9 employee perks that go beyond the gym membership

The classic gym membership perk’s best days are behind it. While it still has value, today’s employees are looking for well-being support that is flexible, personal, and relevant to how they live and work. To truly support your team, big or small, you need perks that meet people where they are: hybrid work, high stress, limited time, and diverse needs. Below are nine inclusive, moder, and engagement-forward perks that go beyond the traditional gym membership.

1. On-demand well-being content for every fitness level

Rather than sending employees to one physical gym, on-demand content gives them access to a full library of different types of movement and different intensity levels they can use anytime, anywhere. From yoga classes to strength and mobility sessions, having a wide range of movement enables every employee to find something that fits their needs.

Why it works

Employees can move in ways that feel safe and accessible without needing to commute, schedule classes, or feel self-conscious.

With every MoveZenGo subscription, participants have access to the full Les Mills content library containing 250 workout, yoga, and meditation videos.

2. Micro well-being breaks built into the workday

Help your employees reset in under 10 minutes, instead of relying on them to carve out an hour (plus commute!) for a session at the gym. Easy ways to implement micro-breaks include hydration reminders, 5-minute stretch breaks, posture resets, and breathwork prompts.

Why it works

Micro-breaks are an effective tool to support the daily stresses employees face. Small, low-effort habits keep engagement high and stress low.

3. Seasonal well-being challenges

Instead of offering a static membership, consider providing your employees with fun, seasonal challenges that keep well-being fresh and exciting. A themed event like a spring reset week or summer step challenge reinforces well-being habits throughout the year.

Why it works

Employees stay motivated and engaged when your well-being initiative has rhythm and variety.

With MoveZenGo, you can choose from our wide range of ready-to-go challenges and give them a seasonal name or twist.

4. Self-service fitness and well-being challenges

Challenges give employees a reason to stay active and a community to do it with. Enabling a challenge that can be accessed from anywhere provides more flexibility than a gym membership. When employees can show up as they are, without the barrier of getting themselves to the gym, they are more likely to be motivated and engaged.

Why it works

Challenges build camaraderie and spark friendly competition, encouraging engagement across departments.

MoveZenGo offers ready-to-go challenges that you can implement for teams of 10 to 10,000 in less than 15 minutes. Additionally, with our subscriptions you can enable employees to create their own friend challenges to keep the movement going with the colleagues they have the most contact with.

5. Perks for recovery, not just activity

We know now that well-being isn’t just bout movement, it’s also about recovery. This is confirmed by the fact that recovery content is one of the fastest growing wellness categories, especially for hybrid teams. Modern companies support holistic well-being by helping them not only to move more, but also to unwind effectively.

By offering access to meditation apps, (digital) calm zones, or guided restorative flow sessions, you can give your team a truly holistic wellness initiative.

6. Wellness credits that employees can personalise

Rather than funding a gym membership, consider giving employees a voucher each month that they can redeem for whatever suits their needs in the moment. Be it a massage, yoga classes, nutrition workshops, or therapy apps, giving your employees freedom to engage in well-being on their terms is always a win.

Why it works

Employees are motivated when they have autonomy and engage more when they are in charge of their own wellbeing journey.

7. Digital detox hours

Encourage protected quiet time during the workweek where no emails, meetings, or notifications of any kind are expected. From no-meeting mornings or meeting-free days, to afternoon focus hours or a weekly digital cooldown block, give your employees the space to get their work done without constant distractions.

Why it works

Reducing notifications and noise helps employees feel calmer, clearer, and more in control of their day – boosting both well-being and productivity.

8. Purpose-driven well-being challenges

Many people are more motivated when their input feels meaningful on a larger scale. Organizing challenges that contribute to a cause—like a step challenge for charity—gives your team the feeling that they are doing something for themselves and the greater good.

Why it works

Combining movement with impact creates a shared purpose, increasing motivation and engagement across teams.

Our (custom) virtual maps give an extra umph to charity step challenges, giving participants a real-world map to how far they’ve gone to support a good cause. Check out the Walk for Water event for inspiration.

9. Virtual coffee and movement breaks

Sometimes it’s hard to incorporate well-being into the workday. Try encouraging employees to join 10- to 15-minute movement or stretch sessions during the day, paired with (optional) casual conversation. Consider include short icebreakers or team check-ins to encourage team connection.

Why it works

Combining movement with social connection helps (remote) employees feel like they are part of something bigger. It helps them feel included and energized.

The takeaway

Traditional gym memberships serve a small slice of employee well-being. Your teams want inclusivity, convenience, flexibility, and variety delivered in ways that suit their work environment. Employee-centered perks rather than a one-size-fits-all approach does more than encourage movement; they empower people to engage with their well-being in ways that fit their lives.

With MoveZenGo, organizations can bring wellness beyond the gym through our easy-to-setup challenges, Les Mills workout, yoga, and meditation content library, and leaderboard, all in one place. Taking a holistic approach to well-being is what makes it more accessible, meaningful, and motivating to everyone, no matter their location or fitness level.