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Job training at Volkswagen includes a fitness program

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Most of us with computer-centric jobs don’t have to worry about being in shape to get work done. As long as we can lift our fingers to the keyboard, we’re good.

But some occupations require more activity. Take production workers at Volkswagen’s new assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn. They’re required to go through a fitness program to make them athletic enough to be able to handle the rigors of various jobs.

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According to this Associated Press story, before the Volkswagen plant opened, some workers were already going through the fitness training program, which consists of daily two-hour workouts geared toward functional exercises that focus on muscle groups and movements required in job tasks. Cardiovascular training and stretching are also included.

Some of the workers -- many of whom don’t have a history in manufacturing -- have noticed benefits of the training, such as clothes fitting more loosely. One employee said in the story that he’d already lost 30 pounds, while another, who likened the program to boot camp, lost 60.

Although many companies offer employee workout and wellness programs, they typically are not mandatory (exceptions include fire and police departments). Some also offer incentives such as stocks, prizes and money if employees lose weight and get in shape.

-- Jeannine Stein

Employees at the Volkswagen assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., work with resistance bands as part of a functional workout. Photo credit: Bill Poovey / AP

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