By Mika Leah, CEO and Founder of Goomi Group
Let’s be honest, corporate gym membership alternatives are becoming essential for any modern corporate fitness program comparison. Traditional memberships just aren’t working. Up to 67% of gym memberships go completely unused. For hybrid or remote teams, it’s even worse. Companies throw money at these programs hoping employees will magically start going to the gym, but that’s not how it works.
The truth is, HR leaders are tired of paying for low-utilization employee benefits. They’re actively searching for corporate gym membership alternatives because they want wellness that people will actually participate in. And they want to calculate wellness program ROI with real numbers, not just good intentions.
Why Traditional Memberships Fall Short
A gym membership is only helpful if people go. But today’s workforce juggles hybrid schedules, school drop-offs, caregiving, meetings, deadlines, and the universal favorite: traffic. Even the most motivated employee may not have the time or mental energy to get to a gym after work. (Your commute isn’t a warm-up.)
Meanwhile:
- Many companies are paying for low-utilization employee benefits
- There’s often little to no participation data
- Employees outside HQ feel left out as hybrid work becomes increasingly common
- Budgets get squeezed
So, the real barrier isn’t the gym, it’s accessibility. And although internal wellness apps offer convenience, they still rely on employees to self-motivate without community reinforcement.
That’s why Goomi blends live virtual group fitness for employees with on-demand content, meeting employees where they are and giving them the level of guidance that keeps them engaged.
A More Modern, Flexible, and Measurable Approach
Live virtual group fitness for employees and on-site sessions shift wellness from “something employees could do” to “something they actually will do.” When employees can join from home, the office, or while traveling, participation rises. Real instructors create connection and accountability, and the classes feel more like a shared experience than another item on a to-do list.
This is why companies are turning to live virtual group fitness for employees. They’re scalable, accessible, cost-conscious, and built for the realities of how people work today. Plus, they’re easy to track, making measurable employee fitness program ROI possible.
Programs like these also make great virtual team building fitness activities, which help hybrid team members feel more connected without forcing everyone into an awkward trust fall. Explore how Goomi’s hybrid class options bring teams together across locations.
High Engagement vs. Low Engagement: What Actually Matters
A high-engagement and low-engagement corporate wellness program costs differ more than people realize.
Low-engagement programs ask employees to figure things out on their own. They don’t offer much guidance, and they don’t create shared accountability.
High-engagement programs:
- Offer real-time classes with instructors
- Provide reminders and multiple time slots
- Encourage community participation
- Support multiple fitness levels and health needs
- Communicate consistently
At Goomi Group, this setup is intentional. We build programs that make it easy for employees to show up and even easier for HR teams to track participation and success.
How HR Can Increase Participation
You can build the best cost-effective employee well-being initiatives in the world, but if no one joins, it stays a great idea on paper. (Great ideas don’t improve healthcare claims or retention rates.) Here are a few simple ways HR teams can increase engagement:
Promote classes regularly
Weekly reminders, calendar invites, and internal highlights help employees remember what’s available.
Offer variety
Not everyone wants cardio at 8 a.m. Mix in strength, stretching, mobility, meditation, cooking demos, and educational sessions.
Make it social
Encourage teams to join together. Department challenge, anyone?
Lead by example
When leaders show up, employees follow.
Gather feedback
Ask what employees actually want. Then tailor the program based on real input.
These steps help translate interest into participation and participation into habit.
A Real-World Example
One of our clients, a mid-size advertising agency with a hybrid team, had been subsidizing gym memberships for years. Only about 5 percent of employees used them. They needed a change.
After switching to Goomi’s virtual and on-site program, which included live virtual group fitness for employees, nutrition workshops, and interactive cooking demos:
- Average class attendance hit 62 percent within the first month
- Employees reported feeling more connected
- Team leads noticed improved morale
- The CFO appreciated that total costs dropped while engagement rose
Their experience demonstrates what research supports: when accessibility barriers are removed, participation skyrockets. This approach has a positive impact on overall job satisfaction, and supports employee recruitment and retention, something that is especially important when the cost of employee turnover can reach one to two times an employee’s annual salary.
The Wellness–Healthcare Connection
Better engagement leads to healthier habits over time. And healthier habits support stronger outcomes, fewer avoidable claims, and reduced absenteeism. Research suggests that for every dollar companies invest in employee wellness initiatives, they can see approximately $6 in reduced healthcare costs with wellness. It’s one of the most reliable ways to reduce healthcare costs while increasing the financial benefits of employee retention.
Additional research shows that 91% of HR leaders report that the corporate wellness program cost of healthcare benefits decreased as a result of their wellness program, with improvements attributed to reduced sick days, lower healthcare and recruiting costs, as well as higher retention rates and increased productivity.
Maximizing Your Wellness Spend with Goomi
If your company is reevaluating gym stipends, apps, or your current fitness reimbursement benefit, you’re not alone. Leaders are rethinking their corporate wellness program cost and opting for cost-effective employee well-being initiatives that actually reach people.
Goomi Group is built for this moment. Our blend of live virtual group fitness for employees, on-site sessions, and supportive on-demand content helps teams build healthier habits in practical, inclusive ways, giving HR the data they need to make smart decisions. Learn more about how wellness dollars work with Goomi.
Wellness only works when employees participate. Let’s build something they’ll love showing up for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Wellness Programs & ROI
Companies often have questions about implementing cost-effective employee well-being initiatives and measuring their effectiveness. Here are answers to the most common questions about corporate wellness program cost, participation, and calculate wellness program ROI.
What percentage of corporate gym memberships go unused?
Up to 67% of gym memberships go completely unused, meaning many people pay for a membership but don’t show up. The percentage climbs significantly higher for hybrid or remote teams where commute barriers and scheduling conflicts prevent access. This high non-utilization rate is why many companies are now exploring corporate gym membership alternatives that don’t rely on employees traveling to a physical location.
How much does it cost companies when an employee leaves?
According to Gallup, the cost of employee turnover can reach one-half to two times an employee’s annual salary. This includes direct costs like recruitment and training, plus indirect costs like lost productivity and institutional knowledge. This is why employee recruitment and retention initiatives—including wellness programs—directly impact the bottom line. A program that prevents just 2-3 turnovers ends up paying for itself many times over.
What’s the difference between live virtual fitness and traditional gym memberships?
Traditional gym memberships ask employees to travel, find time, and motivate themselves to go to a facility. Live virtual group fitness for employees removes travel barriers by offering real instructors leading scheduled classes from any location—home, office, or while traveling. This accessibility drives dramatically higher participation. Our clients have seen cases where switching from gym subsidies to live virtual + on-site fitness increased attendance from 15% to 62% in a single month. The key is that live virtual options remove the friction points that prevent participation.
How can we measure wellness program ROI?
To calculate wellness program ROI, track: (1) class attendance rates and trend, (2) employee retention improvements (compare turnover before/after), (3) healthcare cost changes and claim patterns, (4) absenteeism rates, and (5) employee engagement survey scores. Research shows that 95% of companies measuring the ROI of corporate wellness programs see positive returns, with measurable employee fitness program ROI achieved through live virtual group fitness for employees, making real-time data tracking straightforward—you can see exactly who participated, when, and for how long. Compare these metrics to program costs to determine measurable employee fitness program ROI. The financial benefits of employee retention alone often justify the entire wellness budget.
Do remote and hybrid employees benefit from virtual fitness programs?
Absolutely. Remote and hybrid teams show the highest participation and engagement rates with virtual fitness because it eliminates commute barriers. As hybrid work continues to grow across industries, employees can join from their home office without traveling, making it realistic to participate during or around work. This is why wellness programs for remote employees work best when they’re virtual-first. Our clients have seen attendance jump from 15% to 62% specifically because the hybrid workforce could finally participate without logistical challenges.
What makes a corporate wellness program “high-engagement”?
High-engagement corporate wellness program designs include: real-time classes with instructors (not just app-based), consistent communication and reminders, multiple class times to fit different schedules, community elements (team challenges, group participation), and easy participation from any location. They also provide data tracking so HR can see what’s working. The difference between high and low engagement typically comes down to whether the program removes barriers to participation or simply offers an option employees have to pursue on their own.
About the Author: Mika Leah is the Founder and CEO of Goomi Group, where she combines her passion for wellness with a talent for making healthy living accessible and fun. When she’s not helping companies transform their wellness programs, you might find her practicing what she preaches – usually with a green smoothie in one hand and a spreadsheet of ROI calculations in the other.