John Pollock talks about the benefits of CrossFit® for his Spanish company RK Informatika and its employees.
Located in Guernica in the Spanish Basque Country, RK Informatika specializes in the development of management software. Every day, as lunchtime approaches, its employees don't get together for a meal in a restaurant, but rather for a WOD at CrossFit® Guernika.
CrossFit® enthusiasts John Pollock and Gontzal Uriarte, directors of RK Informatika, came up with the idea of getting their 35 employees together for a CrossFit® WOD. The aim was clear: to encourage exchanges, improve team cohesion and well-being, and thus their attachment to the company and their efficiency at work.
One year after the launch of this initiative, John Pollock talks to Hustle Up about its success. Hustle Up: How did the idea of uniting RK Informatika employees around CrossFit® come about? John Pollock: The project was born a year ago, out of our constant quest to improve the health and well-being of our teams, while offering them a new personal experience. My partner Gontzal Uriarte and I are both passionate about CrossFit® and know the benefits it can have on our physical and mental health. One day after a workout, we got talking and thought it would be a good idea to extend the positive experience of CrossFit® to all our teams.
So we invited our employees to try CrossFit® and we paid the gym membership fees. We're convinced that CrossFit® , with its holistic approach to health and community, fits perfectly with the teamwork culture we want to promote at RK Informatika. Today, I can say that, without a doubt, it has been our best investment.
How have the employees reacted? The response from our employees has been incredibly positive. When we presented the idea at a meeting, we expected only a few people to sign up, but to our surprise, most employees were motivated. We invited them to a trial session to see if they liked CrossFit® before signing up. We pay them a subscription for 12 sessions a month. Today, 90% of the company's staff practice CrossFit®.
How did they feel after the first session at CrossFit®️? As I said, the first class was a discovery. The aim was to show them how a CrossFit® session works. Although many were confronted with the physical challenge of CrossFit®, all agreed that it was an enriching experience. Over and above the physical aspect, everyone had fun and had a good time with their colleagues. It gave them the chance to get to know each other in a different environment from work, especially those working in different departments.
Do you see the benefits of CrossFit®️ for your employees and therefore for your company? Absolutely. The benefits of CrossFit® for our employees have been remarkable on several levels. Physically, our employees are healthier. Mentally, we've seen a reduction in stress levels and an improvement in overall mood. What's more, the regular practice of CrossFit® has undeniably fostered a culture of teamwork. These benefits translate directly into a more positive and productive work environment, with more committed and motivated employees.
We know that the community dimension is very important at CrossFit®️. Have your employees grown closer since you launched this initiative?Yes, they certainly have. The community dimension of CrossFit®️ has had a very positive impact on the cohesion of our teams. Employees have formed stronger bonds and developed a greater connection that goes beyond the work environment. CrossFit® sessions have become an opportunity to support each other and celebrate individual and collective successes. This new dynamic has strengthened the sense of community and belonging at RK Informatika. We would also like to invite other companies to join this initiative. We're convinced that promoting health and well-being in the workplace can have significant benefits for everyone, and we'd like to see more companies adopting similar practices.