Tesla’s chief designer Franz von Holzhausen plays a central role in the company’s workplace health offerings.
Von Holzhausen, who works closely with CEO Elon Musk, has begun offering training that some call “FranzFit,” according to von Holzhausen. profile To Wall Street Magazine.
A team of about 300 Tesla employees, including von Holzhausen, works out of a design studio in Los Angeles near SpaceX headquarters. A few years ago, a CrossFit trainer started offering lunchtime exercise classes. Now von Holzhausen, who designed the Tesla Cybertruck, often conducts training himself – no less than in the company parking lot.
People who work closely with von Holzhausen describe the 55-year-old as having “the determined, resilient and open-minded qualities that have helped him form a close bond with Musk and thrive at a company known for high executive turnover.” Rebecca Elliott wrote in WSJ.
“I don’t like to lose. This might be a good way to do it,” von Holzhausen said, referring to training.
A Tesla executive is among the tech leaders sharing their health habits with employees to help create a healthier, more productive office culture.
Workplace consulting firm Gallop suggests that when employee well-being suffers, company profits suffer, and when employee well-being is a priority, burnout rates decrease and performance standards rise.
That’s why Will Ahmed, founder and CEO of the company UUUP and former captain of the Harvard squash team, prioritizes sleep for both himself and his staff. For this reason, WHOOP offers a sleep bonus of $100 per month to every employee who, on average, meets 85% of their personal sleep needs.
“By promoting sleep, we help our team stay healthy and optimize their focus,” Ahmed previously said. Luck.
Eight sleep CEO and co-founder Matteo Franceschetti is also a sleep advocate, so all employees receive the Eight Sleep Pod for free, “as a way to invest in their well-being through sleep fitness,” he previously said. Luck.
“We don’t shy away from asking each other how we’re sleeping and making sure we’re all prioritizing recovery time so we can bring our A-game to work hours.”
Bobby Lloyd, General Manager Magnolia Bakery— or the self-proclaimed “chief baker” — walks an hour to work almost every day. She says her nearly three-mile walk is a critical component of her own recipe for success, helping her lead and support her team.
“I always take care of my health,” she previously said. Luck. “Whether it’s walking, running, yoga, mental health, meditation, stretching, I’ve been doing it my whole life.”
Lloyd’s morning routine paves the way for her 12-hour workday. “It’s a long day, but I love what I do.”