Think about this scenario. You are getting paid for exercise time on the job. By that, we don’t mean paid gym membership. Not a nebulous “wellness program.” Actual, honest-to-goodness money in your paycheck for working up a sweat before you ever make it to your office chair.
At Nutrition Solutions, a Florida-based meal prep business, that is precisely what employees are receiving, and it’s creating ripples for all the right reasons.
As companies across the country fight to avoid burnout and revive morale, Nutrition Solutions may be on to something that will stick: reward physical and mental endurance, not productivity.
Twice a week, the company provides every employee with a free, voluntary exercise class prior to work. And the surprise is: they are paid for it.
From Gym to Paycheck
The concept is as simple as it is radical: come to work, get a little bit of sweaty, and go on with your work things.
“If they’re sitting in for those sessions, they’re on the clock,” says Nutrition Solutions founder and CEO Chris Cavallini. “They’re being paid, whatever their hourly rate is, to be there. It’s just like a normal work hour.”
Wednesday and Friday morning class sessions range from group calisthenics to running outdoors to more intense “mental toughness” drills, like jumping into ice baths. There are no fines for not attending and no incentives for attendance every time.
But for most workers, the incentive to start the day in high gear, get paid for it, and get work done with more leisure time in the evening is one too good to miss.
“It gives them the benefit of having their exercise done first,” Cavallini says. “Then they can go home after work, work on some personal goals, or spend time with family and loved ones.”
That mix of physical well-being and equilibrium in life is exactly the concept.
Constructed like the Military, But in a Hoodie
Cavallini’s philosophy also comes from his past. Before beginning Nutrition Solutions, he was in the military, literally being paid to be in shape. He tells us those early training programs taught him the principle that physical strength generates mental strength and success.
“I believe that the foundation of a strong life is a strong mind,” he says. “And I believe in order for you to build and create a strong mind, you must first build a strong body.”
As a CEO, he’s applied that philosophy and made it part of the firm culture. To Cavallini, it’s not just about fitness; it’s about creating resiliency and directing the mindset of his employees.
“The real reason we do it is to make our team tougher,” he says. “Hard training subjects them to stress in a safe environment. That builds discipline. It toughens their reaction to stress. And that carries over to the way they respond not only in the gym, but in life and on the job.”
From Two to a Full House
When the program debuted in 2016, the business was in its infancy, and the idea was admittedly new and untested. There were only two people attending the workouts: Cavallini and one other employee.
Fast forward to today, and there’s a movement underway. Classes often fill up with up to 40 workers, nearly the entire staff. It’s no longer an employee benefit but a way the company does business.
Cavallini says that it is no coincidence. As time went on, workers began to realize that the company was not doing these sessions as a publicity gimmick or a wellness fad. It was investing in people.
“Having systems in place that allow them to optimize their physical health and their mental health… it certainly does help us as a business,” he says. He sees this as a win-win situation.
The workers become healthier, more focused, and more confident, and the organization gains more vibrant, more committed employees who are less likely to burn out.
“It’s a fail-safe investment,” Cavallini says. “One that I would definitely suggest other leaders implement. The return on investment is you’re going to have a stronger, more disciplined, more energized team member.”
Why This Strategy Resonates More
Wellness benefits are not new. Most companies already offer mental health days, flexible work hours, or virtual yoga classes.
But few go as far as compensating workers for exercising on the clock with no conditions attached.
Arguably one of the most effective means of revitalizing one’s energy and enthusiasm, featured in a 2022 CNBC article discussing burnout, the cure is to get your body moving regularly.
But as any working individual, parent, and living human being knows all too well, easier said than done, particularly if unpaid. What’s so refreshing about Nutrition Solutions’ model is how it connects job incentives with personal exercise objectives.
You’re not rushing a 9 p.m. run home from a long day. You’re getting paid for developing physical and mental resilience before you’ve even arrived at work.
It also sidesteps one of the biggest problems with typical corporate wellness programs: follow-through. A subsidy to the gym is a wonderful benefit, but it doesn’t build community or keep people accountable. A live, paid, group exercise? That’s a different story.
Not Just for Tech Bros and CEOs
Another reason the story’s gaining steam: Nutrition Solutions isn’t a cushy Valley startup or tech darling. It’s a no-nonsense, straight-shooting firm that sends meal plans by mail to clients from coast to coast, with their clients often including soldiers, firefighters, and athletes.
Its workday is more protein shakes than ping-pong tables, more 5 a.m. gym sessions than mid-morning lattes. So when a company like that starts experimenting with workplace wellness, everyone takes notice, especially when it pays off.
Cavallini’s model also begs a much bigger question: if a meal-prep company can pay for the fitness and mental health of their employees… why can’t your boss?
A Culture Shift in the Making?
While the conversation around work-life balance, mental health, and burnout gains momentum, more companies are looking at how they care for their people.
And while some proudly talk about their perks that don’t quite make a dent, Nutrition Solutions has been quietly building a model that others are now taking notice of, perhaps with a dash of envy.
A study by the American Psychological Association in 2022 found that nearly 3 out of 5 employees reported that a lack of support for mental health had a negative effect on their work. Some employees are supported, but they are more engaged and less likely to quit.
That’s the bigger picture here. Cavallini’s not simply paying employees to do pushups, but rather, he’s helping his employees make better lives. And that’s good for morale, but it’s sound business too.
What’s Next?
Cavallini hopes his company’s example will prompt other business leaders to look beyond productivity and start investing in people as whole human beings.
Whether it’s paying for workouts, granting extra mental health days, or simply promoting healthier habits of living, he believes the payoff is unequivocal. This isn’t about fitness. It’s about making better humans who will go on to do better things, at work and in life.
While burnout continues and employee loyalty is harder to maintain, the question on everyone’s lips these days is: If Nutrition Solutions can do it, why can’t your boss?
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