This study investigates how a collaboration between organizations concerned about their employees’ health and low-income elite athletes can be mutually beneficial. The study aims to examine the impact of involving athletes as online trainers for remote employees and as on-site trainers in organizations for collaborative training sessions on enhancing employees’ health perceptions and affecting organizational outcomes.
This case-based longitudinal study was conducted over a four-year period. It comprises four phases involving employees from four companies and addresses employee perceptions of both physical training sessions and the elite athletes as instructors. The training sessions were organized as online videos, produced and made accessible for remote workers during the COVID-19 period. The on-site sessions took place in the companies in the following two years. In-depth interviews were undertaken to assess employees’ perceptions and experiences during these online and on-site training sessions, which consisted of aerobic, yoga, dance and kickboxing sessions.
The workplace physical activity program created a perception of individual health benefits, positive emotions and improved mental health among employees. Organizational outcomes of joint on-site training sessions were, e.g. enhanced socialization, employee relations and work happiness.
The study breaks new ground for improving the financial situation for elite athletes by hiring them as workplace health improvement consultants and trainers, while organizations are offered a new practice on health promotion management. A conceptual framework, comprising employee perceptions of the elite athletes as instructors, positive emotions, health benefits and organizational outcomes, is proposed.
