How to engage hybrid employees in health and fitness
Published by HealthFitness on September 27th, 2022
A leading medical technology company with headquarters in Minnesota employs 3,600 employees working in four facilities. The employee population is a mix of on-site manufacturing workers—who work in three shifts—as well as on-site, remote and hybrid office workers. Since 2005, HealthFitness has served as a trusted partner for the company by providing fitness management and programming to the company’s four Minnesota locations.
Before the pandemic, 2,000 employees were members of the company’s fitness centers, where the HealthFitness team provided on-site health and fitness programming. When the pandemic forced a shutdown of the fitness centers, the HealthFitness staff quickly pivoted to provide programming and maintain connections so that employees could thrive during the shutdown and when they were back on-site.
While the team was able to pivot and offer programs virtually during the shutdown, once the on-site fitness center opened without restrictions, HealthFitness needed to quickly engage all employees—on-site, hybrid and remote—through virtual and on-site outreach. And they had to do this with a staff of only two full-time people, led by HealthFitness Program Manager Chantelle. Here are four ways they inspired and engaged all employees in health and fitness.
1. Offer on-site group exercise classes to meet the unique needs of employees
The HealthFitness team started offering on-site group exercise classes again in April 2022, while the fitness center re-opened March 2021. “Our members are so grateful to get back into their on-site fitness routine—and our team is grateful to be a part of it,” Chantelle says.
Understanding the needs of the group exercise population is key to attracting and engaging members. “For example, there is a large group of men on campus that attend on-site group exercise classes, specifically boot camp and circuit classes,” she says. “These are staple classes that are mostly offered over the lunch hour to fit the needs of the population.”
In addition, to boost participation on on-site fitness, one particularly energetic group exercise instructor was brought back to the fitness center immediately upon the return of group exercise classes, to the delight of many pre-COVID group exercise participants.
The return of on-site group exercise classes has brought many people to the fitness center, resulting in a 97% increase in on-site fitness center visits once group exercise classes were put back into effect.
2. Provide excellent customer service
The HealthFitness team considers themselves lucky to inspire, motivate and engage their members. “Once we reopened the fitness center, we intensified our customer service efforts,” Chantelle says.
And members appreciate the HealthFitness team for their excellent customer service and life changing programs.
One member has been a personal training client for 17 years:
“In 2005, I decided to give strength training a shot at the company’s newly opened gym. I had no idea what a life-changing decision that was at the time. Over the years I have trained with some of the best people I've ever met. They have pushed me to see the value of a life-long commitment to strength training and the gift of pushing myself into areas I could never have imagined. Simply put, HealthFitness has changed my life!”
Results from a recent client satisfaction survey show that the company is very satisfied with HealthFitness and the on-site team and is extremely likely to recommend HealthFitness to a friend or colleague.
A comment from the client on the most important reason they would recommend HealthFitness: “The professionalism and dedication to providing our employees health and wellness in such a variety of ways. In addition, HealthFitness’ ability to adapt and address concerns during COVID have been second to none. Just an amazing team.”
3. Promote special programming
In addition to providing a busy and continuous schedule of health and fitness programming, the fitness team promotes one special program a month—such as a summer strength challenge.
The team also transformed a popular military fitness challenge from an on-site challenge to a virtual 1K/5K meet the needs of the hybrid workforce. “For years we partnered with the veterans on campus and represented the different branches of the military with a specific fitness challenge,” she says. “For example, with the Navy veterans we did a rowing challenge, with the Marines we did tire flips, with the Army we did push-ups. Now we have pivoted the military fitness challenge to a 1k/5k to make it easy for the hybrid workforce to participate anywhere, anytime to accommodate changing COVID restrictions.”
A large part of the employee population is manufacturing workers who work in three shifts 24/7. “Because they do not have access to computers and are limited to 20-minute breaks we need to reach them in different ways using posters, handouts, pen and paper.”
4. Create partnerships with employee resource groups
The fitness team promotes wellbeing by presenting a monthly What’s What health education topic in a hybrid format. The fitness team also serves as members of the company’s Wellness Committee as well as partnering with the company’s Women’s Network to promote classes for heart health month.
During any special event, the fitness staff hosts a booth to inform employees about the fitness services available. The team also hosts the company’s annual Wellness Fair this year—completely run by the fitness center—and includes local vendors and 250 participants.
Learn more
Contact us to learn more about our fitness solutions.
Before the pandemic, 2,000 employees were members of the company’s fitness centers, where the HealthFitness team provided on-site health and fitness programming. When the pandemic forced a shutdown of the fitness centers, the HealthFitness staff quickly pivoted to provide programming and maintain connections so that employees could thrive during the shutdown and when they were back on-site.
While the team was able to pivot and offer programs virtually during the shutdown, once the on-site fitness center opened without restrictions, HealthFitness needed to quickly engage all employees—on-site, hybrid and remote—through virtual and on-site outreach. And they had to do this with a staff of only two full-time people, led by HealthFitness Program Manager Chantelle. Here are four ways they inspired and engaged all employees in health and fitness.
1. Offer on-site group exercise classes to meet the unique needs of employees
The HealthFitness team started offering on-site group exercise classes again in April 2022, while the fitness center re-opened March 2021. “Our members are so grateful to get back into their on-site fitness routine—and our team is grateful to be a part of it,” Chantelle says.
Understanding the needs of the group exercise population is key to attracting and engaging members. “For example, there is a large group of men on campus that attend on-site group exercise classes, specifically boot camp and circuit classes,” she says. “These are staple classes that are mostly offered over the lunch hour to fit the needs of the population.”
In addition, to boost participation on on-site fitness, one particularly energetic group exercise instructor was brought back to the fitness center immediately upon the return of group exercise classes, to the delight of many pre-COVID group exercise participants.
The return of on-site group exercise classes has brought many people to the fitness center, resulting in a 97% increase in on-site fitness center visits once group exercise classes were put back into effect.
2. Provide excellent customer service
The HealthFitness team considers themselves lucky to inspire, motivate and engage their members. “Once we reopened the fitness center, we intensified our customer service efforts,” Chantelle says.
And members appreciate the HealthFitness team for their excellent customer service and life changing programs.
One member has been a personal training client for 17 years:
“In 2005, I decided to give strength training a shot at the company’s newly opened gym. I had no idea what a life-changing decision that was at the time. Over the years I have trained with some of the best people I've ever met. They have pushed me to see the value of a life-long commitment to strength training and the gift of pushing myself into areas I could never have imagined. Simply put, HealthFitness has changed my life!”
Results from a recent client satisfaction survey show that the company is very satisfied with HealthFitness and the on-site team and is extremely likely to recommend HealthFitness to a friend or colleague.
A comment from the client on the most important reason they would recommend HealthFitness: “The professionalism and dedication to providing our employees health and wellness in such a variety of ways. In addition, HealthFitness’ ability to adapt and address concerns during COVID have been second to none. Just an amazing team.”
3. Promote special programming
In addition to providing a busy and continuous schedule of health and fitness programming, the fitness team promotes one special program a month—such as a summer strength challenge.
The team also transformed a popular military fitness challenge from an on-site challenge to a virtual 1K/5K meet the needs of the hybrid workforce. “For years we partnered with the veterans on campus and represented the different branches of the military with a specific fitness challenge,” she says. “For example, with the Navy veterans we did a rowing challenge, with the Marines we did tire flips, with the Army we did push-ups. Now we have pivoted the military fitness challenge to a 1k/5k to make it easy for the hybrid workforce to participate anywhere, anytime to accommodate changing COVID restrictions.”
A large part of the employee population is manufacturing workers who work in three shifts 24/7. “Because they do not have access to computers and are limited to 20-minute breaks we need to reach them in different ways using posters, handouts, pen and paper.”
4. Create partnerships with employee resource groups
The fitness team promotes wellbeing by presenting a monthly What’s What health education topic in a hybrid format. The fitness team also serves as members of the company’s Wellness Committee as well as partnering with the company’s Women’s Network to promote classes for heart health month.
During any special event, the fitness staff hosts a booth to inform employees about the fitness services available. The team also hosts the company’s annual Wellness Fair this year—completely run by the fitness center—and includes local vendors and 250 participants.
Learn more
Contact us to learn more about our fitness solutions.
Share
Author
Written by HealthFitness
HealthFitness is a proven leader in providing fitness solutions that engage and connect people both on-site and online, to create a strong community of health.
Topics