Fitness centers are discovering ways to deliver programming remotely, from hosting live workouts online to using video conferencing tools, and streaming live workouts right on employees' phones. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The current state of "working from home" is far from "normal." Many employees are doing it for the first time. Some are doing it while doubling as elementary school teachers. And all of us are doing it with the COVID-19 pandemic weighing heavily on our minds. This is a stressful situation for everyone, especially when many of us don't have an end date for when we'll all go back to work. And this stress and anxiety is already taking its toll on employee well-being.
However, innovative and responsive employers are already stepping up by adapting and making adjustments when it comes to meeting the needs of employees where they are now… at home. The need for support and well-being has never been greater, and catering to those needs requires creativity and a willingness to utilize technology in new ways. Connection doesn't happen without intention right now and connection is key to productivity and overall well-being. Even if that connection looks a bit different for the near future.
Employers are leveraging technology like never before to provide much-needed support to employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fitness center program managers and instructors are discovering ways to deliver programming remotely, from hosting live workouts online to using video conferencing tools, and streaming live workouts right on employees' phones.
|Using Webex for well-being
At Eaton Corp. in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, program manager Stephanie Seth Loy said she's doing everything over Webex. "I put together a virtual group class schedule that was communicated to employees via a weekly newsletter. All of the classes are on a public Outlook calendar and includes Webex information to eliminate barriers to participation," said Stephanie. "I wanted to make it as easy as possible for employees to join in, knowing a majority are working from home with their Outlook calendar open all day."
Classes include everything from a mid-morning stretch break to bodyweight toning, lunch hour cardio classes, a mid-afternoon guided meditation and evening boot camp or yoga flow.
"The participation has been tremendous so far and I'm averaging double the number of participants per class as I usually do when in the office," she said.
|Virtual coffee breaks for connection
While physical activity is important, so is the opportunity to socialize and take a mental break. With everyone working from home, connection doesn't happen on its own. Danielle McMullen, program manager for Hewlett Packard Enterprise in Andover, Massachusetts, is being intentional about the opportunity for breaks by connecting more than 300 employees and restoring a bit of normalcy in work and life.
"Each week features an uplifting topic to spark conversation and sharing. My goal is to keep it light and fun, and allow it to unfold organically," says Danielle. "I am also working on a virtual Happy Hour, and an after-work social that would include trivia, Karaoke, fitness and Seinfeld dancing."
These activities are about ways to interact and connect when the traditional options aren't available. So far, Danielle has seen good results and plans to continue these virtual coffee breaks for the foreseeable future.
Microsoft Teams FTW!
Sharon Daley, program manager at SAP America in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, saw the value of Microsoft Teams early on in this pandemic. She created the "Work from Home Warriors" team and within 48 hours, 204 employees signed up to join and 25 percent of them had already taken a live fitness class.
Sharon chose Microsoft Teams rather than email because she could stream the classes using her camera phone so employees could see her. Employees have been putting the app on their devices, too, so Sharon can watch them and help with their form for yoga, circuit training or stretches. She teaches two classes a day and a stretch break. Daley plans to add a step class as well.
"It's so nice to be able to see their faces," Sharon says. "They are so happy to be moving and seeing each other."
These are just a few of the companies that are adapting and trying new things with technology. They are meeting employees where they are at, with flexibility and a focus on physical and mental well-being during this time of uncertainty. Providing creative ways for employees to meaningfully connect is what they need. It's also about making the most of a tough situation and finding moments of much-needed fun in unexpected places.
Ann Wyatt is vice president, program management & engagement at HealthFitness, where she oversees a national account management team. Her role includes strategy development and driving engagement for new and existing health management and corporate fitness programs, employee recruiting and training, program quality assurance and operations management.
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