Cisco, the San Jose-based networking-equipment giant, is closing its free campus gyms — and replacing them with a new, larger one for which employees will have to pay $20 a month. In explaining the change, Cisco's HR team has claimed it's subsidizing the price of the gym, as well as other health facilities at the same site by 90 percent. So, what, the gym would actually cost $200/mo. at market rates? Must be some gym. Check it out in this video a Cisco source smuggled off-campus, and read Cisco's memo, which touts the loss of free gyms as bringing a "positive return on investment for Cisco." If you're feeling brave, crash the gym's grand opening on Monday.

The integrated LifeConnections center provides our employees with a holistic model for health care delivery with a full range of options. Studies show that by bringing together health care, fitness, and child care in one location, this results in greater employee life balance through less time away from work and reduced need to drive to other service locations, as well as a positive return on investment for Cisco." The current fitness centers located in Buildings SJ-6 and SJ-L will end operations on October 31. For information about the current fitness centers in SJ-L and SJ-6, please see http://wwwin.cisco.com/wpr/fitness/sj/ The new Life Connections Fitness Center, Building SJ-Q at 3571 North First Street, will open on November 4 at 4:30pm. LifeConnections Fitness Center hours will be the same as our current fitness centers; Mon-Thu - (5:30am-9pm), Fri - (5:30am-8pm). Members are encouraged to sneak a peak of the new facility and beat the rush on pre-registering - Monday, October 27 - Wednesday, October 29 from 10am-4pm. Membership dues for the new Fitness Center will be $20 per month for employees, $30 per month for contractors or $2 per day for badged guests. more... Cisco is subsidizing 90% of the cost for these improvements, sharing only 10% with employees. Regular Cisco Employees can receive the first three months of membership for free by taking the Health Connections Personal Health Assessment by November 30. You are invited to a grand opening event November 3 All are encouraged to attend the grand opening event on Monday, November 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Building SJ-Q.