This story and video are part of our Investor Insights series, a regular feature showcasing how YES! Winnipeg investors innovate in the face of challenges and work to grow Winnipeg's economy. Throughout the pandemic, all interviews were conducted socially distanced and observed provincial health orders around COVID-19.
Over the last seven years, as the popularity of online health, wellness and fitness platforms has steadily grown, Winnipeg-based company GFIT Wellness took advantage, building up a dedicated following of more than 20,000 individual customers across Canada. But, GFIT quickly realized there was a gap when it came to companies and employee wellness.
“When COVID-19 hit, we started doing a lot of research and we realized most of the corporate wellness programs were reactive. A lot of companies were offering benefits plans thinking they were wellness programs, but they’re not,” says Arturo Orellana, Chief Strategy Officer for GFIT Wellness.
The platform now offers a targeted program to companies. It can be used anywhere from the office to the cottage and is filled with thousands of healthy recipes, 500 on-demand fitness videos, guided mediation, books, podcasts and webinars focused on mental, physical and emotional wellness. At the same time, the portal can be a direct link to health professionals.
“We have 50 registered health professionals like physicians, clinical psychologists, dieticians and chiropractors and you can have confidential virtual calls with them, using your benefits. Our corporate plan is the perfect complement to a benefit plan and the best solution for any company.” Another benefit to companies is cutting down their employee healthcare costs.
“A lot of companies are paying a lot of premiums for prescription drugs for their employees and it's basically because their approach to wellness is reactive. So, what we're trying to do with our proactive approach is help their employees to take care of themselves now before they get sick of before they get injured.”
The approach benefits both companies and employees.
The most important thing is when your employees start eating healthier and start exercising, they are going to sleep better, they are going to come to work more energized. They are going to be more productive; they are going to be in a better mood so they're going to have a better relationship with their coworkers, and you know that's going to also help them to be more engaged with the company to stay for longer and is also going to help your company to attract talent.”
For more information please visit the GFIT Wellness website.