Exercise is good for you
Corex Employees on the Move for a Good Cause: Well-being and Charity
Antti Weckström, an employee at the Corex Pori mill, is a prime example of the company’s wellness culture. He enthusiastically participates in the wellness campaigns organized by his employer and takes full advantage of the wide range of employee benefits available, such as the gym, ePass, and the bicycle benefit. Corex’s goal is not only to support its employees’ physical activity but also to be a socially responsible company. This fall, Corex launched a wellness campaign to encourage staff to be active and raise funds for Porin Mieli Ry.
When his shift ends, Antti Weckström heads to the gym. He changes out of his work clothes and into workout gear. One day he goes to the gym; the next, he plays underwater hockey. Every day has something planned, because exercise is an integral part of Antti’s life.
Antti works at Corex’s Pori plant. The company actively supports the well-being of its employees.
The campaign offered an opportunity to do good by being active
Antti Weckström works at Corex’s Pori plant. At the end of the workday, he changes out of his work clothes and into workout gear. One day he goes to the gym; another day he plays underwater rugby. Every day has something planned, because exercise is an integral part of Antti’s life. Antti has run a few marathons and participated in the 58-kilometer Karhunkierros trail run, among other things. He plans to continue participating in running races in the future. Training for these races takes a lot of time to be able to run for over eight hours.
Antti also participated in the fall wellness campaign. Even though he was already an active exerciser, the campaign offered an opportunity to do good through exercise.
Antti appreciates the wellness campaign organized by Corex. The campaign was also effective because it wasn’t tied to a specific location. Everyone could participate from wherever they wanted, which made it easy to join in. The first wellness campaign was location-specific, which was actually easy for me because I lived near the venue.
The 600-performance challenge: aiming for the full grant amount
The goal of Corex’s wellness campaign was to accumulate a total of 600 exercise sessions, each lasting 30 minutes. The goal was achieved, and the company raised the full amount of the donation. The campaign began in mid-September and ran until the end of November. The donation was presented to MIELI Satakunta Mental Health Association in January 2024.
A campaign to promote well-being for the community and for oneself
What motivates Antti in Corex’s wellness campaign is, above all, a desire to do his part. Antti thinks it’s a good thing that the employer donates money to causes that benefit society while also encouraging the staff to get active.
“For many people, work itself doesn’t provide enough exercise. That’s why a wellness campaign like this is so important. It gets the team moving, and through that, we can even establish a new routine. Getting started is usually the hardest part,” Antti reflects.
Employee benefits ranging from a swimming pool pass to a company bicycle
Corex employees enjoy ongoing benefits such as access to a swimming pool, the company’s own gym, ePass, and the option to use a company bicycle.
ePassi can be used for various wellness services throughout Finland. Antti makes good use of ePassi, which supports his leisure activities.
“It’s great that this kind of benefit exists. ePassi is easy to use since it’s always with me on my phone,” Antti says. “For example, I’ve used it to pay for running race entry fees, gone skiing, had massages, and worked out at the gym,” Antti says.
The employee wellness campaign and employment benefits have had a significant impact. When a benefit is available, it’s also easier to use.
“This has certainly made a difference in how employees cope. And at least for me, all these benefits have increased my own satisfaction,” Antti reflects.
Weckström's Well-being Strategy: Making Full Use of Its Benefits
Antti thinks the gym at work is really great because it saves him time on commuting. At his most active, he’s used the gym about twice a week.
He also took advantage of the company bike benefit offered by Corex and bought himself a mountain bike.
“I bike to work and have participated in a couple of mountain bike races.”
Not even winter slows Antti down. He bikes year-round. He especially appreciates that his workplace is close enough that he can bike to work.
.
The "Corex Together" event combines work and exercise
Finally, Antti praises the Corex gatherings organized for the entire staff, where company matters are discussed.
“It’s a great opportunity to incorporate physical activity into our group meetings, rather than just sitting around and listening.”
One of the Corex Gatherings held each year has a wellness theme, so the event includes physical activities in addition to the actual informational session.
Exercise has also had a positive impact on workplace camaraderie. You can even get your coworkers to join you at the gym, for example.