Fitness engagement strategies for changing workplaces

Published by HealthFitness on September 29th, 2026

Hybrid work is now an established part of the workplace, giving employees greater flexibility in where and how they work. At the same time, it can make it harder to build consistent routines, stay connected to colleagues and take advantage of onsite fitness and wellness resources.

For employers, the challenge is finding flexible ways to engage employees — whether they’re working on-site, remotely or moving between the two. Thoughtful fitness and wellness strategies can help create connection, encourage healthy habits and support employee wellbeing across today’s changing workplace.

Here are four unique and effective ways our clients engage their hybrid workforces in health and fitness.

1. Keep things simple

Our HealthFitness staff have learned that simple is best when it comes to engaging employees at this pharma manufacturer. The team focuses on removing barriers to participation and not offering too many competing programs at once. For example, employees have responded well to earning virtual stickers for the “Stick with Group Exercise” program. Earning stickers helps hold employees accountable to visit the fitness center at least six times a month.

2. Offer incentives

Employees at this health insurance company split their time between working remotely and onsite, with most coming to the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. To encourage more people to come to the office and use the fitness centers at the five locations, the HealthFitness team offers Free Fitness Fridays, where members of the fitness center bring a friend to the fitness center for free one Friday per month. Members also enjoy half-off personal training sessions on Fridays.

3. Connect through charity

The HealthFitness team at this national bank leads the fitness and wellness events for the yearly United Way campaign, finding fun ways to foster community and help employees get to know each other. Fitness events include a chin-up competition, rowing challenge and the annual stair climb where employees climb 34 floors, from the basement fitness center to the top floor of this multi-tenant building! Other special events include hosting outdoor activities including bocce ball, cornhole tournaments as well as pop-up group exercise classes including a focus on stretching.

4. Add themes to group fitness

Fitness center members appreciate group exercise classes like “Pump and Protein,” where they get a protein snack at the end of class at this pharmaceutical company. They also show up for group exercise theme days which highlights music through the decades, including classic rock, disco, and yacht rock. Team-based programs are also a great way to engage members, who don’t want to let their teams down. They appreciate earning buddy passes where they can bring a friend for free.

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