Corneagen

CorneaGen Keeps Wellness Simple: From Fitness-Only to Inclusive Well‑Being with YuMuuv

Company: CorneaGen
Industry: Biotech / Healthcare (Corneal Tissue & Transplant Support)
Employees: ~240
Locations: 9 across the U.S.; distributes corneal tissue to 50+ countries
Interviewee: Pam Gaynor, Associate Human Resources Generalist
Program Length: 6 weeks (latest cycle)
Challenge Types: Fitness, Wellness, Company‑wide (“fun” theme weeks)

“From a back‑office perspective, it was extremely easy  to set up the multiple challenges we offered. We were ready to go really quickly—and employees found it simple to set up an account and use the platform”
— Pam Gaynor, CorneaGen

Background & Goals

CorneaGen runs an annual summer wellness program that historically focused on fitness. When its previous vendor sunset the product, the HR team evaluated alternatives and chose YuMuuv for its clarity, user‑friendliness, and flexibility. The objective for the new season was twofold:

  1. Maintain high participation in the core summer challenge.
  2. Broaden inclusion beyond competitive exercisers by crediting everyday well‑being behaviors.

Why YuMuuv

  • Speed to Launch: Admin setup was fast and intuitive; no specialized training required.
  • Simple for Every Tech Level: Employees could participate via mobile app or web—no friction for those without a wearable or who prefer desktop.
  • Flexible Challenge Types: Support for steps or minutes, plus well‑being actions (e.g., yoga, mindful breathing, reading, getting fresh air).
  • Parallel Challenges: Ability to run multiple challenges at once (fitness + wellness + company‑wide).
  • Fair, All‑Inclusive Pricing: “It wasn’t one price per challenge—it was all‑inclusive, which we appreciated.”

Program Design

Year 1 with YuMuuv transitioned the company from pure fitness to a broader well‑being mix. Learning from feedback, Year 2 introduced:

  • Team Play: Responding to employee requests, CorneaGen enabled teams, boosting camaraderie and friendly motivation.
  • Direct Activity Logging (no converters): Earlier, employees used a minutes‑to‑steps converter for non‑step activities. Feedback showed this extra step reduced excitement, so the team removed conversions and logged activities directly in categories that made sense.
  • Three Streams, One Program:
    • Fitness Challenge (steps and/or active minutes)
    • Wellness Challenge (yoga, mindful breathing, reading, time outside, etc.)
    • Company‑Wide “Fun” Theme (e.g., Hydration one year, Sleep the next)

“We saw more employees participate because we offered a wider range of activities—not just running or high‑mileage competition.”

Participation, Motivation & Rewards

  • Six Weeks of programming with weekly updates kept momentum high.
  • Gift Card Rewards aligned to each stream (e.g., Dick’s Sporting Goods for fitness, self‑care options for wellness, themed cards for sleep/hydration weeks).
  • Win‑Once Per Season Rule: To spread recognition, weekly winners couldn’t win twice, encouraging broader participation throughout.

Admin Experience & Reporting

  • Reports & Stats: HR used YuMuuv’s reporting to track progress and share weekly communications (leveraging YuMuuv templates, customized with CorneaGen imagery and tone).
  • Leaderboard Depth: Top‑10 views were helpful; for spotlighting more employees, Pam suggested adding a Top‑20 option.
  • Stats Variety: Fun statistics (e.g., ‘laps around the world’, ‘Big Macs burned’) were engaging the first season; Pam recommended adding fresh stat variations to keep weekly updates novel and aligned with the specific challenge themes.

Results & Impact

  • Higher inclusivity by recognizing diverse wellness behaviors, not just steps or mileage.
  • Sustained engagement across six weeks through streamlined logging and team options.
  • Faster setup and fewer support questions thanks to a clean, uncluttered user experience.
  • Positive employee feedback on ease of use, clarity, and the option to participate without wearables.

“Some competing platforms had lots of extra bells and whistles, but YuMuuv was clear and uncluttered—easy for non‑tech‑savvy employees and power users alike.”

Lessons Learned

  1. Remove Friction: Eliminating the minutes‑to‑steps converter improved satisfaction and participation.
  2. Offer Teams Early: Team structures amplify social motivation and are frequently requested.
  3. Diversify Challenges: Combining Fitness + Wellness + Fun kept the program accessible and fresh and inclusive. 
  4. Evolve Storytelling: Rotating or thematic stat callouts can keep weekly updates compelling.

What’s Next for CorneaGen

  • Continue the fitness and wellness dual‑track model.
  • Keep company‑wide theme weeks as lighter, culture‑building elements.
  • Explore expanded reporting views (e.g., Top‑20 highlights) and new stat narratives in end‑of‑week comms.

Customer Voice

“Overall, we were really happy. Customer support was responsive, setup was quick, and employees could join via phone or computer with no confusion. YuMuuv made wellness simple—for HR and for our people.”

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