There is no need to tell employees to see their doctor before starting an exercise program. Research appears to show it is a harmful idea and contributes to fewer people exercising and thereby contributes to morbidity. In other words, the recommendation is a roadblock that health professionals and EAPs often mention in articles and presentations -- one medical society recommends stopping this practice. One issue they do not discuss is the litigiousness of society problem, and the desire to sue others, which I suspect is really what motivates health professionals to recommend that a client or patient or employee see their doctor before starting an exercise program. (i.e. "You told me to exercise and I had a heart attack. I blame you.") Here's a link to the study.
http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Fulltext/2015/11000/Updating_ACSM_s_Recommendations_for_Exercise.28.aspx
