I think that would be a great idea. I would love to have an hour to workout without feeling guilt about not being at my desk or without having to stay later in the day. As a working mom it is very hard to find balance. If I workout at work, I feel guilty about being away from my responsibilities, but if I come in earlier or stay after my shift I feel guilty about not being home for my child.

Being exempt you could say I'm already paid for that hour if I wanted to exercise. In general; however, I think we can all find the time if we really looked at how we were spending our time. I understand myvoice's struggle with balance, but generally there are lunch breaks that offer a perfect time while at work.  And being a single working father as well I know sometimes I workout at home after the kids go to bed, while they are doing their homework, or while they are in the bath, so as not to impact the time I have with them. Again the point being we can all find the time, we just need to find those 30 minutes here and there to get in some physical activity.

Being able to exercise brings about a better overall feeling leading to a more productive employee.

It would be great to have an hour 3 days a week devoted to exercise. I try to make it to the gym every day but there are days when I can't. Being able to work out during the day would open up my afternoons. It would allow me more time to manage my errands and chores at home.

I think that may be a great incentive for some. I do try and get there, but it doesn't always happens, my meetings during the day eat all my time, and then I end up running home at night to get the dogs out and fed.

Not just yes, but heck yes!! I will say that I do get support at work to exercise, and usually will do it during my lunch hour. But knowing that everyone was encouraged to do it with 3 hours every week would help a lot more people exercise, I think.

Absolutely! That would be an offer too good to pass up. The employer I believe would benefit, too, in increased health and productivity for the employee, as well as higher morale.

Yes, that would be great but would that have any impact on an increase in rates to cover the cost? Less pay incentives? Companies are trying to be leaner and laying off employees. Where would the money for a program like that come from?

Exercising increases energy level and endurance. It also helps improve mood. So, it would be a win win for everyone (employer and employee).

I already use my lunch break to exercise, but it is very rushed and makes it easy to skip the exercise.

No excuses for the couch potatoes!

It would be great if a employer would do that for the employees

Most definitely. Exercising during the work day helps me to break up the monotony of the day. It also helps me to relieve stress. I used to have the ability but management changes have sense prevented this.

Anyone who is really serious about their health will find time to work out. I use half of my lunch time to exercise and that works out perfectly, especially since we have a very good cafeteria onsite and you can easily eat in 30 minutes or less and have plenty of time for a good walk, etc.. This would be hard to police; and I think some would take advantage of this benefit and use the time for other things.....

That would be absolutely wonderful. One hour per day is a great start to healthy living. If your employer promotes you to be healthy it could potentially be a benefit to the company. Employees would feel better and thus take less time off from work. It would be nice if my employer did this.

If someone wants to exercise they will find the time and not wait until they get paid to do it.

An hour's not enough for a full workout but if I'm being paid to do it, I might as well take advantage.

That would be absolutely wonderful. I am all for trying to have a healthy lifestye, but life DOES sometimes get in the way. I work for BCBSNC and I do not have a lot of time before or after work and feel guilty if I do. I am a mother of 3 children 12, 8, and 7; a Girl Scout Troop Leader; go to college full time and work full time. Exercis is one thing I really NEED that is VERY hard to schedule a time.

Yes would definitely take advantage of that

I would love that!

That would be a great way to get rid of some stress also!

I would take it for sure, but for me my lunch is considered that free time. If we could change some of the culture at the workplace to allow people flexible options with their breaks that could take care of it for those on salary.

The struggle is harder for those paid hourly. I think it would be a bigger incentive to work at a company who recognizes the importance of healthy and happy employees.

I would surely workout if it was paid time from the company. I have kids, a husband and the work/life balance doesn't leave much free time in the evenings to spend with the family. So working out is often hard to do other than on the weekends.

My current employer promotes health and wellness, probably better than most companies do but when the clock hits 6 pm, I hit the door. In my current position I sit most of the day as do most of my co-workers. I know 3 hours per week paid time to work out is NOT in the best interest of the companies bottom line but what about every couple hours we all stand up and stretch? It would be a simple thing that wouldn't cost the company anything and would get the blood moving. Just an idea....

I would absolutely do it....its more of an incentive

I would welcome having an extra hour a week to squeeze in a workout. There's no question that I would do it.

I think that would be wonderful!!

Good intentions, but probably not successful. Its likely that the majority of people that would use this would be the ones that are already making the time to be physically active. And if you have to wait for your employer or some policy to come along before you can be physically active, then you're likely not ready to change in the first place. Invest in yourself - health is the first wealth.

I'm an exempt employee, so this wouldn't really an incentive to me. Also, I prefer to exercise after work, so once again, this wouldn't encourage me to exercise. Like some of the earlier posters have said, if you really want to exercise, you will find the time to do so. You can do lunges, squats, abs exercises or lift weights during commercial breaks while watching tv and get a pretty decent workout in.

i am an exempt employee but if management would allow us to be away from the computer for this specific task. i would use it for exercise. execise causes you to have less stress and you are able to focus on the stresses that we deal with our job everyday.

Absolutly! My husband's employer does this. Every M, W & F they can either take the first our of the day or the last hour to exercise and most everyone takes advantage of it by running or playing basketball. I would love this option. I hopefully wouldn't have the excuse that I just don't have time in the day to exercise.

It would be a great option to give people but I would prefer to continue to exercise on my own time.

Great Idea! This would help people get moving and help with stress at the job. The challenge would be on how to track the actual activity. I would encourage employers to create activities around the different hours of the day to help get people involved.

Yes, I would certainly take advantage of it!

I think that is the best idea and the best way to release stress

Having an hour to exercise would be great but companies aren't going to do it because it costs them an hour of productivity which effects their bottom line.

Ummm.. I read a lot of the comments and I thought most of the comments are answered by those who already exercise and can find the time to do so. For these people, that hour would be a convenience. I think the question should be directed to those who don't exercise right now for whatever the reason. I think that should be the target audience if the goal is to make a healthier population. If you don't exercise currently, and you have a busy schedule (some of us do more than work and parent), that hour could be a door to a new outlook on life--and once the benefits of exercise are seen with the time the company provides a person would more likely maintain it outside of the company's time provision. I think it's a great idea although I fit the category of those who already exercise.

I really would like to exercise and having that time to do so would be more than wonderful. For me it is a time thing. I live in a different county and have school aged children so the time is a big issue. I have looked at my current routine and schedule and the only time to do so is on the weekends, but I don't feel like I'm getting enough in.

This is the greatest idea!! My old department started this right before I left and it made me want to say there. BCBS has a huge amount of people who are over wait and rightfully so when your sitting 8 hrs a day 5 days a week. Then you eat/snack too. Just using the stairs is not enough. I think this would not only help with the size of the employees but would help to make happier employees and happy employees makes happy customers.. Can we start this one now!!

The more I move, the better I feel. The more I exercise, the more energy I have, which results in more physical activity. Also, group exercise really strengthens bonds between people and is a lot more fun than listening to everyone complain about how fat they are.

Being a mom of four at home, wife, full-time employee, I believe that this would be a good way to show that an employer cares about your wellness. More often then not, when you work until 5, go home to check homework, cook dinner, work on things at home, exercising does not and will not always find time in the schedule. My family does walk together for 30 minutes in the nice evenings and other activities if the weather does not permit. Being able to do the exercise with others during your work day would be ideal for most schedules. Healthcare and pharmacutical claims would decrease and employee wellness and morale would increase.

I think that would be a win-win for everyone.  I have more energy, focus, and better attitude when I exercise, definately more productive at work!  It often seems imposible to workout after work; between drive-time, dinner, chores, errands, bills, and family care needs, I'm already up too late and cutting into sleep time. I'm not sure what I would cut out to excercise instead, and I don't ever watch TV.

I think it would be a wonderful idea to let employees exercise for one hour out of their work day. The japanese have been doing this for a long time and it has increased their productivity and less employees out on sick time. Especially a job where you are constantly sitting in your chair for 8 hrs a day. You need to be able to get up and move and stretch. I think this would be a positve outcome for employees but would the employers do this.......thats the question.

To support a true flexible schedule, a company should allow this. However, not every job can support this and not every employee is disciplined enough. The option should be there for the people where this could really assit them in changing their lives.

If this relates to a reduction of health insurance costs, I don't know how it could be monitored and enforced on the insurance company's part.

Everyone talks about work/life balance but this would actually put some action behind it!

This would be a great idea and I think employers should provide rewards such as reduced health insurance costs if the employee participated.

I dont think that employers should offer incentives to get you to work out. You will if you want, plain and simple. Its a choice. You wanna talk about healthcare issues... start with healthcare organization and function and not the people relying on it.

I would absolutely exercise during this time. I would love it.

I am a working mother of 2 young boys and find it almost impossible to work out after work. I leave work at 5, get the boys picked up for daycare and home for dinner around 6. Our bedtime routine starts at 7:30. Just really hard to find the time to workout and give my kids the time they need.

Everyone needs to exercise. The question is whether that is a burden (cost) that should be borne by employers. The more costs we put on employers, the less competitive they will be in the global marketplace. The consequence may be that more jobs are shipped offshore. So let's all carve out time ourselves to exercise without giving a bill to employers - its our responsibility, just like good nutrition, sufficient sleep, etc. Everyone has to make choices about how they spend their time - choose wisely.

Definitely would do, though have more energy to do it after work a lot (time when food is all digested).

20% of the people generate 80% of the cost of health care, and a large part of that is preventable. Wouldn't you rather be well than have a better organization helping you when you are not well? Focus on being healthier helps all of us.

This would be a great idea to include in the healthy Dividends requirement. If I have to compete a workout, I need time to do it.

Yes that would be a nice reward and I wouldn't have to worry about finding time to exercise and it would be beneificial to me and my place of employment as I would be more energized!

Yes, however, BCBS never asked me about my exercise habit prior to their $1400/mo quote for individual insurance!!!

I barely have enough time to complete my work in the full work week, and would not have time to spare to take time out to exercise. In these days of state budget cuts, and people being critical of state employees not having enough work to do, I'd hate to see the comments made if we were then getting paid for 3 hours of exercising at work too.

Yes, but getting paid to do it DOES offer a bit more motivation, don't you think? If they won't do it for themselves, they'll do it for the money!

Yes, I definitely would. It's hard for most people to squeeze in some exercise if they are working all the time, have a family, have errands, maybe 2 jobs...

It's definitely PREVENTATIVE CARE!

any incentives that are offered truly encourage me to exercise.

That definitely is not always true. I know in my case, by the time I get home from work, take care of my kid and get everything done, I am so exhausted I couldn't exercise. Not everyone has the time available.

I truly hope that my employer takes notice of the response that we employees will excercise if given the time @ work.

How about constructively working it into the workday? That way, it could be a productivity enhancer as well. I believe the Japanese start each day with some group exercises -- that might not work with our American culture, but how about starting meetings with some stretches, having walking meetings, outdoor brainstorming games, etc.

I feel that if the company will allow us at least 45 min to 1 hr a day more employees will work out more! The classes at our gym are awsome and we have an awsome staff who is ready to help. I think the only thing holding back a lot of employees is the lack of time.  By the time we get home, cook dinner, help w/homework, play with the kids, bath time then bed time there is no time in that hectic schedule to work out!  BCBSNC wants healthy employees....help make it a little easier for us to utilize the gym:)

I think it's a great idea! With higher health care costs, we are all being encouraged to live a healthier lifestyle, but hours at home are precious and usually wrapped up with kids, dinner, homework and all the other normal nighttime activities. Giving employees an opportunity to work out is a win win situation for everyone. Healthier lifestyles of employees and lower premium costs for employers.

that would motivate me to exercise more. This would allow me the time to get away from my desk and be committed to getting healthy.

I would take advantage of the opportunity and join an exercise group through work or do my own schedule. My health is important to me.

I would definitely take advantage of the paid time to exercise since I am a single working mom that has to struggle to find the time to exercise. Since I work 12 hour swing shifts then I'm sure that there would be benefits to getting more exercise in order to provide me with more stamina during such long hours. The extra energy could also help to keep me safer at work since I work in a glass mfg. co. where accidents can be very serious. I must admit that I hate exercising but I do like to keep fit and keep my weight in check.

Very true. Alot of times I run errands during my lunch break which is only 40 mins. That doesnt leave much time to eat, which is the purpose of the break to begin with. Seems that people who work out on their lunch break must not be tied to the phone or desk the rest of their workday. Not everyone has that flexability.

Thats great for EXEMPT employees but what about those Non-exempt employees who dont have the option to come and go as they please without clocking in and out. I think this would be a great incentive for those willing to use it.

Clearly those polled like the idea of company paid exercise time. I am one that would definitely take advantage of it but in light of the need to reduce administrative costs, is this really a good idea? We need to find the motivation to exercise without a dangling carrot from our employer. How about living a happier and longer life?

My employer lets us combine our 2- 15 minutes breaks three times a week to exercise. It helps, especially when you have others that will join you to walk. A nice break with exercise!!!

I would love to do it. That would really help me out!

All I can say is take a look at Google Plex on Youtube. There are many benefits for both the company and the employees that ultimately works out for the consumer/customers. There are many benefits when a company focuses on employee and customer satisfaction. In my opinion, they go "hand in hand" creating employee committment in reaching company and department goals.

Yes, I would but how would that effect if someone got hurt on the job. For instance if someone got hurt while excerising and they were on the clock who would pick up the tab. The employee, group insurance or workers comp.

I think it would be a wonderful idea. One it would make me feel better getting through the rest of my day - two it would healp clear my mind and take some of the stress off of me during the day and three I would be able to go home during my normal time and spend time with my fmily.

I think it would be Great. I really prefer to exercise in the morning around 10 or 11 (it helps me through the rest of the day) however having a micromanager makes it difficult to adjust my schedule without jumping through hoops.

Why is it my employers responsibility that I exercise? In order to keep paying wages and benefits, my employer needs people WORKING to produce a product/service that customers will pay for. My husband and I work out before and after work. If an employer can afford to pay people to exercise, or if it is for after-hour workouts, then fine, but I hope this isn't another mandate coming down the pike from Obama.

There's a gym right in our building, but because we get an hour for lunch and always have personal errands to run, we never use it. Working moms have too much going on to hit the gym during their only break of the day. If the last hour of the workday was for working out, we would probably all do it. I know I would.

You're so right! :-)

I think it would be great to have time to exercise at would because when I get away from work there is to many other things to do.