Sport to improve company spirit
Nowadays, many employees take part in sport outside working hours. However, it’s still a tricky business, especially for smaller organisations, to set up corporate sports challenges, even though they are good for health, team spirit and cohesion.
From Apple’s squash courts to the Total Group’s swimming pool, what are the benefits of this kind of activity for both companies and employees? How can a company set up sporting activities for its employees at a lower cost?
An asset for companies
By offering sports activities to its employees, a company can develop its team building, i.e. build a real team in which each employee is a link in a chain. Through sports team building, the company can use an alternative to large-scale formal meetings to enable each employee to get to know his or her superior or office neighbour a little better.
In addition to strengthening group cohesion, corporate sports challenges are also said to increase productivity by between 6% and 9%, reduce absenteeism and improve profitability by between 4% and 14% (study by Goodwill Management).
So we can see that within a company, sports team building will bring team building within the company, developing teamwork at the same time. Finally, a company offering sporting activities to its employees will be more attractive and will therefore make employees want to work for the company.
An asset for employees
As well as adding value to the company, corporate sports challenges enable employees to develop or maintain their mental and physical fitness.
Taking the example of a game of basketball, employees will forget for the duration of the game the links of subordination that still exist in the company. They will also develop team cohesion during the match and get to know members of other departments or another office.
Playing sport in the company means getting to know your colleagues in a different context. All of which enhances teamwork. According to the same study as the first part, sport in the workplace not only helps employees to feel more serene, but also increases their life expectancy by 3 years and delays the onset of dependency by 6 years. Finally, it could reduce healthcare costs by €30 to €34 per employee per year.
What kind of sporting activities are available to smaller companies?
Although it is impossible for smaller companies to set up sports complexes on the scale of Apple or Total, it is quite feasible to set aside a slot in the week for those who wish to take part in a sport.
For example, football or basketball matches could be organised, as could team running. All these activities will help to develop group cohesion, even within the smallest company, which will make it more competitive.
Whether you run a multinational or a small, low-profile company, the benefits of sport will enable you, your company and your employees to develop real team cohesion, making your business more productive and attractive.
