Employees want tailored fitness programs

Despite organizations increasing their investment in wellness programs, there is a noticeable gap between these efforts and their perceived effectiveness.

According to India's inaugural comprehensive fitness and wellness report, "The State of Fitness and Wellness in Corporate India 2023-24," 43% of employees believe that their employers have not intensified their focus on fitness programs.

This highlights the necessity for organizations to create benefits that truly resonate with their workforce and enhance employees' fitness journeys.

Employee fitness has emerged as a key priority for progressive organizations, recognizing its significant influence on business success.

By investing in workforce well-being, leaders can unlock numerous benefits, including increased job satisfaction, engagement, retention, performance, and productivity.

Acknowledging these advantages, organizations have ramped up their wellness investments. However, the perception gap between these initiatives and their impact persists.

The report by FITPASS and ETHRWorld, based on insights from 3,000 employees across generations and top HR and wellness officers from companies representing about 600,000 employees, reveals that 76% of employees feel disconnected from current wellness programs.

These findings urge employers to reconsider their strategies and address their employees’ unmet needs promptly.

Proactive wellness initiatives offer continuous support by focusing on health management before issues arise.

This strategy prevents the escalation of existing problems and helps avert potential future risks. Yet, the study reveals that 44% of organizations still depend on reactive solutions like medical insurance alone.

These reactive programs fall short in addressing overall well-being, often lacking ongoing fitness conversations, leaving employees unaware of potential risks and preventing them from adopting healthier habits.

Consequently, many continue to make unhealthy lifestyle choices, with 41% of employees concerned that poor eating habits negatively impact their health and wellness at work.

Additionally, the absence of a proactive approach contributes to a toxic work environment, leading to neglected work-life balance and increased burnout.

Organizations must adopt more proactive strategies to mitigate the current negative impact on employee fitness and well-being.

Prioritizing a Holistic Approach to Wellness

Shifting to a proactive wellness approach is crucial in today's work environment, characterized by extended screen time and minimal physical activity.

Carver Coleman, a leading data scientist, likens moving from a sedentary lifestyle to a workout regimen to the difference between “smoking and not smoking.”

His research, published in The British Journal of Sports Medicine, establishes a clear link between exercise and longevity.

The report highlights that 52% of employees are deeply worried about the adverse effects of sedentary lifestyles on their health and wellness.

It also notes that 53% actively seek holistic wellness programs that include fitness center access to integrate more physical activity into their routines.

However, businesses often prioritize mental health support, resulting in only 23% of employees having access to fitness centers, despite the majority demanding it.

Focusing solely on mental health while neglecting physical health is shortsighted. The World Health Organization connects chronic inactivity to increased stress and burnout, indicating that physical and mental health are interconnected.

This underscores the need to go beyond mental health support by offering gym memberships, nutrition guidance, and comprehensive fitness resources.

To effectively address modern work culture challenges, companies must adopt a holistic wellness approach.

Strategies Used by Leading Organizations to Bridge the Wellness Gap

In today’s competitive talent market, prioritizing employee well-being is a strategic necessity rather than an option.

An overwhelming 91% of respondents in the report stated that robust fitness and wellness programs boost employee loyalty.

To design benefits that truly resonate with their workforce and yield fitness ROI, organizations can adopt the following principles:

1. Embrace Holistic Wellness

Provide fitness benefits that address all aspects of well-being—physical, mental, and financial—ensuring employees receive support in every area of their health and wellness.

Dr. Rima Ghose Chowdhury, EVP & CHRO, Datamatics, emphasizes, "At Datamatics, we prioritize physical well-being as part of our holistic approach to wellness."

2. Offer Personalization

Shweta Mohanty, Head HR, SAP, notes, “Through personalized approaches, we address individual needs based on life stage, ensuring our offerings align with what employees require.”

Currently, 29% of employees do not participate in wellness programs due to a lack of customization.

This highlights the reality that each person's wellness journey is unique and personal, requiring acknowledgment and support for diverse challenges, experiences, and requirements.

3. Go Digital

With employees increasingly seeking digital solutions to pursue their fitness goals, businesses should consider partnering with a tech-first fitness provider or offering a fitness app to give employees 24/7 access to fitness resources.

Chandini Kamal from HCLTech shares, “Our wellness program promotes personalized fitness with expert guidance, diverse activities, and convenient access through an app and physical sessions.

Employees choose activities based on their preferences, empowering them to control their well-being at their own pace.”

4. Get Proactive

From routine doctor consultations to AI-led daily wellness management, keeping fitness top of mind at work is crucial.

Dr. Ashish Mishra, Chief Wellness Officer, Unilever, states, "Unilever believes that by investing in proactive fitness and well-being initiatives, they can empower employees to make healthier choices, cut healthcare costs, and enhance overall quality of life."

5. Make Fitness Fun

Engage employees in their fitness journeys by organizing team challenges and fitness events to foster camaraderie, making wellness a fun and social experience.

Sumit Taneja of Wipro says, "Creating the right perception is key, followed by offering variety and using different channels to ensure engagement.”

It’s essential that these programs are sustained over time to achieve long-lasting benefits.

Final Reflections

In a diverse country like India, where a multigenerational workforce operates, employee needs inevitably vary. A proactive and holistic approach—encompassing physical health support—effectively addresses these varying needs.

Incorporating accessibility, flexibility, and digital solutions ensures fitness and wellness programs engage every individual.

This comprehensive strategy cultivates a healthier workplace, driving higher engagement, productivity, and loyalty while mitigating rising healthcare costs.

Source: economictimes

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.