Cyndy Odom works out three days a week. The 48-year-old employee of University Hospital receives a free gym membership to Health Central on Broad Street through her employer.
To maintain it, however, she must visit the gym at least 12 times each month.
"This keeps me on track. I would probably walk, probably not do machines or anything like that" if not for the free gym membership, Ms. Odom said.
She said she has been going to the gym for several years and has maintained a healthy weight while improving her muscle mass, strength and cardiovascular fitness.
Maintaining a health-work balance is becoming a way of life for some Augusta area employees. Companies are offering benefits to encourage workers to exercise and monitor their overall health.
SRP Federal Credit Union and ESi, for example, offer flexible hours for employees to work out.
Next Sunday, Augusta will be host to one of the ultimate tests of fitness, a triathlon. Regular fitness, however, translates in the workplace with more productive employees, less absenteeism or disability leave, and lower health care costs.
In many instances, workers are happier, too, said Cindy Stephens, the director of Health Central.
About five years ago, University Hospital started its Wellness Works program, which stresses early identification and prevention, said Roxane Patterson, the manager of Employee Health and Wellness. In addition to free gym membership for full-time employees, the program offers free health screenings for all workers.
"We take a health assessment of the employee, which includes the basic blood pressure, height, weight and some blood work," Ms. Patterson said. "We help identify risk factors such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), asthma, obesity and smoking.
"Then, we join with the employee to help work through those risk factors. We are very committed to our employees. We have the most elaborate disease management program in the nation."
In October, University Hospital will offer its employees a three-month training program to prepare for the Langley Pond Sprint Triathlon in April. The triathlon includes a 750-meter swim, 12.4-mile bike ride and 3.1-mile run.
Jan Alexander, 53, a library assistant at Augusta Public Library, said she can join a gym at a discounted rate as part of her employee benefits package. She started working at the library a few weeks ago.
"I've always wanted to work out there," she said, referring to Health Central. "Until now, I've just been walking with a friend. But now I can do other things. I've lost 60 pounds in the last year. I have 40 pounds to go."
If she visits the gym 16 times a month, her membership is free. Depending on her work schedule, Ms. Alexander exercises before or after work, or during her lunch hour.
"The city gets a healthier employee, and I am healthier, feel better and lose weight," Ms. Alexander said. "It's basically win-win all the way around. To me, that's worth a whole lot of money."
SRP Federal Credit Union will have a fitness center in its new administrative facility under construction in North Augusta, President Ed Templeton said.
The center will have space for floor exercises and free weights, locker rooms and showers.
The credit union will have an outdoor walking track at the facility and will provide bicycles for riders.
The administrative building is expected to be completed by late January or early February. Employees at all local branches will have access to the fitness center 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, he said.
"We're going to promote an environment where if you want to improve your health through exercise, we're going to make the facilities available to you," Mr. Templeton said. "It's the right thing to do for employees. If you want to have a healthy workplace, you have to make available to people those things they need to be healthy."
SRP Federal Credit Union offers flexible hours so that its employees can exercise during the day. Employees can also bring family members to exercise with them.
Based on the response, the credit union might add other services, such as a trainer or dietician, he said.
"We'll do whatever the employees will utilize," he said. "The sky's the limit. We think a healthier employee will make for a better employee long term. It's much easier to do if it's convenient."
At Health Central, Randy Cantu, 52, an employee at ESi, geared up for a lunchtime run with friends last week.
"I do this on my lunch break two or three times a week," Mr. Cantu said.
ESi urges its employees to have a healthy lifestyle and offers flexible hours so that they can fit workouts into their day. The company has a weight-loss competition several times a year, Mr. Cantu said.
In addition, ESi offers a free, one-hour yoga class before work at 7 a.m. on Fridays, said Molly Adams, another employee at the Augusta software company.
Mike Brown, a director of materials and purchasing at University Hospital, works out at Health Central almost every day during his lunch hour.
"I find it pretty beneficial. It's helped me quite a bit," Mr. Brown said. "Most notably, I'm able to keep my weight under control. I feel more energetic. I feel a lot better.
"Hopefully, as I get older, it will keep my medical bills under control."
Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.
WANT TO STAY HEALTHY AT WORK?
Here are some fitness and lifestyle tips from Health Central:
- Exercise at your desk. Replace your chair with a large exercise ball to develop your core strength.
- Don't sit in one position all day. Shift positions and take breaks to exercise, such as stretching or resistance work. Do isometric resistance exercises against a desk surface, or stand and do squats or push-ups against the wall.
- Instead of weights, use elastic tubing during breaks to improve strength and muscle mass.
- Find computer programs that remind you to exercise at scheduled intervals, such as stretching your hands and wrists for those with desk jobs.
- Jog in place to improve energy and concentration.
- Workers with physical jobs (landscapers, painters or manual laborers) need to do deep breathing for 10 minutes or more each day.
- Don't sabotage your exercise efforts by eating unhealthful foods.
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