing the notion of collaboration, integration and fun. “It’s a great place to work,” concludes Coppinger.

Employee health and wellness is also the focus of Winnipeg based HVAC manufacturer E.H. Price, Ltd. The company currently employs about 450 people in its Winnipeg office, and follows the philosophy that treating its people with respect and investing in their health and wellness will result in tangible dividends. According to Nolan Hosking, a manufacturing cell leader and head of the company’s wellness committee, the E.H. Price approach to the wellness of its employees isn’t limited by the office walls. In addition to in-house seminars on topics such as healthy cooking, weight training, and running, the company provides the means for employees to pursue fitness and wellness outside of work too. “The company understands that work is only a part of their employees’ lives. We’ve all got a lot going on outside of the office,” says Hosking. “During the winter the company sponsors an employee hockey team, and everybody—regardless of whether they’ve played or not—is encouraged to give it a shot,” he adds. As well, the company kicks in half of the cost for employee memberships at the ‘Y’. “This has been a very successful program. Lots of our people are making a quick stop at the ‘Y’ for a workout a part of their day.”

Hosking believes that the company’s philosophy of respect for its employees and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep them fit, happy and healthy is paying off. “People want to be here,” he says. “Besides that, they want to do good work for a company that clearly cares about how they’re feeling rather than just how hard they’re working.”

These are only two examples of Winnipeg businesses that are embracing the new world of work. But it’s starting to become a standard way of business for more and more companies. The focus has shifted. Employers no longer measure their people’s worth by the fact that they are at their desks from 9 to 5, cranking out the work before going home to a tumbler of scotch and an early heart attack. These days, companies have to prove themselves to employees. With fitness facilities, nutrition and exercise classes, and things like nap rooms. The traditionally conservative world of business is undergoing a realisation that keeping their people happy, healthy and alive is, quite simply, good for business.