Toyota health complex a beneficial investment

More companies are taking the view that healthy employees are happier and more productive, and are taking steps to support that belief.

Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing raised the bar on that view when it unveiled its T+Rex recreational complex on Jan. 11.

The recreational complex is part of a larger $16 million investment by Toyota to construct a 50,600-square-foot addition to its Columbus campus.

T+Rex features an exercise room, indoor track, two indoor courts for basketball, volleyball and a variety of other sports, and a recreation room. The building has all the amenities of a modern fitness center, including a yoga room, free weights, treadmills and other fitness equipment. It also includes a medical center to provide primary health care, wellness coaching, physical therapy and a full-line pharmacy.

An added bonus is that all this is offered at no cost to associates and family members who are on the company’s health plan. That’s a significant benefit to employees.

T+Rex represents a substantial investment by Toyota in its associates and their family’s health and fitness — especially considering that Toyota’s estimated 1,400 employees make it one of the biggest local employers.

Equally important, the health complex also represents another investment in Columbus and the long relationship the company and city have.

Decades of hard work by city government and economic officials have helped forge a mutually beneficial relationship with Toyota. T+Rex is the latest great example.