Relationship of employee turnover to exercise adherence in a corporate fitness program

The life table method of analysis was used to study the differences in turnover during a 4-year period among employees who participated in a corporate health and fitness program and those who did not. The study population consisted of 1,360 workers hired between Jan 1, 1982, and Dec 31, 1985, of whom 747 were exercisers; and 1,788 persons hired between Jan 1, 1978, and Dec 31, 1981, of whom 869 were exercisers. Age, sex, general job category, and duration of employment were taken into account in the analysis. For both groups the probability of continued employment among exercisers was significantly greater than among nonexercisers. The differences were particularly profound among female clerical employees. The study did not attempt to assess the causal nature of this relationship. However, we speculate that health and fitness programs influence turnover in employment groups where the personal financial benefits are the greatest.