Many organizations continue to work in remote and hybrid models as the pandemic winds down, and studies have shown that many employees, when given the option to return to work, would actually prefer to continue working remotely. Yet despite their cozy sweatpants and reduced commute times, employees are still faced with unique challenges such as back-to-back zoom meetings, a largely sedentary workday, and some degree of social isolation from coworkers. That’s why remote and hybrid work models require any entirely new way of thinking about employee wellbeing.

Through all the unforeseen obstacles this pandemic has brought, one particular challenge has been the dramatic increase in screen time for our children. That’s why Grokker is thrilled to announce the release of our new program: Pandemic Parenting in a Digital World, with Dr. Elizabeth Milovidov. Even prior to the pandemic, our children were growing up in an increasingly digital world. Now, with even more of their lives being thrust online, parents are often worried about how this affects them, and how they too can navigate the world of digital parenting.

If one thing is clear from this past year, it’s that remote and hybrid working are here to stay. According to Enterprise Technology Research, the percentage of global workers permanently working from home is expected to double in 2021 as productivity has increased during the coronavirus pandemic. Our recent webinar, What a Difference a Year Makes: Employee Wellbeing and the Remote Workforce, explored the wellbeing challenges and opportunities that come with managing employees who spend at least some of their work time at home. 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (MOHG) is the award-winning owner and operator of some of the world’s most luxurious hotels and resorts. With over 12,000 employees worldwide, MOHG has always prioritized colleague and guest wellbeing, which is why they’ve been providing Grokker’s wellbeing solution to their workforce since 2019. 

As employees continue to balance their personal lives with the daily demands of work, employee mental health issues continue to rise. Grokker is committed to helping our members manage stress with fresh ideas and time-tested methods that lead to more balance, more resilience, and more tranquility in their everyday lives. This week, we are thrilled to announce the release of our brand new program, Beyond Burnout, with one of Grokker’s most trusted mind experts: Dr. Catherine Wikholm! This 10-day program is specially designed with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques that help employees build the skills they need to identify and overcome burnout. 

A recent survey led by Great Places to Work® revealed surprising results: employees are just as productive, if not more productive, while working from home rather than in the office. Over the span of two years, from the year 2019 to 2020, Great Places to Work® surveyed over 800,000 employees from 715 companies to measure employee productivity. They examined the degree to which employees are “willing to give extra to get the job done,” and “quickly adapt to changes needed for their company’s success,” and compared the results over a six month period from March to August of 2019 and 2020.

As evidenced by a recent employer-employee survey from Aetna International, employees are prioritizing their mental and physical well being more than ever before. With responses from 4,000 employees and 1,000 employers, 66% of employer respondents feel that Covid-19 has increased employee expectations in regards to health and wellness benefits offered by employers — and 63% say there is now a greater expectation for them to take responsibility for employee health beyond the workplace. In other words, employees expect more.

Grokker is always looking for new, exciting ways to delight and inspire our members to fit more movement and balance into their lives — and have fun doing it. That’s why we are thrilled to announce the release of our brand new program, 21-Day Cardio Sculpt, with one of Grokker’s most popular fitness experts, Sarah Kusch! This 3-week, full body program features dynamic cardio flows fit for anyone who wants to improve their fitness levels and tone their bodies in a fun, low-impact way.