Fitness engagement strategies for changing workplaces

In today's evolving work environment, the hybrid workforce model has become increasingly prevalent. As employees split their time between working remotely and being in the office, maintaining their health and wellness has become more challenging yet more crucial. It’s essential for today’s employers to recognize the importance of fitness and wellness engagement strategies tailored for a hybrid workforce.


The changing landscape of work
The shift to a hybrid work model offers numerous benefits, including increased flexibility, improved work-life balance, and enhanced productivity. However, it also presents unique challenges. Employees may struggle with maintaining healthy routines, experience feelings of isolation, or face difficulties in accessing wellness resources. Addressing these challenges through comprehensive fitness and wellness programs can significantly impact employee well-being and overall organizational success.

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 work a hybrid schedule, 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 glasses 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.

Learn more
Contact us for a no-obligation meeting to learn more about our fitness and wellness solutions.