A healthy employee is a happy employee, right? In Austin, with our health-centric community supported by a killer park system, amenities, ongoing races and collection of health-conscience restaurants, the city's companies have adopted similar mindsets for the workplace, as well.
To ensure employees exude a healthy, strong work-life balance, these three tech companies have launched wellness programs in and out of the office.
The technology platform built by the crew at Main Street Hub helps small local businesses create an online presence to connect with a new and existing client base.
The company has several strategies in place to provide health conscience activities and food options. Caroline Barker, senior content marketing associate, shared the specifics.
What types of mental and physical health options does Main Street Hub promote?
Every week we have a yoga session run by one of our yoga-instructor certified team members. We also offer all employees a gym membership plan that allows access to over 20 gyms in the Austin-area for $25 a month. Local fitness studios have also provided us with discounts for our employees, including Wanderlust Yoga and Ro Fitness. A few times a year, our customer success team gets massages in the office to stay focused and relaxed.
We encourage employees to bike to work. Our people team provides employees with bike safety tips and laws, recommended routes and convenient spots to park your bike.
What snacks are available?
Our fridges are always stocked with Topo Chico and La Croix, and we provide fresh fruit weekly including apples, oranges and bananas. From trail mix and mixed nuts, to veggie straws, snap pea crisps, pretzel crisps, to yogurt, hummus, and cheese, we also provide endless healthy snacks in the office. Every Monday, Main Street Hub provides its employees with a hot, catered breakfast.
Any team events?
In the summer and fall, our content and recruiting team members play in a competitive softball league, and our customer success team runs a basketball team in the winter.
We also hold a yearly summer Field Day, where teams across the company get to participate in relay races and other field games.
This past summer, the OwnLocal team launched their annual Employee Wellness Initiative, lasting eight weeks.
The company, which develops an automated system for converting media ads into online marketing campaigns, coordinates this summer health program every year. Lily Jones, OwnLocal's account manager, weighed in.
What did this past summer's program entail?
For eight weeks, employees attended bi-weekly group classes at Gold's Gym, ranging from "booty-blasting" bootcamps, yoga and spin classes.
In the office, they conducted two-minute exercise circuits daily, including jumping jacks, planks and sit-ups, at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., plus motivational e-mails with health fitness and nutritional tips.
What about after the eight weeks?
Many employees still take advantage of their Gold's Gym memberships, offered at a discounted monthly rate. Additionally, every employee receives a FitBit, and the kitchen is stocked with healthy options for snacks as well as catered lunches.
Anything else?
It's not uncommon to see employees rush to the kitchen to watch a pushup contest or to order a pizza on Friday. There is a balance practiced by all.
Cloudera offers a secure data management and analytics platform that helps companies identify and act on business opportunities.
The company has put in several healthy initiatives internally to keep employees healthy and motivated. Jessica Glass, Cloudera's senior field marketing manager for the west region, filled us in.
How do Cloudera employees stay healthy?
We offer a monthly gym membership reimbursement for our employees. Additionally, a running group will meet twice weekly, we'll host regularly scheduled fitness competitions, and we offer healthy snacks, drinks and meals as we strive for a totally healthy kitchen. There is also a loaner bike onsite at the office.
What's next?
We're working on organizing a cycling group.
Responses have been edited for clarity and length.
Images provided by companies.
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