Newer and more advanced technology such as fitness wearables, artificial intelligence software and robotics is reducing employee well-being, according to a new briefing paper from the Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW).

The preliminary research may be a wake-up call to the countless businesses that have embraced artificial intelligence and automation technology to reduce labor costs and advance their bottom line; it could also have ramifications for the makers of fitness wearables like watches, rings and bands.

Using data from an online survey of over 6,000 workers in the United Kingdom, IFOW discovered that while digital information and communication technologies correlated with improved quality of life, extensive exposure to newer technologies can be detrimental to well-being.

One key survey finding is that frequent engagement with AI software, robotics and wearables (defined as fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart glasses, GPS devices and other data-gathering sensors) “exhibited a negative relationship with quality of life,” with even moderate exposure to robotics revealing an adverse effect on quality of life.

Start of the Conversation

IFOW’s findings highlight an important area that has yet to be fully explored in the current tech-forward age, but ultimately the paper encourages employers to understand the need to roll out technology that actively engages workers and to conduct “rigorous monitoring of risks and impacts.”

“The findings of this working paper – coupled with the current rapid pace of adoption of workplace automation technologies – emphasize that this work should be a priority if this technological transformation is to deliver a future where innovation and well-being advance together,” the authors wrote.

As the paper’s authors also point out, all hope is not lost in an overly connected world that will continue to lean toward tech. Instead, the findings “underscore the importance of a proactive, human-centered approach to technology deployment, emphasizing the value of worker consultation and participation rights, clarification of purposes and balanced consideration of technological benefits and risks.”

The authors also state that the need for additional research is evident, especially when understanding the different impacts of technology by sector and its overall impact on the intersection of well-being with productivity and worker retention. 

A Case for Corporate Wellness Platforms

In addition to prompting the start of a meaningful conversation, the survey’s findings are interesting, especially when juxtaposed against the rise of corporate wellness programs. 

Not everyone is sold on such employer-focused programs, as one Oxford researcher recently illustrated in a controversial take, but IFOW’s initial results on the topic are likely good news for platforms that are encouraging employers to invest in well-being programs for their staff. 

Corporate wellness giant Gympass has soared to a $2.4 billion valuation and continues to add to its robust line-up of wellness offerings, recently expanding its sleep category this month with snooze-supporting apps Rise Science and SleepScore. According to Gympass research, 98% of employees worldwide report sleep is crucial for their well-being, and 60% say work stress negatively impacts their sleep.

Global healthy eating platform Lifesum, tapped to support staff employed by tech titans Amazon and PayPal, recently revealed an eye-opening statistic: that nearly 71% of stressed-out Gen Z and Millennials would quit their jobs tomorrow in favor of one that better supports their overall well-being and that almost 70% would be more productive if their employer improved their well-being. 

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With a vast network of 50,000-plus gyms, studios, classes, personal trainers, and wellness coaches, Gympass isn’t neglecting the importance of sleep. The leading corporate wellness provider is emphasizing the sleep-health connection, expanding its sleep category with new sleep monitoring apps, Rise Science and SleepScore.

The move comes in conjunction with World Sleep Day on March 15, with Gympass subscribers on the Starter Plan and above able to access the new sleep-supporting apps. 

Sleep Emerges as Key Wellness Trend

In a society that rewards hustle culture, obtaining adequate sleep has become a rare luxury. The CDC points out that a third of U.S. adults get less than the recommended amount of sleep. The impact of poor sleep hygiene can have devastating effects beyond circles under the eyes, with lack of sleep linked to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, obesity and even depression.

As Gympass research has found, 98% of employees worldwide say sleep is crucial for their well-being, and 60% say work stress negatively impacts their sleep. Gympass has been steadily focused on all aspects of wellness, partnering with Headspace, Sleep Cycle, Meditopia and Calm. 

Rise Science, a sleep and energy tracker created by a team of sleep experts, informs Gympass users of the ideal time to carry out their tasks based on their circadian rhythms — when to exercise, have their last cup of coffee or get ready for bed. Based on sleep science, the approach is meant to make users feel well-rested.

SleepScore leverages cognitive behavioral science and sleep and circadian hygiene to analyze user data, resulting in a personalized sleep improvement program based on lifestyle and needs. The program is supported by two independent studies and uses a smartphone’s microphone and speaker capabilities to track and measure breathing rate and body movement.

Next month, Gympass users can use SleepScore to track their sleep improvement over time with a graphical representation.

“Sleep is essential for holistic wellbeing,” said Gympass co-founder and CEO Cesar Carvalho. “By providing employees with the tools they need to improve their sleep, Gympass is helping companies invest in their most valuable asset: their people.”

Corporate Wellness Booms

As employee wellness continues to become a hot topic and an increasingly non-negotiable offering from modern employers looking to attract and retain top talent, Gympass is soaring. The corporate wellness platform hit a $2.4 billion valuation after an $85 million funding round and signed on with Apple Fitness+.

Gympass topped 2.6 million subscribers in January, with over 400 million cumulative employee check-ins across its partner network. The corporate wellness platform has attracted top companies such as Amazon and Aflac for its ability to encourage employees to become active and engaged, resulting in reduced healthcare costs and absenteeism rates. 

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The key to engaged, productive Gen Z and Millennial employees is an investment in well-being, finds Lifesum, a global healthy eating platform used by Amazon, GE and PayPal.

At the core of Lifesum’s recent 2024 State of Healthy Eating and Well-being report is an eye-opening statistic that nearly 71% of Gen Z and Millennials would quit their job tomorrow in favor of one that better supports their overall well-being. The report also highlights the projected trends stemming from the desires of the most coveted consumers. 

The healthy eating platform surveyed 10,000 Gen Z and Millennials, finding that 69% would be more productive if their employer improved their well-being. Meanwhile, 31% would even consider a pay cut in exchange for a happier and healthier work environment, showing just how invested young workers are in their well-being.

Markus Falk, Lifesum CEO, says the report is a “wake-up call” for employers who need to grasp the needs of Gen Z and Millennials, who he says are redefining company loyalty by prioritizing personal well-being in career choices. 

“The report underscores how a nutrition-first approach can foster long-term well-being, benefiting mental, physical and emotional health,” Falk said. “This, in turn, enhances workplace productivity and satisfaction.” 

An accurate picture of overwhelmed Gen Z and Millennials has continued to materialize, as seen by the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Stress in America findings. The report sounds the alarm that younger populations are not only plagued with stress but demonstrate higher stress levels than the generations before them. Experts say inflation, isolation and difficulty accessing health care are all contributing factors.

With numerous stressors swirling around in the minds of Gen Z and Millennial workers, Lifesum points out that employers can assist staff in resiliency-supporting corporate wellness offerings that benefit staff but also reduce absenteeism, boost productivity and increase a company’s bottom line.

Lifesum’s 2024 State of Healthy Eating and Well-being report dived into factors that the platform says create a fulfilling work experience, such as health and wellness goals, mental health and sleep.

Here are the findings:

Young Consumers Snack Their Way to Wellness  

Gen Z and Millennials ranked their top three health and wellness goals with physical fitness leading the charge (88%), followed by mental health and stress management (71%) and then sleep quality (54%).

Lifesum found that workplace stress is deemed a “critical concern” for young workers, with 75% willing to cut ties with their employer over a toxic working environment. 

The report also highlighted emerging trends in the health and wellness space, with functional foods resonating with Gen Z and Millennials, 73% of whom eat for “enhanced energy,” while 61% are looking for improved mental health. Lifesum found that 40% eat their way to more restful sleep, noting that “snackable supplements” that incorporate valuable vitamins and protein are popular with younger consumers.  

Lifesum projects that this year will see a rise in stress-relieving adaptogenic foods, such as mushroom latte powders, and sleep-inducing foods with melatonin and magnesium.

Target has also ramped up its shelves and ecommerce site with over a thousand wellness-supporting products at cost-conscious price points across skincare, supplements, functional beverages, vitamins and more — seemingly to prepare for wellness-seeking young consumers.

The Intersection of Sleep & Nourishment 

As stress plays a significant role in eating habits and sleep quality, it makes sense that Gen Z and Millennials are looking to improve on all ends — and are aware of the connection between sleep and nutrition. With one in three Americans not getting enough sleep, Mindbody predicted that sleep hygiene will be a top trend for 2024 — a finding supported by Lifesum. 

Lifesum’s report found that 50% of respondents say their dietary decisions are essential to their energy levels during the day, while 83% seriously contemplate modifying their eating habits in exchange for a more restful sleep.

Based on those findings, Lifesum predicts that there will be a rise in foods rich in sleep-inducing nutrients and tech-based solutions such as its sleep tracking feature with Oura, which gives users a behind-the-scenes look into how diet impacts sleep patterns (and vice versa).

“Gen Z and Millennials deeply value the intersection of sleep and nutrition,” Falk said. “Corporate wellness programs will increasingly acknowledge how sleep and nutrition impact productivity and overall well-being, which will lead to a comprehensive strategy that optimizes a healthy work-life balance.”

Drivers of the Longevity Boom

The growing awareness of longevity modalities may have wellness seekers rushing to book IV drips, saunas and cold plunges. Still, Gen Z and Millennials are already ahead of the game, with 51% of survey respondents sharing that they are actively engaged in longevity and well-being practices. Moreover, 56% consider taking “immediate action” to enhance longevity. 

Such data is a solid foundation for a rise in personalized nutrition programs, sustainable and mindful eating habits and mental health programs, according to Lifesum. 

“Organizational culture plays a pivotal role in shaping employee well-being and workplace outcomes,” Falk said. “The report underscores how Gen Z and Millennials use nutrition to promote overall wellness across various aspects of their lives. This will have a knock-on effect for employers and pave the way for nutrition-first corporate wellness strategies that optimize employee health and productivity.”

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Employers who are investing in corporate wellness programs could use their resources in a more productive and meaningful way, according to new research based on a University of Oxford study.

The study, authored by William J. Fleming, a researcher on work and well-being, illustrates that while mental well-being initiatives are widely recommended for British workers, disagreement is brewing over concerns that “individual-level interventions” don’t engage with working conditions.

Although supportive wellness programs have become a buzzy, feel-good ad campaign for employers to showcase across social media, individual-led wellness programs can’t fundamentally address or, better yet, fix an unhealthy and stressful working environment, the study suggests.

Using a survey of 46,000-plus workers in over 230 organizations, Fleming reviewed the outcomes of participants with access to resilience training, mindfulness and well-being apps and those without, finding that participants appeared “no better off” than non-participants. 

“Overall, results suggest interventions are not providing additional or appropriate resources in response to job demands,” found Fleming.

What the Study Could Mean

Despite the grim findings, employee volunteering opportunities pose a glimmer of hope — although Fleming acknowledges the estimated effects are minimal.

He also notes that future research should pinpoint if individual-led interventions are effective alongside organizational change or whether improving working conditions would be a better alternative. 

“A combination of approaches could benefit workers by, if implemented well, enhancing job resources whilst also mitigating job demands,” he wrote.

Ultimately, Fleming says it seems “premature” to recommend widespread individual-led interventions to all workers and that organizational-led interventions (changes to scheduling, management practices, staff resources, performance review) appear “more beneficial” for improving well-being. 

In a post on LinkedIn, Fleming summed up the breadth of his research quite succinctly: “We’ve got to focus on improving work, not addressing well-being individually and in isolation.”

It should be noted that Fleming didn’t discredit the effectiveness of health and well-being apps and programs — but they can’t course-correct the challenges that many employees face within their organization, he said. A nutrition and sleep-tracking app may have benefits but can’t solve the stress of working long hours or counteract issues stemming from poor management, for example.

Corporate Wellness Is Still Hot

Setting aside the recent research from Oxford, one can argue that the overarching issue is that workplace stress and dissatisfaction are at an all-time high, especially as many employers are warning of layoffs and, in recent months, have demanded staff to return to in-person work. 

Lifesum, a global healthy eating platform serving GE, Google and Amazon employees, recently revealed that Gen Z and millennial staffers are experiencing high levels of work-related stress that interfere with their personal lives. Such experiences can have a significant financial impact on the part of employers should staffers look for the nearest exit in favor of a new job.

Corporate wellness giant Gympass has also been sounding the alarm on the debate between in-person, hybrid or fully remote work, finding that the topic is causing a growing workplace conflict that affects employee performance. In a report that examined workplace well-being and return-to-office mandates, Gympass found that location flexibility is crucial to keeping staff engaged and aligns with wellness. 

“Location flexibility — where possible — may be the best approach to supporting worker wellness,” Gympass found. “Workers in their preferred environment, for example, are more likely to say their work enables them to care for their well-being when needed.

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In a shift from pandemic-era outcomes, the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) 2024 Worldwide Survey of Fitness Trends indicates a move back to in-person fitness experiences while continuing to emphasize the role of technology in the fitness industry. The annual survey highlights evolving consumer needs and the sector’s adaptive responses.

Initiated in 2006, the ACSM’s annual survey has historically been a reliable predictor of fitness industry trends, reflecting shifts in societal attitudes and technological advancements. The 2024 version collated insights from nearly 2,000 professionals across the fitness industry, including personal trainers, exercise physiologists and group exercise instructors

The 2024 survey showcases an array of upcoming trends, with a notable emphasis on boutique fitness studios and subscription-based memberships. This signals a departure from the previous focus on online training and home gyms, which gained prominence during the pandemic. 

Here are some other trends highlighted in the report:

Wearables Continue To Lead

Wearable technology leads as the top trend, signifying a strong consumer interest in personal health data and fitness tracking. Wearable technology has ranked in the top three since 2016, highlighting the growing popularity of devices that track health metrics like heart rate, calories burned, and sleep. 

“We know that social support is one of the strongest predictors of exercise self-efficacy,”  said A’Naja Newsome, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP and survey spokesperson. “It is important for exercise professionals to leverage the capabilities of wearable technology to improve adherence and autonomy for clients.”

Corporate Wellness Is Top of Mind

Coming in second is a newcomer to the top ten list – worksite health promotion. Companies are increasingly investing in health-promoting initiatives, such as providing access to fitness facilities, organizing employee wellness programs and offering health education workshops. By integrating these health-focused strategies into the workplace, employers are acknowledging the profound impact that a healthy workforce has on the success and sustainability of their organizations. 

Grace De Simone, wellness director, Wyckoff Family YMCA, Wyckoff, New Jersey, has over 20 years of experience in the corporate wellness sector. She says that people returning to the office post-COVID may be driving this heightened attention on workplace wellness. 

“People are more anxious and cautious than ever,” says De Simone. “Employers are providing wellness education and programs, including coaching, mental health awareness and training, meditation, yoga, and physical activity. Full-time employees spend a third of their day at work, whether it’s at home or in the office. The opportunity for preventive and impactful services for their health is an enormous and important initiative.”

Older Generations Embrace Fitness

The third spot belongs to fitness programs tailored for older adults. As more Baby Boomers enter retirement, this group is focusing more on staying active and independent. The 65-plus population increased 38% from 2010-2021 and is projected to keep rising over the next two decades. Regular exercise enables older adults to maintain health and independence as they age.

Debbie Bellenger, owner, DB Fitness and Wellness Solutions, Campobello, South Carolina, says it’s crucial for fitness professionals to acquire specific training and development around working with older adults. 

“We need to closely follow longevity research and understand that this demographic expects more than just physical health – their whole well-being is key,” says Bellenger.

“Learning about common age-related health conditions, fall prevention, balance and mobility issues allows us to develop appropriate programs,” she adds. We should use age-appropriate cues, music and relatable communication styles. Pre and post assessments help monitor client progress.”

Bellenger advised that, looking forward, the industry needs to grasp concepts like recovery timeframes to avoid overtraining older adults. 

“With rising neurodegenerative diseases, we have to recognize symptoms and customize plans accordingly,” she says. “Loneliness is another huge factor, so facilitating social connections within groups can directly impact wellness. We need the tools to support older adults in finding purpose post-retirement.”

More Top Trends

Other trends in the top ten indicate a focus on using tech and customized programming to improve mental and physical wellbeing. Mobile apps, exercise for mental health, and personal training all made the list. There is also a push for policy changes to increase access and affordability of qualified exercise professionals.  

De Simone, who is also a mental health first aid instructor serving the corporate wellness population, pointed out that in the first year of the pandemic, the global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25%, according to a scientific brief released by the World Health Organization (WHO). Just two weeks ago, the WHO declared loneliness a global health threat. De Simone encourages fitness professionals to get a Mental Health First Aid credential to help meet clients’ needs. 

“The hope is that this combined publication, and the addition of trend categories, will allow (people) to understand trends predicted to drive the health and fitness industry here in the U.S. and abroad,” said Newsome.

View the full 2024 ACSM Worldwide Fitness Trends report here.

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Walmart has leveled up the corporate wellness game with its 360,000-square-foot Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness center at its headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.

The push for wellness is a major component of Walmart’s sprawling new 350-acre corporate campus, which also includes a food hall, office spaces, a hotel and a childcare center. Areas of the campus will open in phases through 2025, although the Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness center opens Friday, January 12.

Investing in Walmart and Sam’s Club employees with wellness and supportive amenities is meant to engage staff and attract “the next generation of talent” needed to compete, as indicated by the retailer on its corporate website. 

Walmart’s decision aligns with the expectations of Gen Z and Millennials, who increasingly seek employers who support their health and wellness. A recent Lifesum survey found that 48% of young workers would quit their current job for an employer prioritizing wellness. Additionally, 69% believe they would be more productive if their employer invested in the improvement of their health and well-being.

Gympass, a leading corporate wellness platform, has continued to emphasize the need to invest in employee wellness, urging that it’s no longer viewed as a mere perk but a necessity. Both large and small-scale employers who properly support their staff reap a long list of benefits and decrease costs while boosting productivity.

Walmart’s new facility, a significant upgrade from its previous Walton Life Fitness Center, focuses on whole health, featuring a multipurpose pool for swim lessons and aerobics, a lap pool, a hot tub and a shallow activity pool with a splash pad for children.

Fitness offerings include traditional gym equipment as well as studios for all workout types, including ones with calming views of nature, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, an indoor turf field, walking and jogging track, basketball courts and shared pickleball and volleyball courts.

“Oftentimes when we’re thinking about wellness, we may be thinking about wellness in a physical sense or wellness in a mental sense, whereas whole health is really sort of a more encompassing concept,” said Walt Cooper, Ph.D., and CEO of the Whole Health Institute. “This space was purposefully designed to provide you the opportunity to pause and reflect on what you need most.”

A promenade is also featured at the center, which the retailer indicates is designed for associates to “gather, learn, reflect and be mindful.” Outside, a meditation garden is available, as well as space for outdoor fitness classes and access to outdoor trails for walking, biking or running. Children are also encouraged to live healthfully with the facility’s youth activity center.

All part-time, full-time, and temporary Walmart and Sam’s Club Associates in the Northwest Arkansas area are eligible for a Walton Family Whole Health & Fitness membership for $12/bi-weekly for associates and $21/bi-weekly for an associate and immediate family.

The retailer partnered with HealthFitness to oversee operations of the new fitness and health facility.

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Gympass, a leading corporate wellness platform, has integrated with Apple Fitness+, meaning more than two million employees globally will now have access to the fitness subscription service. Effective immediately, Gympass subscribers on the Basic Plan and above in the U.S., U.K. and Germany, and those on the Silver Plan and above in Brazil, can access Apple Fitness+ at no additional cost through their Gympass app.

Gympass has a network of over 50,000 gyms, studios, classes, personal trainers and wellness apps, and includes access to Wellness Coaches, who help users create individualized plans. More than 15,000 companies currently use Gympass, which gives employees discounts on fitness classes and gym memberships, along with other wellness perks.

Employee Wellness on the Rise

“Gympass more than doubles the number of employees engaged with wellness, thanks to the breadth of our global partner network and the attractive prices of our plans that cost 30-50% less than traditional gym memberships,” said Cesar Carvalho, CEO and co-founder of Gympass. “We’re excited to strengthen our proven ability to drive employee enrollment by providing access to Apple Fitness+ across more than 15,000 corporate clients and millions of employees globally.”  

According to Gympass’ recent State of Work-Life Wellness report, the majority of employees (87%) would consider leaving a company that does not focus on employee wellbeing, while 93% value wellbeing as much as their salaries. Integrating wellness solutions into company culture has the potential to decrease turnover and save companies healthcare costs, Gympass notes.

Apple’s Fitness & Wellness Push

With Apple Fitness+, Gympass subscribers gain access to thousands of workouts and meditations, like HIIT, strength, wowing, cycling and yoga. Those with an Apple Watch can see their real-time metrics onscreen. Apple Fitness+ also offers popular experiences, like “Time to Walk” and “Time to Run.”

On Monday, Apple also launched additional updates to Fitness+ that demonstrate the tech giant’s investment in the platform and desire to cater to new audiences. In November, Apple partnered with Anytime Fitness, the tech giant’s first partnership with a brick-and-mortar gym chain.

Gympass, meanwhile, raised $85 million in a Series F funding round last summer at a valuation of $2.4 billion, led by EQT Growth with participation from Neuberger Berman Group. The valuation underscores the increasing trend of employees expecting wellness benefits from their employers. Now, Gympass has Apple in its corner, an integration that demonstrates the corporate wellness platform’s growth as well as the tech giant’s desire to bring Fitness+ to new audiences.

This article has been updated with new information on which Gympass subscribers have access to an Apple Fitness+ subscription.

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As 2023 comes to a close, Gympass, a leading corporate wellness platform with a $2.4 billion valuation, has compiled data that shows some interesting trends in how employees are prioritizing their health and well-being.

Gympass analyzed over 250 million in-person gym or digital wellness check-ins from more than two million employee subscribers over the past 24 months to spot year-over-year trends. 

Here are some highlights from the Gympass “Year in Motion” report, as the corporate wellness platform dives into everything from granular fitness details to broader wellness trends:

• Regardless of industry, employees prioritized their wellness this year, with those in financial services leading in active engagement.

• The favorite workout times for workers are 6 and 7 p.m., with 5 p.m. the next most popular time to break a sweat.  

• Those in finance tend to be early birds, with 6 a.m. ranking among the top three workout times.

• January is no longer the reigning month of health and wellness initiatives, finds Gympass. Instead, September came out on top with 50% more check-ins when compared to the first month of the year. Even more surprising? January 1 was the least likely day for Gympass members to log a check-in.

• While Mondays usually usher in a return to wellness and fitness routines, Gympass reports that users consistently favored Tuesdays for check-ins, followed by Wednesdays and Thursdays.

• One area that Gympass members are particularly interested in is habit-tracking. As the corporate wellness platform reports, apps in the Healthy Habits category soared by 111% year-over-year, with wellness enthusiasts engaged in tracking routines such as sleep and water intake.

• The emotional health app category also proves beneficial to Gympass members, with an impressive 74% year-over-year increase in usage. The boost shows employees find emotional well-being meaningful and demonstrates an advancement in mental health and self-care.

• The demand for virtual trainers and well-being coaches also showed increased activity — 44% year-over-year, reports Gympass. The surge shows consumers are interested in customized fitness solutions, which Gympass says reflects a broader trend toward an individualized approach to health and wellness. Gympass itself is leaning into this trend, recently expanding its personal training product, Trainiac by Gympass, to support members by connecting them with wellness coaches.

• Pickleball, one of the hottest racquet sports in recent times, had a 214% increase in check-ins year-over-year, demonstrating its ongoing appeal to consumers of all ages.

• As Gympass has spent much of the year highlighting, most employees (96%) seek employers who prioritize wellness, and 93% of global employees say well-being is just as important as salary. A sizable portion of workers (87%) report they would consider leading a company that doesn’t emphasize employee well-being.

Read the full Gympass Year in Motion 2023 report here.

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Workplace stress is experienced by 52% of Gen Z and millennials, with 51% stating that their personal life is affected by work-related stress always or most of the time, a new survey from Lifesum reveals. The global healthy eating platform, which has been tapped to serve GE, Google and Amazon employees, is encouraging employers to take measures to support staff — a move that Lifesum says is mutually beneficial.

The findings are based on a Lifesum October survey of over 5,000 U.S.-based Gen Z and millennial employees to explore how they make career decisions based on personal values.

“Burnout, layoffs and the cost of living crisis impact stress, but it won’t stop people from job-hopping,” said Wesleigh Roeca, director of business development at Lifesum. “Gen Z and millennials are telling us that factors, including healthy eating initiatives, help them — and for good reason, given that scientific evidence shows how a balanced diet can support a healthy immune system and provide the extra energy to deal with stressful events.”

Ultimately, Lifesum’s findings underscore that workplace health and well-being are imperative to the success of companies and their staff. Not only would 48% of survey respondents quit tomorrow in favor of a job supporting their wellness, but 69% said they’d be more productive if their employer took measures to improve their health and well-being.

Creating a Culture of Workplace Well-Being

“Gen Z and millennials care deeply about their health and well-being and are passionate about finding a job that aligns with their personal values,” added Roeca. “Scientific evidence, including a recent McKinsey Health Institute study, shows how healthy eating leads to improved cognitive functioning and reversal of type 2 diabetes — all of which impacts workplace outcomes.”

The results should make employers take note — but with some simple measures such as positive management, healthy eating initiatives, proper compensation and mental health support, employees are more apt to feel supported and experience reduced stress levels.

Although many companies are beginning to provide employees with access to well-being tools and actionable resources such as Lifesum, the report indicates there is still a long way to go, as nearly 64% of respondents feel their employer doesn’t have a “well-being culture.”

One surprising survey result from Lifesum’s research was that 35% of female Gen Z and millennials would quit their job tomorrow in exchange for one that better supports their monthly cycle. 

It’s a finding to which Lifesum has been calling attention in the crowded corporate wellness industry: that hormonal health has a profound impact on everyone, with menopause alone costing American women an estimated $1.8 billion in lost working time per year. Lifesum also cites an additional finding revealing a million women in the U.K. left their jobs due to the symptoms of menopause.

“Hormones regulate every process in the body, including stress and productivity, meaning employers risk losing top talent if they don’t offer support, such as fertility planning and hormonal health,” Roeca said. “Everyone has hormones and that’s why our Hormonal Health Plan works for all genders.”

Young Workers Want Flexibility

Lastly, despite many major corporations diminishing remote work in favor of fully in-office models or a scaled-down version of a hybrid model — Lifesum’s research shows Gen Z and millennial workers want their employers to continue granting flexibility, and 41% would seek another job if a hybrid model wasn’t on the table.

As Roeca points out, flexibility is “hugely motivating,” and it’s a factor employers should consider when attracting and retaining talent. Most importantly, regardless of an employer’s decision — remote, hybrid or in-office, they can still support staff with wellness programs and see a guaranteed return on engagement and productivity. 

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Corporate wellness giant Gympass has expanded its personal training product, Trainiac by Gympass, to support members in creating healthy habits by connecting them with wellness coaches. 

Gympass acquired Trainiac, a Seattle-based personal training platform in late 2021 to bring a “new level of personalization” to the Gympass experience.

The wellness coaches will consider an individual’s unique needs and goals as they design personalized plans and provide guidance. The program is available for U.S. Gympass members on the Bronze plan and above, and current members can activate the new personalized wellness offering from their Gympass app.

Wellness seekers can easily connect with the Trainiac by Gympass coaches on the app through video, text or voice messaging. Workout schedules and health-metric tracking are also available for members, as are recommendations based on the Gympass network of 50,000-plus partners, which includes top fitness brands like Crunch Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness, Barry’s, Life Time, MyFitnessPal and Orangetheory Fitness, among others.

More Than Just Fitness

It’s the latest move by a major platform in viewing well-being as more than just addressing physical fitness. Moving toward a holistic strategy that provides support in areas such as exercise, sleep, nutrition and mental health can lead to improved overall health.

The Gympass message, business model and workforce insights have resonated with investors, with the corporate wellness platform recently receiving a $2.4 billion valuation and $85 million in Series F funding.

As Gympass has discovered, Gen Z employees are all in on workplace wellness benefits, and providing such services to staff has become a non-negotiable, especially as 93% of global employees say well-being is as important as their salaries and 87% would consider leaving a company that doesn’t emphasize the importance of well-being.

Providing supportive wellness platforms has numerous benefits for employers, too, such as improved productivity and retention, and reduced absenteeism and employee healthcare costs. 

While Gympass is invested in holistic wellness, it still sees the benefit of fitness. Boutique fitness franchisor Xponential Fitness recently inked a deal with Gympass to include its ten brands on the corporate wellness platform as of last month.

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Getting into a rhythm at work is more challenging than ever, especially with the countless distractions of the digital age. Between texts, calls, emails, meetings and reminders, employees are already in a swarm of stressors that prohibit them from entering a “flow state” — a positive and productive state of consciousness that allows them to be fully immersed in a task. It’s a beautiful place to be and one that Exos, a performance coaching company, has studied masterfully. 

In collaboration with Hofstra University, Exos has completed an in-depth study to better understand flow state — an important analysis, especially as employee satisfaction is low and the risk of burnout is high. 

Flow state is constructive to the workplace bottom line, but it also supports retention and Exos’s research shows it positively impacts employee well-being and performance while reducing employee burnout. It can be summed up in one simple equation:

Flow + Rest = Success

As part of the study, led by Dr. Chris Bertram, senior director of applied neuroscience at Exos, approximately 150 Exos employees were analyzed, half partaking in a “flow-based intervention” and the other half remaining as a control group. 

Employees in the “intervention” group received basic education on flow and its effectiveness at work and setting clear goals three times a day while mixing in “microbreaks” throughout. On the other hand, those in the control group continued working as they usually would on a typical day.

After four weeks, Exos discovered some interesting results that demonstrated the significance of flow on employees and their output.

Those in the intervention group experienced doubled flow and productivity and experienced less stress at the end of their work day. Even better, once employees became increasingly mindful of their personal needs and goals, they were almost three times more likely to enter a flow zone at work. Exos also found that flow states increase engagement, with those in the intervention group nearly four times more likely to be more connected with their work than those in the control group. The study also concluded that increased movement in the workplace promoted a flow state.

Finding Flow: Microbreaks, Movement & Meditation

The research and subsequent findings of Dr. Bertram and Exos call attention to the simple ways employers can promote a healthy working environment, resulting in high-performing employees who can reach their flow state.

Although it may sound counterintuitive to employers, allowing staff time to embrace and practice recovery can actually spark productivity. 

“Hustle culture is failing us, and the costs to our businesses and our human capital are enormous,” Dr. Bertram tells Athletech News. “It’s simply not a model of high performance that works.”  

As Dr. Bertram points out, a grueling environment would be akin to “overtraining syndrome” if deployed on athletes.

“We’d have them injured and out of their sport in a matter of months,” said Dr. Bertram. “It doesn’t work for athletes, and guess what? It doesn’t work for anyone else, either. But instead of calling it overtraining, we call it burnout. We call it languishing. We call it a failing of work-life balance. Pick your headline of the week. These are simply the predictable outcomes of a broken model of workplace high performance. We need a new model that can simultaneously support well-being and productivity.”

Instead of a packed schedule of meetings and work, supporting employees to take microbreaks for meditation, a chance to move or take a walk, or enjoy a healthy meal can have countless benefits and ward off burnout.

The Importance of Investing in Employee Wellness

It’s essential that leadership in an organization supports flow strategies and models them in practice, not just theory. It can’t simply be another corporate buzzword on a flier hanging in the employee cafeteria —leaders need to leverage modeling flow strategies themselves to build a healthy workplace. 

Even better news? Flow state-supportive strategies for workplace well-being and performance are also customizable across all industries, Dr. Bertram points out, giving power to employees and employers in all sectors. 

“Flow is a very individualized experience, and so too are the ways in which people recover and put energy back into their systems,” Dr. Bertram explained. “However, the key thing to note is that the triggers for flow – things like clear goals, autonomy, and distraction management – are the consistent levers to work with, and they can be tailored quite easily to meet the needs of different industry contexts.”

The biggest takeaway of the study, says Dr. Bertram, is demonstrating that workplace well-being and business bottom line aren’t mutually exclusive concepts. 

“When approached thoughtfully and intentionally, workplace cultures can be engineered for success in both of these critical domains,” he said. “It can’t all be about productivity and output, but it can’t all be about rest either. High performance is about being ready and able to turn the dials up when it’s time to work and then being ready and able to turn those same dials down when it’s time to rest and recover. That’s what a sustainable model of workplace high performance looks like.”

In its quest to seek optimal performance, Dr. Bertram shared that Exos is currently working with renowned organizational psychologist Adam Grant and his team at the Wharton School of Business as the performance coaching company trials a 4-day work week. 

Visit Exos to learn more about driving higher employee performance and developing an engaging and resilient team. 

The post When It Comes to Employee Productivity, Less (Work) Is Sometimes More appeared first on Athletech News.

In cubicles and at-home offices around the globe, 37% of employees sit at their workspaces with their heads in their hands, unhappy and unproductive. 

Gympass, a corporate wellness platform with a $2.4 billion valuation, is the expert on workforce insights and trends. In its second annual State of Work-Life Wellness 2024 Report, the company surveyed over 5,000 employees in nine global markets, taking a deep dive into workplace well-being and the hotly debated return-to-office topic. 

In a time when corporate buzzwords swirl, a new term could be coined based on the new Gympass report: The Great Mismatch. 

“Mismatched” employees (defined as those who work remotely but prefer in-office or work in-office but rather work remotely) is directly connected to major gaps in employee well-being, finds Gympass. 

Although numerous leading employers are eager to pat themselves on the back and announce that they are investing in wellness programs, the new Gympass report begs the question: are employers truly listening to “unmatched” employees, or are they simply virtue signaling regarding workplace wellness? 

A Turbulent Time for Workers and Employers

For many, the workplace has become a battleground between employers and employees in recent years.

It goes without saying that the pandemic caused an upheaval in the modern workforce. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of remote workers tripled from 5.7% (roughly 9 million people) to 17.9%, according to the U.S. Census. 

Almost overnight, employees who suffered from a micromanaging boss suddenly had the autonomy to work freely without being under a watchful eye. They no longer had to deal with distracting colleagues, and they may have found relief in having increased flexibility in the absence of long commute times. Remote workers also reported saving $5,000 to $10,000 a year, according to a 2022 survey by FlexJobs.

But as the Gympass report notes, not everyone fell in love with working remotely, with some employees preferring in-person work or a hybrid model for reasons such as socialization and/or wanting a defined barrier between work and home life.

Ultimately, workers were able to quickly assess what worked best for them — but instead of listening, the majority of employers made the final call for the long term.   

By 2021, fed-up workers, citing low pay, lack of opportunities and feeling unheard, ushered in a new era: The Great Resignation, which led to the nation’s “quit rate” hitting a 20-year high. 

After the door to The Great Resignation was opened, all bets were off. 

Workers who felt disgruntled but couldn’t jump ship found a new term to embrace — Quiet Quitting — where they began to do the bare minimum and coast by, vowing never again to go the extra mile for their employer. Let’s also not forget “Rage Applying,” where those who “quietly quit” channeled their energy and frustration into blasting out resumes, hoping to land an interview elsewhere.

Not to be outdone, and in the face of a constant push-pull cycle with workers, some employers began utilizing “Quiet Firing” tactics, making the working environment so intolerable that workers are forced to leave.   

Trust may have been broken on both sides, but there is hope, provided employers seek the guidance of workplace wellness experts.

A New Approach to Corporate Wellness?

Even though companies have begun to explore programs to ensure workers are happy and healthy (thereby increasing retention and their bottom line), there may still be a disconnect. While perks such as workplace yoga certainly can be meaningful, “mismatched” employees aren’t faring well in terms of well-being and rank flexibility as their top priority.

“The workplace ‘mismatch problem’ underscores a larger issue: that well-being is unique to each individual,” said Cesar Carvalho, co-founder and CEO of Gympass. 

“Mismatched” employees reported significant negative effects on their overall well-being when compared to “matched” employees, according to the Gympass report. 

When asked to rate their well-being, “mismatched” employees were twice as likely to report that they were “struggling” or “really struggling” when compared to “matched” employees. 

With regards to stress levels, “mismatched” employees are more likely to experience higher stress levels, lower emotional well-being and suffer from lack of sleep. They are also twice as likely to report being unhappy working for their current employer.

Such dire responses from “mismatched” employees can lead to costly situations such as increased absenteeism, higher turnover and lack of engagement. 

Location Flexibility Is Essential to Employee Wellness

As Gympass has continually reported, employee well-being is a new non-negotiable for workers, with 96% seeking an employer that prioritizes wellness — and its importance is growing year over year. Well-being is on par with salary, 93% of global employees tell Gympass, and 87% would consider leaving a company that doesn’t emphasize employee well-being.

The majority of global employees say emotional wellness (95%) and physical wellness (94%) enhances their productivity and satisfaction at work.

As for employees who are “mismatched” and therefore dreadfully unhappy, Gympass emphasizes the importance of flexibility.  

“Flexibility is a crucial consideration as companies navigate the return-to-office landscape,” Carvalho said. “Everyone is different. Companies can take better care of their employees by offering flexible, preventative benefits that not only make employees happy and healthy, but save your company money in the long term.”

Gympass puts it plainly: “The best work environment is the one you prefer.”

“Location flexibility — where possible — may be the best approach to supporting worker wellness,” according to the platform. “Workers in their preferred environment, for example, are more likely to say their work enables them to care for their well-being when needed.”

You can download the full Gympass report: The State of Work-Life Wellness 2024 here.

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Lifesum, a healthy eating app that has attracted major employers such as Amazon, GE and PayPal, has introduced a new digital health benefit, the Healthy Fasting Program, available through its Lifesum for Work corporate wellness platform.

The Lifesum Healthy Fasting Program allows users to design a fasting plan that works for them based on their lifestyle and needs or opt for a pre-set fasting interval. Employees receive nutritional guidance on what to eat based on their fast selection, providing recipes with reminders of when to start and end their fast. 

The fasting lifestyle can be an ideal and healthy approach for employees, as proponents say it can optimize productivity and overall wellness.

“Fasting is a popular way of eating, but helping employees to find a fasting routine that fits their personal needs is key,” said Signe Svanfeldt, Lifesum’s lead nutritionist. “When practiced safely, individuals report higher levels of concentration, and feel more focused and energized.”

A Food-First Approach To Corporate Wellness

Since launching its healthy eating app in 2013, Lifesum has inspired over 60 million people with its unique approach to better-for-you food choices that incorporates personalized nutrition insights, guidance, recipes, meal plans, diets and food and exercise trackers.

As consumers continue to pivot towards wellness apps, platforms and therapies, employers have also taken note of the benefits of investing in employees’ health, such as increased engagement, retention and reduced absenteeism — all of which work in tandem to increase a company’s bottom line.

Lifesum recently added group insurance company YuLife as a corporate wellness partner, bringing its corporate wellness experience to member companies such as Tesco, Santander and Capital One.

The healthy eating app has also taken an innovative approach with the recent launch of its Hormonal Meal Plan, which encourages employees to balance hormones naturally and addresses what Lifesum calls a “workplace blindspot.”

While available to both male and female employees, Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan gives special consideration and attention to the nutritional needs of women experiencing menopausal symptoms, which, according to Lifesum, costs American women roughly $1.8 billion in lost working time each year.

In addition to nutritional support, Lifesum also promotes sleep hygiene and its impact on workplace wellness, as seen by a partnership with Oura. As part of collaborating with the wearable tech company, employees can access Lifesum’s sleep tracking feature to understand the link between sleep, nutrition and workplace performance. 

Svanfeldt offers the following tips for employees looking to fast healthily at work:

1. Avoid excessive caffeine: drinking black coffee is fine while fasting, but be careful not to exceed the individual tolerance level, as this can lead to headaches, dizziness, increased heart rate, and nausea. If you still feel like having a warm drink after consuming your daily coffee amount, enjoy an unsweetened, caffeine-free herbal tea instead.

2. Hydrate: stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Always keep a water bottle or glass close by, as it can help to curb hunger. If you want to make your water more exciting, infuse it with some herbs and/or sliced vegetables. Mint and cucumber are a perfect combination.

3. Plan meals ahead: make sure to plan your daily intake of food, and bring a nutritious meal to work. If you fast during the morning, it is likely that you will be very hungry during lunch. The natural temptation is to reach for a quick-fix sugary snack instead of a proper meal, so ensure that you prepare a home-cooked, nutritious meal instead.

4. Breaking the fast: when breaking the fast, aim to eat a balanced meal rich in fiber, protein, and healthy fats to achieve a stable blood sugar raise, as well as filling you up with nutritious fuel. These three components help you stay fuller for longer and provide essential nutrients.

5. Stay flexible: always prioritize your health and well-being. Even if you had planned to fast for a certain amount of hours, it is important to listen to your body. Stay flexible and allow yourself to break if required. Fasting is not for everyone. We all have individual needs that can vary depending on the day, sleep duration and daily activities.

The post Lifesum Creates Healthy Fasting Program for Employee Wellness appeared first on Athletech News.

Gympass has made it its mission to champion corporate wellness programs, and for good reason: the platform has attracted 15,000-plus customers and two million employee subscribers.

As Gympass ushers in a renaissance of health — one that advocates for employee wellness as the workforce has begun to expect employer perks such as gym memberships and fitness class discounts — the company has solidified its position as a leader in the category, recently raising an impressive $85 million in a Series F funding round at a $2.4 billion valuation.

The corporate wellness giant also recently partnered with Xponential Fitness in a deal to bring boutique fitness franchisor’s ten popular fitness brands available on the Gympass platform this month.

Invest Now, Save Later

While others in the fitness and wellness industry have struggled, perhaps due to a one-dimensional approach, Gympass is actively revolutionizing the definition of “corporate wellness” by encouraging employers to invest in health-focused benefits to not only attract top talent, retain employees and reduce absenteeism, but to increase profit.

The platform recently emphasized the importance of health-centered programs in a study finding that investing in employee wellness actually increases a company’s bottom line.

“Employee well-being is now a necessity, causing employers to double down on their wellness benefits,” said Carolee Gearhart, chief revenue officer at Gympass. “This has sparked massive growth for Gympass, and this year we surpassed a quarter of a billion (250 million member check-ins) to our network of 50,000+ partners. This milestone comes just 18 months after we reached 100 million total check-ins, indicating that we’re growing 10x faster today than we did in our first nine years in business. Beyond this, our paid, active subscriber growth nearly doubled year-over-year.”

Gearhart points out that more than four out of five employees globally believe well-being is equally important to salary, and 53% of U.S. workers and 44% globally reported that they’re stressed daily. 

“Today’s employees understand the value of well-being and demand it, which is putting pressure on employers to adapt,” Gearhart said, adding that from an employer’s perspective, this necessitates a shift from reactive and traditional healthcare benefits that increase costs to more holistic and preventative wellness benefits that reduce costs and improve employee well-being and productivity. 

“There is a growing demand for comprehensive wellness benefits encompassing mental health support, meditation guides, nutritional advice, sleep aids and financial literacy programs,” Gearhart notes. “Offering these resources can directly bolster employee engagement, satisfaction and productivity, thereby proving beneficial for both the employers and their staff.”

Perhaps most importantly, wellness programs go beyond just positively impacting employee acquisition, satisfaction and retention – they also decrease healthcare costs for the entire organization, which, as Gearhart points out, comes when these savings are desperately needed. 

“I’m constantly talking to employers who are bracing for significant healthcare cost increases in 2024, and they’re worried,” she said. “But here’s the thing: Gallup estimates that a whopping 75% of company healthcare costs stem from preventable conditions. If they’re preventable… then let’s prevent them!”

Gympass, Gearhart explains, offers a solution for employers who connect preventative healthcare as a cost-reduction measure while also boosting employee happiness and engagement. 

“And we have the data to back it up: physically active employees can reduce healthcare costs by 35%,” she said. “It’s a win-win-win for everyone involved, and 90% of the companies that measure their wellness program’s return on investment see a positive return. “

The Corporate Wellness Era

Corporate wellness programs have the potential to reshape how companies approach employee health benefits by encouraging the adoption of preventative wellness benefits. One Gympass study found that employees who engage in physical activities at least five times a month can help reduce a company’s healthcare costs by 35% over a 12-month period. 

“There are a number of reasons why companies experience ROI on these wellness programs, with one of the primary reasons being that it actually saves businesses money in the long run,” Gearhart said, sharing that 78% of global human resource leaders surveyed said their wellness program reduced their health care costs, and 85% reported decreased utilization of sick days.

While employee priorities have changed, especially in response to the pandemic, Gearhart says the key trends in corporate wellness include flexibility, accessibility and personalization. 

“Gympass lowers barriers to fitness and wellness by offering a variety of live, digital or on-demand solutions in subscriptions that cost employees up to 50% less than traditional memberships,” she noted. “With over 60% of new subscribers not having a gym membership before subscribing, Gympass more than doubles the number of employees engaged in wellness.”

As Gympass looks ahead, the wellness platform expects well-being programs to grow in the coming years. 

“Our aim is to make employee well-being universal, creating an environment where employees feel empowered to prioritize their overall health,” Gearhart said.

The post For Gympass, Fitness Is a Necessity in the Modern Workplace appeared first on Athletech News.

Lifesum, a highly popular app that inspires healthy eating, has attracted a new corporate wellness partner in group insurance company YuLife. The deal will bring Lifesum’s corporate wellness experience to member companies such as Tesco, Santander and Capital One.

Since launching in 2013, Lifesum has grown to encourage over 60 million people with its approach to smart food choices. The platform features customized nutrition insights, guidance, recipes, meal plans and diets, and offers users food and exercise trackers.

The Lifsum app can now be found in YuLife’s YuStore, a marketplace where companies can purchase health and wellness apps. 

“Healthy eating impacts every aspect of life, including workplace well-being, which is why organizations are turning to Lifesum, as they know the benefits of investing in the health of their employees to achieve their full potential,” said Chris Seth, chief strategy officer at Lifesum.

Lifesum’s approach to wellness supports a recent report that demonstrated the economic results of investing in employee well-being, which is worth up to a staggering $370 billion per year to U.K. organizations, or the equivalent of £4,000 to £12,000 per U.K. employee.

In addition to YuLife, the health eating solution app has attracted other major employers including Amazon, GE and PayPal.

Sammy Rubin, YuLife founder and CEO, explained that the company is pioneering a new form of group insurance for businesses by incentivizing health lifestyle modifications, reducing risk and improving overall health.

“Lifesum’s focus on holistic health enables YuLife to help businesses seeking to improve the well-being of their employees, and make a tangible difference to their lives,” Rubin sad. “Unequivocal evidence shows how healthy eating impacts all aspects of life, both in and out of the workplace, and leads to lower absenteeism, higher productivity and active, fulfilled lives.”

The healthy eating platform recently became the first to launch a Hormonal Meal Plan, designed to aid employees in balancing hormones naturally. Lifesum also introduced a sleep tracking feature with Oura, supporting the link between sleep and nutrition, which significantly impacts overall workplace health and wellness.

The post Lifesum Adds Big-Name Corporate Wellness Partners appeared first on Athletech News.

Crunch Fitness is currently focused on an aggressive expansion plan, but the franchise is also taking steps to combat the current health crisis by taking a comprehensive look at the contributing factors, including mental and emotional health.

“Prioritizing our members’ mental health and well-being is a continued focal point for us, so we try to infuse a community-centered, holistic wellness approach into all of our gym offerings,” said Mike Neff, executive vice president of member services for Crunch Fitness. 

Neff adds that the isolation many faced during the pandemic contributed to an epidemic of loneliness with lingering effects. In response, Crunch Fitness has been mindful of its communication across various mediums, including its Gym Shorts newsletter and member app. The fitness company also created and provided classes through its social media platforms and offered complimentary access to its on-demand workout platform during the pandemic. 

Post-pandemic, Crunch Fitness is seeing an increased interest in its corporate wellness arm, especially as many companies have continued pushing a return-to-work model.

“We continue to get our message out that Crunch can play a very big part as an added benefit to employees who are returning to work to provide that balance between living a healthy lifestyle as well as their commitment to their careers,” Neff explains. 

He points to studies showing increased productivity by introducing a workout routine. 

“Crunch provides classes that not only fit during one’s busy work day, but we also provide full-service locker rooms with amenities so that we can provide a means for individuals to get away from their desks for an hour and return completely rejuvenated to complete their day,” he said. 

The fitness company continues to meet members where they are, whether it’s in one of its 400+ clubs or on its new digital platform, Crunch+, which offers on-demand and live-streamed workouts. 

In early 2022, Crunch met with its healthcare partners, deciding to have all nationwide Crunch locations participate in programs geared towards a healthier lifestyle for participants. 

“We have always partnered with many of the healthcare plans with whichever clubs choose to participate,” Neff said. “We felt it was very important to do our part in helping our communities live a better lifestyle through exercise.”

The wellness programs provide fully subsidized memberships to Medicare/Medicaid participants in every club that Crunch operates in the U.S.

“We have also partnered with groups that develop programs for corporations that allow their employees to use Crunch gyms as an added benefit to their employment,” Neff said. “Some are subsidized whereas others provide partial subsidy.”  

As Crunch remained a steady force for members during a challenging time, the fitness company is showing up in a new way, with special amenities for its members. Relax & Recover, which promotes well-being through popular spa-like offerings, gives Crunch Fitness members time to restore and create a self-care habit that supports overall well-being.

“Between the red-light therapy saunas, spray tanning, UV tanning, massage chairs, HydroMassage, and stretch tables, plus performance tools, such as Hyperice’s Normatec Recovery System and Hypervolt, we understand the value of recovery that can aid in mental and emotional health issues and we aim to continue providing a wide assortment of wellness offerings to our members,” Neff said. 

The post Crunch Fitness Pushes Further Into Corporate Wellness appeared first on Athletech News.

Lifesum, a global healthy eating platform with over 65 million users, has introduced a Hormonal Meal Plan for employees, offering an innovative approach to corporate wellness.

The meal program is available via Lifesum for Work, Lifesum’s corporate healthy eating service used by high-profile employers such as Amazon and Nike.

“The Hormonal Meal Plan is another exciting step towards Lifesum’s holistic approach to workplace health, which empowers everyone to live a longer, healthier life,” said Jenny Ragnas, chief product officer at Lifesum.

The platform is shining a spotlight on the importance of hormone regulation, which, as Lifesum points out, controls every process in the body, impacting stress, mental health and productivity. Employees using Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan will now receive personalized health insights, guidance, recipes and feedback on micro and macronutrients.

Improving the health and well-being of employees is shown to increase a company’s bottom line with reduced absenteeism, improved engagement and retention, and increased productivity.

“Typically, our bodies maintain hormones within a normal level, but modern food processing and sedentary lifestyles make this process more difficult,” Ragnas said. “Lifesum is innovating the next phase of workplace hormonal health by offering a solution for all employees that naturally supports the body in balancing hormones, and leads to a healthier, more productive workforce.”

Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan also addresses and supports the nutritional needs of women experiencing menopausal symptoms. According to Lifesum, this frequently overlooked and taboo topic costs American women roughly $1.8 billion in lost working time each year, while a million women in the U.K. have left their jobs due to the aggravating symptoms of menopause. 

“While Lifesum’s Hormonal Meal Plan is available for all employees, it also provides a practical workplace intervention to support the hormone health of female employees and promote open conversations,” Ragnas said. “Without the right culture, taboos will remain.”

Founded in 2013 by a group of tech entrepreneurs with experience in online entertainment, Lifesum helps users lose weight or generally improve their overall health through a host of features, including calorie and macronutrient tracking. The platform also offers recipes, meal plan templates and diet plans, as well as sleep and activity tracking by synching with Apple Health and Google Fit data.

The platform recently introduced a sleep-tracking feature with Oura so users can better understand the link between sleep and nutrition and how it impacts weight management and overall workplace health. Consumers are expected to become increasingly focused on the benefits of proper sleep hygiene, according to a 2024 wellness trends report from Mindbody.

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Peloton has introduced Peloton for Business, a B2B portfolio of well-being solutions for clients in hospitality, corporate wellness, multi-family residential, education, healthcare, gyms and community wellness.

The announcement of the B2B segment comes just before Peloton’s Q4 and full-year fiscal 2023 results, which will be released on August 23.

The full-service offering includes equipment and content-based solutions to continue Peloton’s mission to empower wellness enthusiasts for “anyone, anywhere” fitness. Peloton says the newly launched division strengthens its existing B2B offerings and points to its ongoing success, such as over 7.5 million Bike rides taken in commercial settings.

The connected fitness company also reports high retention rates with its Peloton Corporate Wellness benefit, with over 93% of clients renewing year over year.

To further strengthen its B2B segment, Peloton appointed Greg Hybl senior vice president and general manager of its Peloton for Business unit. Hybl, who comes to the connected fitness company from American Express, has 20 years of experience in strategic partnership, commercial and business development.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Peloton at such a pivotal time in the development of its B2B strategy,” Hybl. said “Our goal is to be a solution-oriented partner that provides customizable options for each client’s unique needs, regardless of a company’s size. By offering both holistic and individualized solutions, we can now widen our client base to include small and mid-sized organizations in addition to the larger enterprise businesses we currently serve.”

Peloton for Business includes the following:

• Commercial Bike: Access to a Peloton Bike that allows an unlimited number of users to ride at no charge to them, in hotels, multi-family residential gyms, corporate office gyms, campus recreation centers and community wellness gyms.
• Employee Benefit: Access to the Peloton App, preferred pricing on Peloton equipment, unique corporate engagement experiences and an inclusive community, all through one employee benefit.
• Partner Offers: Access to enterprise-level partnerships that deliver exclusive programming and offers for the audiences of partner brands and organizations.

Corporate Wellness Is on the Rise

Peloton’s continued push into corporate wellness is right on time, as companies are taking note of the importance of offering such programs to employees. In addition to positive benefits such as employee retention and reducing absenteeism, employer-sponsored wellness programs can increase a company’s bottom line.  

Peloton says its B2B corporate clients represent a variety of industries, such as Sequoia, a benefits platform and advisory services company that just added Peloton to its invite-only network of health and wellness providers. It’s a move that sees hundreds of Sequoia clients having the chance to offer Peloton classes and corporate engagement experiences.

Volvo employees in the U.S. are also able to benefit from Peloton after the luxury vehicle manufacturer partnered with the connected fitness company. Aside from putting Bikes in Volvo fitness centers, employees can access Peloton’s app, the all-access membership and discounts on equipment like Bike, Bike+, Tread and Guide.

Dropbox is also using the power of Peloton to serve its fully remote employees, who, like Volvo, can also gain access to the app, membership and hardware discounts.

As for tourism and hospitality, Peloton has seen continued success with its partnership with Hilton, which it forged last year. The collaboration makes Hilton the first hospitality brand to feature Peloton Bikes at its U.S. locations. The companies recently expanded their partnership to include Puerto Rico, Germany, the U.K. and participating properties in Canada.

This spring, Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy indicated that the company would lean further into the hospitality sector, referring to the push as a “fruitful source of consumer demand” for Peloton.

Peloton is also building its community reach, recently partnering with YMCAs in San Antonio and Chicago for a pilot program to promote increased access to fitness through its content and community events. 

The push into corporate wellness and other B2B segments comes as Peloton recently rebranded from a fitness hardware-first company to one that relies on its content and app to reach new consumers, widening its reach to attract a younger audience. 

While McCarthy hasn’t diminished or discounted the hardware Peloton has created, he’s long believed that content is king.

“Content is kind of the golden goose,” McCarthy told investors during Peloton’s Q3 earnings call. “Is the Bike a great experience from a hardware perspective and better than things that had come before it? Absolutely is. But the magic and the glue that binds the community with almost religious fervor amongst the members is the content and the instructors.”

The post Peloton Launches B2B Service, Eyes Hospitality & Corporate Wellness appeared first on Athletech News.

As the workforce evolves and employers and employees try to strike the right work-life balance, one coaching firm has decided to give a four-day workweek a whirl.

Exos, which trains professional athletes and manages corporate wellness programs for 25% of Fortune 100 companies, will begin testing a modified work week starting May 1.

The Exos 4-day workweek pilot will run for six months.

The coaching company says its experiment, ‘Readiness Culture Code,’ serves as a blueprint for reimagining the typical corporate environment and equipping employees with the mental and physical capacity to work effectively. It comes at a time when employee stress is a significant concern.

In a survey of over 1,000 respondents by Deloitte, 77% of respondents revealed they experience burnout at their current job. Even though many U.S.-based corporate professionals (87%) feel a sense of purpose or passion for their careers, they still frequently report feeling stressed or frustrated. Some drivers of employee burnout are lack of support from leadership, unrealistic deadlines or results expectations, and consistently working long hours or on weekends. 

Exos announced the upcoming 4-day workweek pilot program to its 3000+ employees, sharing that it will create a guidebook to introduce the four-day concept to corporate clients — a move that could have long-term implications for other companies.

“We can’t stop all the inevitable stresses and fires that come with day-to-day life. But we can help ensure your mind and body are ready to take them on so you can thrive,” said Exos’ Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Robb O’Hagan. “The future of work is readiness, and we’re distilling what we’ve learned over the past 30 years to make work healthier, more collaborative, and more productive. Businesses must operate differently, and the Exos Readiness Culture Code is a ground-breaking blueprint to help them pave the path forward.”

O’Hagan told CNBC Make It that the new rollout directly responds to the chronic burnout many are experiencing.

The CEO knows a thing or two about stress. As a seasoned executive, having spent time leading Gatorade, reinventing Equinox, and working with Flywheel, O’Hagan has been open about her experience of leading a $5B business through the 2008 financial crisis while being a mother to three young children. She eventually experienced complete burnout while also dealing with postnatal depression. It was a turning point that led her to want to help others and become part of a company that acknowledges burnout while offering better solutions.

Exos is taking a deep dive into its research efforts of the Readiness Culture Code experiment, collaborating with researchers at The Wharton School of Business, organizational psychologist and author Adam Grant, and doctoral candidate Marissa Shandell. The team will assess the impact of the Exos 4-day workweek experiment and how reducing the work week from five to four days affects employee well-being and performance.

“Exos is a trailblazer in exploring how we can sustain our energy—and our excellence,” says Grant. “I hope to see more companies follow their lead in running these kinds of experiments.”

Exos says its Readiness Culture Code creates a behavioral framework that promotes a pro-recovery culture – a method it’s perfected. The coaching company points to its decades of experience coaching high-performing athletes and businesses, allowing them to perform to their full potential.

As it rolls out the pilot program, Exos team members will receive access to the Fit app, Exos dedicated coaches and gyms, a coach-led virtual program, and workshops. Employees will also enjoy ‘You Do You Fridays,’ where staff can use their time as they wish, with the exception that they can’t message colleagues or arrange meetings on Fridays.

Staff will be encouraged to create recovery norms or boundaries that will ease the pressure many feel to stay connected to the office, even during off-hours.

Exos will also promote ‘calendar chunking,’ where team meetings will be hosted on Tuesdays and Thursdays, leaving Mondays and Wednesdays open for individual work. In addition, there will be opportunities for community outreach through Exos’ Coach for Good social impact program and partner parks from Vuori and Hyperice.

The coaching company anticipates that it will continue the four-day workweek barring extreme negative results, O’Hagan told CNBC.

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Quiet quitting, rage applying, ‘bare minimum Mondays’ – the workforce has recently produced a slew of buzzwords. If Gympass is any indication, a significant number of employees are signaling a new trend: holistic employees – those who prioritize their health and well-being with the expectation that their employers support wellness.

And it appears that they are.

Gympass, the world’s largest employee well-being platform, has announced that it has received over 250 million check-ins to its network of partners providing physical and mental health resources.

The latest check-in number comes 18 months after Gympass reached 100 million total check-ins, demonstrating that the well-being platform is growing ten times faster than it did in its first nine years.

As the employee demand for well-being has risen, a luxury coffee maker or free snacks in the break room simply aren’t cutting it. Employees instead want increased wellness benefits, classes, opportunities, and access to well-being apps.

Gympass concurs, stating that its acceleration results from a combination of factors, including employee reprioritization.

According to Gympass’s 2022 State of Work-Life Wellness Report, 83% of employees believe that their well-being is just as important as their salary, with 77% saying they would consider leaving a job that didn’t prioritize health and wellness. The rise in the employee demand for well-being is putting pressure on employers to prove they are just as committed to overall wellness as their employees.

Companies recognize that employees with access to well-being programs impact more than just retention, productivity, and happiness. It also helps to reduce absenteeism and healthcare costs. For example, according to Gympass, a Harvard study on the ROI of wellness programs found that businesses save $3.27 for every dollar spent on healthcare costs.

Overall, Gympass is benefiting from the increased emphasis on workplace wellness, with a 44% increase in corporate clients in 2022 compared to 2021, including Citizens Bank, SeatGeek, and the University of Phoenix. According to the well-being platform, organizations that use Gympass can achieve 43% higher retention rates and up to 25% lower annual employee healthcare costs than those that do not.

Gympass has been busy collaborating with other wellness organizations such as Thrive Global, Headspace, Sleep Cycle, 24 Hour Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, and CorePower Yoga, which it says helps keep the platform as flexible and adaptable for all employees as possible.

Headspace was one of Gympass’s fastest-growing apps within the first week of launch at the start of the year, demonstrating that mental health is just as important to employees as physical well-being.

“Gympasss and its partners are lowering the barriers to entry for well-being,” said Cesar Carvalho, CEO and co-founder of Gympass. “We’re building a more accessible, flexible platform so that people can take care of themselves based on their own individual needs, whether that is physical or emotional health, nutrition, sleep or other interests. Gympass’ growth is a direct result of our expansion and investment into these areas – and we’re not slowing down.”

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