Team spirit low at work? Try a cold plunge (no, really)

This article was produced in partnership with RCVRI Martin Place.

In the middle of a hectic period for a national Mexican restaurant chain, groups of employees started taking ice cold plunges at a wellness and recovery studio in Sydney’s CBD.

The result? Calmer shoulders, clearer heads and a bracing sense that their employer was serious about how they felt at work, not just how much they delivered.

Sissel Bergman, national partnerships & events manager previously chief of staff at Zambrero until November, decided that even though staff weren’t reporting burnout and productivity was fine, “waiting for problems to appear isn’t a wellness strategy” and took a leap into the deep end. The firm partnered with RCVRI Martin Place, a recovery-focused studio offering saunas, cold plunges, hyperbaric oxygen and compression therapy, delivered in accessible, team-based sessions.

"We just knew the benefits of recovery, and we thought we need to get our team there and have them experience it," she told HRD Australia recently.

Zambrero’s experience offers HR leaders a concrete blueprint for moving beyond one-off perks and Christmas parties to recovery-led programmes that support real physiological and psychological reset, strengthen culture through shared experiences, and give employees something they will actually use in an AI-accelerated, relentlessly demanding world.

Why RCVRI works

Co-Founder and CEO, Steve Hoiles stated, “The science behind recovery-based wellness is exactly why these methods are resonating so strongly within corporate environments,” Hoiles said. “Our approach at RCVRI is grounded in evidence-based modalities that support both physical performance and mental resilience: two things professionals rely on every single day.”

Hoiles explained that each modality delivers a distinct physiological benefit.

“The sauna is one of the most powerful tools we have for cardiovascular health,” he said. “It supports heart function, aids in detoxification, and significantly reduces stress levels. When people use it consistently, they also develop heat tolerance.”

The cold plunge, Hoiles noted, delivers a complementary but very different set of outcomes.

“Cold exposure triggers a natural dopamine response similar to what you’d get after a great workout,” he said.

For corporate employees with demanding roles, knowing they can endure three minutes of ice-cold water translates into confidence that they can handle stressful meetings or tight deadlines. The physical challenge builds mental fortitude that carries into the workday.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy and compression therapy round out the offerings, providing options for employees who prefer not to change into swimwear around colleagues. The dry room houses Normatec compression equipment and hyperbaric chambers where people can work on laptops while experiencing wellness benefits.

Bergman herself has used the space for working sessions. "I've spent many afternoons there with my laptop, using the compression boots while getting work done."

Building culture through shared experience

Zambrero structured its RCVRI partnership around team sessions rather than individual access alone. Groups of employees visit together during lunch breaks or after work, using the private suite areas when they want dedicated space.

"We've done a few team excursions where, as a team, we've gone and used the sauna and ice baths," Bergman said. "It gets everyone out of the office and connecting in a way that you wouldn't normally do at lunch or sitting around the office."

The format creates unusual conditions for genuine connection. Phones stay away. Work conversation fades. People discuss life instead.

"You just connect on a different level, which in terms of culture and uniting our teams has made an incredible impact," Bergman said. "Crossing that barrier together, people might feel nervous about going into a sauna or ice bath, but doing it together they go, this is amazing, I want to come again by myself next time."

Of course, boosting wellness among employees not only benefits Mexican restaurants. Working life is changing at a much faster pace currently due to AI – workers across the board are feeling more stress as a result. In Australia, more than half of workers say that the use of AI has increased their workload.  A global survey by EY released last month also found 64% of employees report a perceived increase in workloads over the last year as workers struggle to deploy AI in effective ways.

It seems the extra time won through using AI for routine work is allocated to new tasks almost immediately, creating an almost whiplash effect. Because people can get through to-do lists at pace with AI, management demands faster results, quicker conversions and KPI achievement levels that unassisted humans would find impossible.

Against this backdrop, Zambrero looked beyond traditional wellness offerings. The company wanted something employees would actually use, not just another tick-box benefit.

"I think anyone who works hard just knows that it can be tough," Bergman said. "We wanted to show that we look after our employees and make sure that they feel looked after, that it's not just about working hard, it's also about taking time to recover in the best way."

No more afternoon slump

The difference was noticeable to Bergman. After lunchtime sessions, employees returned to the office with noticeably different energy.

"People came back with a lot more mental clarity and are really re-energised," Bergman said. "There's a lot less stress, but people feel a lot more relaxed, and it puts everyone in a really good mindset."

The team reported feeling cared for by the company, knowing their employer invested in their recovery beyond standard benefits. Bergman said that the current busy period that would normally produce noticeable stress and lower morale at work was relatively smooth sailing due to the wellness initiative.

"The mood of our team at the moment has been really positive, and despite busy times, it's still been a really positive mood throughout the culture…. I think it just puts everyone in a really good mindset and makes them sort of more efficient and feel like they can be more productive throughout the rest of their day,” she said.

“[People] don't have that kind of afternoon slump.”

A blueprint for HR leaders

For HR professionals evaluating 2026 wellness strategies, Bergman's advice centres on thinking beyond quick fixes.

"I would suggest thinking of employees at work but also acknowledging the stresses of life outside of work, and how we can better look after our employees," Bergman said. "We need to be a bit more creative than just getting donuts sent to the office."

RCVRI-based wellness programmes offer something employees can use repeatedly, building habits that support sustained wellbeing rather than providing one-off treats.

"It's about taking the time to appreciate that connection that comes from having your employees do something out of the office that's focused on recovery," Bergman said. "Not just from a productivity level and working more, but the impact this can have on organisations is huge."

Hoiles said that when he opened the first RCVRI location in Coogee six years ago, the vision was simple: “elite athletes had access to world-class recovery facilities, but everyday people, people navigating demanding jobs, long days, and family responsibilities, did not. I understood firsthand how powerful recovery could be in preventing burnout and improving performance, and it became clear that the same tools should exist for the corporate workforce.”

Not just athletes, but professionals, leaders, and parents – in fact, anyone who needed to operate at a high level both at work and at home could benefit.

“That gap is exactly why we built RCVRI and why we brought it into the heart of Sydney CBD,” said Hoiles.

Today, corporate teams use the studios for everything from structured performance recovery to mental reset sessions during their lunch break. Some employees prefer the hot–cold contrast therapy that rapidly resets the nervous system. Others gravitate toward our dry-room modalities where they can take a call or bring their laptop, recharge, and continue working in a calm environment.

“What we’ve learned is that different people regulate differently and meaningful corporate wellness needs to reflect that,” he said,

And when companies want to bring their teams together in a way that actually has an impact, the studio becomes more than just a wellbeing space. It creates connections. It feels like a retreat from the city the moment you walk through the doors.

The CBD advantage

Location matters for corporate wellness programmes. RCVRI Martin Place sits within walking distance of numerous Sydney offices, removing the friction that kills adoption of off-site benefits. Employees can visit during lunch breaks without losing significant work time.

“After six years, we’ve built a serious technical foundation behind the scenes,” he said. “There’s a science to keeping saunas, ice baths, and dry-room modalities running safely and consistently, and our team has refined those processes to a standard that corporates can trust.”

RCVRI’s protocols include strict cleaning cycles, state of the art equipment, advanced filtration systems, and temperature monitoring designed to meet both health and performance standards.

Bergman emphasised the environment itself as part of the appeal. "Walking into RCVRI feels like you're escaping the craziness of the city and being in the office. It's a really calming space, beautifully set up, really clean. It feels like you're in this little oasis."

To learn more about RCVRI Martin Place. Please see here