Bringing Health to the People!
Bar ohne Namen
Entschlossen verweigert sich Savage, der Bar einen Namen zu geben. Stattdessen sind drei klassische Design-Symbole das Logo der Trinkstätte in Dalston: ein gelbes Quadrat, ein rotes Viereck, ein blauer Kreis. Am meisten wurmt den sympathischen Franzosen dabei, dass es kein Gelbes-Dreieck-Emoji gibt. Das erschwert auf komische Weise die Kommunikation. Der Instagram Account lautet: a_bar_with_shapes-for_a_name und anderenorts tauchen die Begriffe ‘Savage Bar’ oder eben ‚Bauhaus Bar‘ auf.
Für den BCB bringt Savage nun sein Barkonzept mit und mixt für uns mit Unterstützung von Russian Standard Vodka an der perfekten Bar dazu.
CHM Developments – Inside and Outside the Fitness Industry
"Every year, around 40 million people die from non-communicable diseases. These account for approximately 70 percent of all deaths worldwide." (German Environment Agency) By comparison: "According to a 2018 WHO estimate, the number of traffic fatalities worldwide that year was 1.35 million." (WHO) This stark contrast in statistics illustrates why our pursuit of a healthy life is becoming increasingly relevant—not only in our personal awareness and society, but especially within the companies of the fitness industry: both in terms of the services offered and, more and more often, with regard to the health of their own employees.
How important are Corporate Health Promotion (CHP) and Corporate Health Management (CHM) in Germany today?
"The growing importance of workplace health promotion is also reflected in spending by statutory health insurers: within eight years, expenditures have nearly quadrupled to almost 260 million euros." (Statista, 2025). But is this development enough to make a real difference? And what about the fitness industry itself?
"A consistently implemented workplace health management strategy can achieve a great deal," explains Anke Mächler-Poppen, a recognized specialist in Corporate Health Management (CHM), in an interview with the FIBO editorial team. Mächler-Poppen is a CHM consultant, lectures at the BSA Academy, and is an experienced author in and beyond the fitness and health sector (LinkedIn/ Anke Mächler-Poppen).
Anke Mächler-Poppen, CHM expert, Auditor, Lecturer at DHfPG and BSA Academy © DHfPG
"By continuously improving both physical and mental health, we not only reduce absenteeism, but also significantly enhance productivity, employee satisfaction, staff turnover, and employees’ identification with their employer," she states. A stronger corporate image and a positive company culture can also improve recruitment success and overall HR performance—“both for the corporate clients of fitness and health providers, and for fitness companies themselves.”
This awareness is already bearing fruit among some of the industry’s larger employers:
How do fitness companies manage workplace health?
FitX, for example—with over 100 studios and nearly one million members—enjoys strong employee ratings on relevant online platforms. This is no coincidence: for years, company leadership has actively supported the physical and mental well-being of its workforce. In 2025, health became a central focus: "Fitness changes people – and we change fitness. This principle applies not only to our members, but also to our employees. That's why we've deliberately included health in our corporate strategy for this year," reveals Mirco Lopuszansky in an interview with the FIBO editorial team. Lopuszansky, Head of Human Resources at FitX, adds: "Under the title 'Creating Attractive Job Worlds,' we're implementing targeted measures to promote the physical and mental health of our staff."
Mirco Lopuszansky, Head of Human Resources bei FitX © FitX
Kieser, a specialist in medically based strength training, also places a strong focus on employee well-being and satisfaction. Their strategy is built primarily on targeted qualification, support, and career development programs: "Task-centered and employee-focused initiatives generate satisfaction and create development opportunities for both employees and the company," says Roy Scherer, Head of Employee Training for the DACH region at Kieser. Corporate health, he explains, is a key pillar of the company’s success. It encompasses both physical and mental health. "Our goals are clear: on the one hand, maintaining workforce capacity and reducing sick days; on the other, increasing the attractiveness of the workplace, boosting motivation and satisfaction, and ensuring long-term employee retention.“
Roy Scherer, Head of Employee Training for the DACH region at Kieser © Kieser
What measures are being taken?
At FitX, the idea of focusing more intensively on employee health actually came from the employees themselves. "We realized that health is multi-faceted," says HR Director Mirco Lopuszansky, reflecting on the origins of the initiative. "That’s why we've recently placed greater emphasis on mental health. Through our regular employee surveys, we recognized the need to create a targeted offering in this area."
FitX has since introduced a dedicated digital platform offering low-threshold resources on topics such as mindfulness and self-care, along with live online sessions with coaches and therapists.
Recently, the company also launched mandatory workshops for leadership staff on the topic of mental health in the workplace. "In situations of psychological overload—for instance, due to a mental illness affecting oneself or someone close—there are warning signs that leaders can learn to recognize. They can respond, act as a first point of contact, and point out available support options," explains Lopuszansky.
Today, FitX has established its own digital platform offering low-threshold resources on topics such as mindfulness, self-care, and online sessions with coaches or therapists. Recently, FitX also introduced mandatory workshops on mental health for all managers. "In cases of mental overload — for example, due to a personal mental illness or one affecting someone close to you — there are warning signs that managers can recognize. They can respond, offer initial support, and point to professional help options," explains Lopuszansky.
CHP – A Gateway to Consistent CHM?
Anke Mächler-Poppen notes that she increasingly encounters the realization that workplace health today goes far beyond basic CHP standards such as health days or company fitness programs. This shift is also evident in the objectives: "In the past, it was merely about reducing absenteeism. Today, the measurability of a well-founded corporate health management program is on a completely different level!"
However, she points out that this complexity unfortunately discourages many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which often fear the effort required for holistic CHM processes. "But CHM increases a company’s attractiveness. More and more companies are highlighting their CHM efforts when recruiting new employees," says Mächler-Poppen.
Nevertheless, small and medium-sized enterprises typically prefer to start with less complex measures.
"Simpler CHP initiatives are an important first step," the consultant explains. Mächler-Poppen also emphasizes that the general level of health literacy among the German population still lags behind its potential. "Fitness and health providers can make a crucial contribution to changing this," she stresses during her presentation "Health Literacy in Germany? There's Still Room for Improvement!", delivered at the FIBO Congress 2025.
How Can Companies Promote a Healthy Lifestyle?
Especially since the issue of "sick days" is complex: "The Pareto principle generally applies to sick days: 20% of employees are responsible for 80% of the sick days." However, the individuals who cause the most sick days are often the ones initially resistant to employer-sponsored health initiatives such as corporate fitness programs. "As health service providers, we need to reach out to the companies — we must bring a healthy lifestyle directly to the employees," says Anke Mächler-Poppen.
Her advice: "Visit the companies. Build trust. Show employees where and how they can train. During the first visit, you often won't reach them. But if you stay engaged together with the employer, you can gradually guide most people towards a healthier life."
Conclusion
The path — especially in smaller companies both within and outside the fitness industry — is not an easy one: "We can see that a certain willingness to change is needed at the leadership level," says FitX Head of HR Lopuszansky. Nevertheless, he draws a clear conclusion: "We are convinced that, in the long term, a shift in thinking will and must prevail. Of course, we at FitX also expect performance from our employees — and our managers are expected to both challenge and support them. But: Sustainable, long-term performance can only be delivered by well-supported employees."
Sources and Links:
- German Environment Agency: https://www.bmz.de/de/themen/nicht-uebertragbare-krankheiten
- Statista (conflict deaths 2023): https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/1465485/umfrage/ausgaben-der-gesetzlichen-krankenversicherungen-fuer-betriebliche-gesundheitsfoerderung/
- Statista (workplace health promotion 2025): https://de.statista.com/themen/12383/betriebliche-gesundheitsfoerderung/#topicOverview
- Anke Mächler-Poppen (LinkedIn profile): https://www.linkedin.com/in/anke-maechler-poppen-3413b498
