Fitness Area and Equipment Usage Policy

Purpose

This policy is enacted in order to set forth the County of San Mateo’s position regarding use by County employees of County-operated fitness areas (“Fitness Areas”). Fitness Areas include any space provided for exercise or workout activities, as well as shower, restroom, and locker facilities.

Scope of Policy

This policy applies to all County employees who seek to use Fitness Areas.

Policy

Certain County buildings have onsite Fitness Areas that the County offers to employees who regularly work in those buildings or have authorized access to them. Use of the Fitness Areas and the fitness equipment located in Fitness Areas is completely voluntary and may be revoked at any time. Only current County employees are permitted to access and use Fitness Areas for off-duty recreational activities.¹

Employees who wish to use a Fitness Area available to them are required to review and sign a waiver titled “Fitness Area and Equipment Usage Agreement and Release of Liability” (“Fitness Area Waiver”) before using any Fitness Area.

The signing of a Fitness Area Waiver does not entitle an employee to the use of every Fitness Area. Many Fitness Areas are located in secure buildings where only employees with access to the building will have access to the Fitness Area.

The management of each department whose employees have access to a Fitness Area are responsible for ensuring that employees are informed of this policy and that employees in their department who seek to use Fitness Areas have signed a Fitness Area Waiver.

County employees who use Fitness Areas must comply with the provisions set forth in the Fitness Area Waiver as well as any and all rules the County might adopt related to the use of Fitness Areas, including but not limited to, hours of operation, time restrictions on equipment use and safety related rules.

Fitness Areas and all equipment located therein shall be used only for the intended purposes, and with due regard for the safety of the user and all other persons occupying Fitness Areas. Failure to use appropriate care or misuse of any equipment will be considered a violation of this policy and may result in loss of access to Fitness Areas.

County employees are explicitly prohibited from using any Fitness Area unless and until they have signed and submitted the Fitness Area Waiver within Workday and received card key authorization to access the Fitness Area.

County employees are prohibited from using Fitness Areas on County time and may only use Fitness Areas during their breaks or during non-work hours. County employees working a ‘straight shift’ may use Fitness Areas during their break time but are still subject to all the requirements of their straight shift assignment.

County employees who use a Fitness Area on County time or without having signed and submitted the Fitness Area Waiver will be considered in violation of this policy and may lose future access to Fitness Areas, and may be subject to discipline.

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¹Court employees that work at YSC can continue to use the YSC gym after completing a waiver provided by the County.

Policy Effective: 8/7/24

Workday Fitness Area Waiver Submission Instructions

Refer to the Fitness Area Waiver QRC for instructions to submit the completed signed form.