What are employee wellness programs?

Workplace wellness programs are company-sponsored activities and resources that promote employee well-being. These programs may include classes, health evaluations, coaching, policies, benefits and support systems that encourage employees to improve their physical and mental health.

Some workplace wellness programs offer a discount on health insurance premiums as an incentive for participation. Specific elements of these programs might focus on weight management, stress management, healthy eating, physical activity, disease prevention and mental wellness.

Benefits of wellness programs

Looking at the benefits of a wellness program can help you decide if it’s worth the investment. Implementing this type of program can benefit your employees personally and the organization as a whole.

Some benefits of a wellness program for your employees include:

• Employee motivation. Wellness programs can help motivate employees to make healthier choices. Providing support and care can help keep your employees motivated as they make progress toward their wellness goals.
• Financial savings. An employee wellness program can help you save on overall health insurance costs and provide ways for employees to save money on their health benefits and wellness appointments.
• Team building. Employee wellness program scan create a sense of camaraderie among your employees. This is especially true if you include wellness challenges and exercise groups that encourage participation and double as team-building exercises.
• Increased productivity. Wellness programs at work provide ways for employees to improve their lifestyles. Better health often comes with more energy, which can result in higher levels of productivity.
• Improved employee satisfaction.Having access to wellness programs in the workplace can increase job satisfaction and help improve employee retention. It can be especially important to people who value health and wellness.
• Increased attendance. Healthier, happier employees typically take fewer sick days, which can support improved performance and productivity.
• Reduced workplace stress. Many examples of employee wellness programs include exercise and mental health programs, which can improve employees’ outlooks and decrease stress levels.
• Increased interest. Offering extra perks like a corporate wellness program can attract more applicants the next time you’re hiring.

Creating your workplace wellness plan

Not sure how to turn your ideas for wellness programs at work into an effective program? Follow these tips for creating your employee wellness programs.

1. Determine your goals

List the outcomes you want, such as increased productivity, lower health insurance premiums and less absenteeism. Create concrete goals and KPIs related to those goals so you can measure your progress. Use these goals to brainstorm ideas for wellness programs at work that can help you achieve them.

2. Create a budget

Determine how much money you can put toward your employee wellness program. Initially, you might not have much to invest, but you can add to the program over time.

Keep in mind that the program can save you money through lowered insurance premiums and fewer sick days for your employees. Look at examples of employee wellness programs from other companies to get an idea of what works within your budget.

3. Decide how to run it

You can either self-manage your wellness program or hire an outside vendor to administer it. Doing it yourself can take a lot of work, but it may save money.

Consider your budget, the scope of activities and the availability of staff members to manage the program.Talking to an outside vendor can help you understand what they can offer and what it would cost.

4. Choose your activities

Evaluate your employees’ needs, preferences and health concerns when choosing the components. Get feedback from your employees to determine which types of programs they want to see.

5. Pick incentives

Better health is a natural benefit for participants, but many companies offer additional incentives, such as discounts on health insurance premiums, extra days off, gifts or points to exchange for rewards.

Your budget can help determine the incentives you offer. Consider what motivates your employees and how they might respond best to incentives to help increase participation.

6. Write an outline of the program

Create a detailed overview of the program that outlines all of the program components and incentives.

For example, let employees know that participation is optional and that their health information will be protected. Include this program information in new employee documentation and your employee handbook so it’s easily accessible.

7. Tell employees about it

Promote the program to your employees once you’re ready to implement it. Make the launch a fun workplace event. You might pass out water bottles with the company’s logo and host an inaugural fitness class to generate excitement, for example. Announce the perks of the program and the incentives employees can receive.

To keep participation high, continue communicating about the program. For example, you might highlight a specific component of the program in your weekly employee email. When you add something new to the program, make announcements so employees know about them.

8. Get feedback

The best employee wellness programs evolve over time as you figure out what works well and what your employees want. Track participation rates and conduct employee surveys to gain insight into your program.

Use that data to improve the options and maximize the benefits of a wellness program for your organization.

What are some examples of employee wellness programs?

Looking at examples of corporate wellness programs can help inspire you when choosing options for your team.

• On-site health and wellness services. Offering these services at work makes them highly accessible, which could increase participation. Mindfulness and meditation instruction, weekly yoga sessions, basic checkups like blood pressure and even once-a-month massages are options to consider.
• Office gym. If you have the office space, bring in low-cost or used gym equipment like a weight bench, yoga mats and balls and treadmills. This can help keep employees motivated to exercise during breaks and before or after lunch. An alternative is offering a free or partially paid membership to a nearby gym to encourage them to stay active.
• On-site fitness classes. If you don’t have an onsite gym, consider hosting fitness classes in the office or virtually. Try offering a fitness class once or twice a month to start. If it’s successful, consider increasing it to once or twice a week. Common fitness classes include yoga and meditation.
• Exercise clubs. A similar option is to organize exercise clubs at the office. To encourage physical activity, you might start a lunch-hour running club or sponsor a company recreational softball team. Lean heavily on your employees’ input to form clubs they want to participate in.
• Employee assistance. Wellness programs aren’t just about physical health. Incorporate employee assistance programs (EAPs) so your staff can contact counselors when they feel the need for additional support or resources for coping with stress and other mental health issues.
• Health challenges. Organize monthly wellness challenges where everyone can win. For example, you might have a step challenge with prizes for everyone who reaches a minimum number of steps. Ask staff members for monthly challenge suggestions to make the contests more enjoyable.
• Healthy snacks. Offer free healthy snacks and drinks in your break room to encourage employees to make healthier choices. You might also have vending machines stocked with healthier options. When you provide meals for employees, choose healthy catered options.
• Smoking cessation programs. Some employees who use tobacco products might want to quit but don’t have the support to do so. Offering voluntary smoking cessation programs can support those employees on their journey.

Tips for implementing an effective workplace wellness program

Fine-tuning your program can produce better results for your company and employees. The following tips can improve the effectiveness of your wellness activities:

• Give all employees an opportunity to participate.. Inclusiveness is an important part of an effective wellness program and helps you avoid potential HR issues. If you have employees who work different shifts or different days, ensure they have access to the wellness program.
• Stick with it. Once you establish a wellness program, give employees time to gain interest and begin participating. Some programs may take longer than others for employees to get on board with.
• Keep track of data. Track various data about the programs you implement. How many employees are participating regularly? How has employee health status improved? Regularly analyzing this data can let you see what’s working and what programs may need to be adjusted or scrapped altogether.
• Lead by example. Team leaders can set examples by practicing healthy habits and behaviors and ensuring employees have the resources they need to remain consistent in the program.
• Ask for feedback. Allow employees to provide their input and share their ideas for creating a health-conscious work environment and company culture .
• Shift the focus of the company culture . Create a mindful company culture focused on making health and wellness a part of the overall work environment rather than simply introducing a wellness program as an extension of company health benefits.
• Communicate about the program. Implement daily or weekly communications to answer employee questions, offer additional support and share ideas for improving health and wellness.
• Grow the program. Depending on your budget and employee interest, you might start small and add more options as it gains traction. Stay current on the best employee wellness programs and trends to find new ideas.

FAQs about employee wellness programs

How do you encourage employees to participate?

Be transparent about your motivation for the program, which should be to support your employees’ health and wellbeing. Establish a company policy about protecting their personal health information as part of the program and ensure you follow through with that protection.

Offering a wide range of program options can increase participation. Not all employees are capable of taking part in physical activities, so having programs that aren’t centered around physical movement is a good idea.

Polling your employees and regularly checking in on their enjoyment of the programs can help you get a better idea of what will boost overall participation.

How long will it take to see a return on investment for workplace wellness programs?

Even the best employee wellness programs can take several months to see a positive ROI. Adopting healthy behaviors, making them regular habits and seeing the results can take time. Planning a program that’s tailored to the unique needs of your employees can help with your ROI.

For example, if most of your employees live several miles away from the office, implementing a bike-to-work program will likely have little impact because most employees wouldn’t be able to reasonably bike to work.