Tognum opens gym

• New element in strategic health management

Friedrichshafen, May 14, 2013. Even for those who really enjoy their work, it always involves elements of stress. Sport is a sensible and necessary way of balancing out everyday work-based stress and, of course, it increases our sense of general well-being. Employees at Tognum and MTU Friedrichshafen are able to find that balance right outside the factory gates because the specialist for propulsion and power solutions opened the company’s own gym. The facility offers staff the chance to exercise under the supervision of qualified trainers and to take part in a range of fitness programs. The gym is located in the basement of Tognum´s new day-care kindergarten in Prielmayerstraße.

“Having our own gym means we can decide where the focus should be in our training programs. Our statistics show that musculoskeletal problems, in particular, are on the increase and so we have concentrated our concept and the programs on offer, in this area,” explained Ingo Metzer, head of HR at Tognum AG. The activities available range from individual workouts on endurance and strength-enhancing equipment and various courses involving spinning and relaxation, to 30-minute courses during lunch-breaks. “Our short membership contracts and low monthly subscriptions are designed to make it easy for our employees to do sport before or after work,” added Metzer. And along with the `pain´ will be the extra `gain´ of being able to enjoy the activities together with one´s co-workers. “The program will be rounded off by activities for special target groups such as shift workers. We want to encourage our co-workers to get into the habit of physical exercise,” said Dr Claus-Jürgen Gros, company medical officer at Tognum. The gym will be operated in cooperation with external service provider Integion, which specializes in in-house fitness programs for companies.

Tognum has been involved in health promotion within the company for many years. Its coordinated concept focuses on sport and exercise, healthy eating, medical treatment and prevention, and the work-life balance as well as health and safety at work. Tognum has held the Corporate Health Award Seal of Excellence for outstanding health management since 2012.