Company fitness can be a fantastic way to boost your employees' health and well-being. But how do you ensure your corporate fitness program actually drives real impact? In this blog, we share the key strategies to design a killer fitness program, helping your organization reap the rewards of a vibrant, high-energy team.

1. Big and diverse selection: the perfect fit for everyone

The power of a broad sports offering

When launching corporate fitness, it is crucial that your selection is diverse enough to engage every single employee, regardless of where they are located. The reality is that a local gym chain just won't cut it for everyone—especially for remote workers or those who simply aren’t "gym people." To drive maximum engagement, it's essential to partner with multiple fitness chains and boutique studios, both near and far from your office locations. This guarantees that all employees can easily tap into your fitness benefits, no matter where they live or work.

2. A diverse offer: thinking beyond the gym

The gym isn't for everyone

Studies show that only about 17% of the Dutch population regularly visits a traditional gym. This means a massive portion of your workforce is looking for alternative ways to stay active and healthy. By offering a diverse range of sports and wellness activities, you give your talent the absolute freedom of choice—tailored to their unique lifestyle and interests.

Flexibility and freedom

Consider going beyond standard gym memberships by offering options like local sports club memberships (such as football or tennis). You can also support activities like yoga, swimming, or even hiking through a flexible wellness budget. This budget allows employees to spend their allowance on anything from hiking gear to specialized fitness classes of their choice. By letting them take charge of their own physical well-being, you'll see engagement and satisfaction skyrocket.

3. Financial incentives: fuel their drive to move

Empower your team with a net employer contribution

A highly effective way to inspire your team to get moving is by offering a net employer contribution earmarked specifically for wellness. This allowance can be used for gym memberships, athletic wear, or any activity that boosts their well-being. It’s a direct financial incentive that empowers employees to proactively invest in their health.

Offer savings via flexible benefits and the WKR

Another smart approach is offering sports and wellness perks at a tax-advantageous rate via flexible benefits (cafeteria model) or the Dutch work-related costs scheme (WKR). This allows employees to exchange a portion of their gross salary for health benefits, making healthy living highly cost-effective.

Exclusive corporate discounts

As an employer, you can also leverage collective purchasing power to secure exclusive discounts at gyms, wellness centers, or sports clubs, making active living even more accessible and affordable for your workforce.

4. Communication and engagement: make your benefits shine

Driving peak participation

To maximize your ROI, ensure your employees are fully aware of the incredible benefits available to them. Constant, engaging communication about the perks of corporate fitness, sharing success stories of colleagues, and highlighting program upgrades will keep excitement and participation rates high. 

5. Measure and optimize: securing long-term success

Continuous feedback loop

The success of your corporate fitness program hinges on continuous evaluation. Keep a close eye on participation rates and actively gather feedback. Which benefits are the most popular? Are there new sports or wellness trends you should add to your compensation package? By regularly collecting feedback and fine-tuning your offering, you keep your wellness program perfectly aligned with your employees' needs.

Well-being for everyone

Launching corporate fitness is a brilliant move to elevate employee well-being, but it requires a strategic approach. By offering a vast and varied selection, driving flexibility through dedicated wellness budgets, and providing smart financial incentives, you turn your wellness program into a lasting success. Ultimately, you are not just investing in their health; you are building a more productive, high-performing culture.

About Alleo

At Alleo, we live and breathe employee well-being. Boasting the largest wellness network in the Netherlands, we power flexible benefits for over 200,000 employees. By partnering with Alleo, you give your workforce access to an all-in-one, highly flexible wellness program that perfectly adapts to their individual needs. Together, let’s build a healthier, happier workplace.

Read here how The Next Label successfully integrated their wellness offering into their HR strategy using Alleo.