Corporate Fitness and Active Aging

As organizations are planning to reopen their offices in the weeks and months ahead, many questions are swirling around what the new office landscape will look like for both employers and employees. Some organizations are telling their employees if they can work from home full-time, they’d like for them to continue doing so permanently. Others can’t wait to return to normal office operations while also recognizing a hybrid telecommuting model will likely be the outcome.

Whatever that landscape looks like for employers upon reopening, one certainty that is clear is the need to provide flexible wellness program options to accommodate employees wherever they might be working. Last month, I shared some considerations on safety policies when reopening your fitness center. Now, check out these program and service considerations as you welcome back your employees with flexible options!

For your employees returning onsite:

• Membership Drives & Orientations: if you froze memberships to your onsite corporate fitness center over the past year, hosting a membership drive and general orientation appointments to tour the facility, receive instruction on the different makes/models of equipment, etc., can be a great starting point to help employees take that first step in getting acclimated. If you include payroll deductions for employees to use your space, consider a discount or waiving that fee for an introductory period to encourage as many people as possible to rejoin or join for the first time.
• Refresher Fitness Classes: you may have some employees who did not exercise as readily over the past year without access to the onsite amenities you provide. Consider offering low intensity “refresh” classes for employees who may feel like they can’t return to the more intense classes they once attended in fear of it being too difficult. For some individuals, the motto of “we are all in this together” also translates to getting back in shape together!

For your employees continuing to work remotely:

• Provide a Virtual Wellness Platform – much like your onsite fitness center is a hub for programs and services when employees are on campus, provide a web platform your employees can access when working from home or when traveling on business for resources to stay healthy and active. Being able to access virtual fitness classes, request a health coaching appointment, or check out the upcoming healthy living lecture makes it convenient for your employees to stay plugged into your wellness offerings wherever they may be located.
• Utilize a Virtual Meeting Service: whether you want to stream your onsite fitness classes to employees at home or provide virtual forums for your employees to meet with a health coach to discuss their lifestyle goals, utilizing platforms such as Zoom, Teams, etc., is a great means for your employees to connect face to face with your wellness staff and maintain that personal connection and support in their health journey. Check out our case study on reNew You, an engaging virtual wellness program that our members have raved about this year!

NIFS fitness management is proud to partner with organizations to help them develop a safe reopening strategy with the flexible offerings their employees need to be active. Whether you have an onsite fitness center, you are looking for a virtual wellness program model, or a hybrid of both, for your employees contact NIFS for a complimentary consultation.

I recently shared insight on why there is a strong need for corporate fitness and wellness resources for employees while they work remotely during COVID-19 closures and extended work-at-home models for many employers. After all, working from home was already a growing trend before the pandemic. The way organizations support a culture of well-being needs a broader reach now more than ever to help employees live well. While options to extend that reach may feel limited, there are a variety of creative and impactful ways to meet those needs.

One service solution NIFS launched for our corporate clients this summer was NIFS’ Personal Fitness Quest (PFQ). Employees signed up for this virtual program to connect weekly with their fitness specialist for complimentary personal training and coaching. Participants complete a pre- and post-assessment along with goal-setting as part of the program. When we asked our staff what their members want to achieve during their PFQ sessions, overwhelmingly employees were asking for accountability. Others had goals for easing back in after surgery and looking for more variety in their routine, but most people praised the program for the accountability it provided them.

Here’s what our fitness specialists are hearing:

“People are struggling with consistency in their routines, or lack thereof. They want someone to hold them accountable. Once engaged, the members have been thankful for the support.”   

—Matthew, NIFS Manager, Indiana

“Our participants have struggled the most with prioritizing their workout and they’ve been lacking the motivation to get back on track with a fitness routine. Our participants really like having those weekly calls because that’s what keeps them accountable and they’re able to stay motivated.” 

—Aislinn, NIFS Manager, Indiana

“The feedback for PFQ has been very positive. Members enjoy being able to connect with a fitness specialist weekly to keep them accountable and answer questions.” 

—Jordan, NIFS Manager Pennsylvania

Here’s what our members are saying about their experience:

“PFQ is fantastic to be able to schedule a guided workout at a time that works with my schedule, and to have one-on-one direction and encouragement. It helps keep me motivated to work out and be ‘ready' for the next week. You did a great job of targeting the workout to what I wanted to improve.”

—PFQ Participant, Indiana

“I think you’re doing an awesome job virtually training! The process we have works really well for me, especially since you taught me some quick warm-ups in the first session outside. I only have positive feedback to share. Thanks for being flexible and creative to stay effective!”

—PFQ Participant, Indiana

The PFQ is one of many programs under NIFS’ virtual service model, HealthYou. HealthYou helps us provide a range of fitness and wellness services to employees of client locations without an onsite fitness center, or with a large demographic of employees who work remotely and have difficulty taking advantage of their fitness center. Group fitness classes, wellness programs like PFQ, and Healthy Lifestyle sessions from NIFS’ Registered Dietitian are all accessible with NIFS’ web-based tools; so while it may feel difficult to make an impact, NIFS helps you broaden your organization’s reach and connect your employees with the resources they need to live well.

This blog was written by Emily Davenport. To learn more about the NIFS bloggers, click here.