Remote work is not a temporary fad. More employees work partially or entirely from home. According to a survey by i4cp, 62% of businesses have already increased their remote work opportunities, and an additional 17% plan to do so in the near future. 

Working from home, employees are spending less time commuting each week, creating a better work-life balance. They have more time to focus on family, hobbies, and even personal wellness. In fact, the rise of the hybrid workforce coincides with the increase in people pursuing physical activity and overall personal wellness.

 Let’s take a look at some of the recent hybrid wellness trends. 

More People Seek Fitness

After the pandemic, many people realized how important personal well-being is. They began to focus on their personal fitness, aiming for long-term health benefits like managing weight, reducing their risk of disease, strengthening bones and muscles, and improving brain health. 

Club Industry reported some statistics from the fitness industry that demonstrate the increase of people seeking fitness: 

• 11% more active memberships in 2022 than in 2021. 
• 9% increase in new member joins since 2021.
• 24% more member check-ins in 2022 than in 2021.

Those statistics aren’t projected to decrease anytime soon either, as the fitness industry is expected to grow 171% by 2028. The hybrid workforce is here to stay and so is the new found focus on overall wellness.

People Take a Hybrid Fitness Approach

How are people pursuing fitness? Previously, the pandemic forced almost everyone to exercise from home. Their workout routine may have consisted of some resistance band exercises or an exercise workout video off of their phone or streaming platform—all done from the comfort of their home.

But now, people are pivoting towards a hybrid fitness approach similar to their hybrid work environment. They still enjoy digital workout classes, but they also want the aspect of in-person workout experiences that compliment their at-home routine. 

According to Club Industry, people are approaching their hybrid needs in a series of new ways, namely:

• 75% of those who use vital fitness also attend in-person classes. 
• 75% of active adults have used live streamed workouts.
• 70% of active adults have used on-demand videos to support their exercise regimen.
• Only 15% said that digital fitness platforms have eliminated the need for gyms. 
• 29% said they like the community aspect of being a member of a health club.

Clearly, people post-pandemic are taking advantage of both the digital workout platforms and in-person gym memberships to improve their fitness. It’s not one or the other anymore; it’s both. Much like the transition to working partly from home and partly in-office, people want the best of both worlds.

Businesses' Response

With employees pursuing workout classes and prioritizing their health, employers recognize that they need to shift to meet their employee's new aspirations. If they refuse to adapt, employee retention rates could suffer, and they might have more trouble acquiring talent. Instead, employers should support their employees as they pursue personal fitness. 

How are businesses helping the new fitness-oriented, hybrid workforce? They are adjusting their employee benefits package. 

Most benefit packages that businesses offer include traditional benefits like paid time off, life insurance, and insurance for various health risks. However, more employers have begun adding benefits related to fitness and health behaviors. As reported by Human Resource Executive, 46% of businesses are working to increase their investments in health and wellness benefits. However, less than ⅓ of those businesses haven’t adjusted their benefits packages yet, so there is still a lot of opportunity for change. 

If employers are successful in instituting this change, their workforce could be happier and healthier. Employees would be able to pursue their desired fitness level through company-supported fitness classes and programs. Employers who create a wellness program could foster more employee loyalty and increase their businesses’ retention rates as well. Everyone benefits from well-implemented wellness programs. 

Your Response with Peerfit

Peerfit allows your employees to choose between in-person fitness classes or at home workouts. They can have the hybrid workout experience they desire while improving their fitness level. 

With Peerfit, you can provide flexible fitness options designed for corporate wellness. Your employees will have access to our entire network of gyms and studios across the country. They can choose from a variety of cardio workouts, group fitness classes, digital workout classes and more. Also, you can customize the wellness benefits from Peerfit, making them fit your employee’s needs in their specific hybrid work environment. 

Peerfit has also partnered with FitOn, so your employees have access to the number one digital fitness app. With FitOn’s social tools, they still get the benefits of accountability while experiencing the freedom of working out in their living room! Aside from fitness classes, FitOn offers several courses on a variety of common health topics, so your employees can learn how to better manage their diabetes, pain, hypertension, and burnout, to name a few. 

The times are changing, and you should change with them. Let Peerfit provide the wellness benefits your employees need to live a happy and healthy hybrid lifestyle.