Workplace wellness programs have quickly become a staple in many companies. A lot of businesses, both big and small, have jumped on the bandwagon and with good reason.
Wellness programs are a great way to keep your employees healthy and happy, not to mention attract new talent and improve employee retention. But before you run out and buy Fitbits for your entire staff, take a minute to get familiar with the different types of wellness. Wellness encompasses much more than physical fitness alone. Below is a list of ideas that you can pick and choose from to plan a well-rounded wellness program for your office.
Physical
- Healthy recipe swap
Invite all employees to contribute one recipe to a healthy eating office cookbook. - Fitness challenges
Challenge employees to take the stairs instead of the elevator, drink more water throughout the day, or take walks during their break. Appeal to their competitive side, whether they’re competing with others in the office or just trying to beat their own personal best. - Offer smoking cessation programs
If your company is able to, you can even go the extra mile and financially incentivize smokers to quit the habit. - Flu shots
You can either offer on-site flu shots to your employees or simply post a list of nearby locations where they can go.
Mental
- Office yoga
Invite a yoga instructor to your office to help employees relax and relieve stress. - Encourage breaks
Make it part of your office schedule to regularly take breaks to avoid burnout. - Trivia games
Test people’s knowledge by posting a trivia question of the day or week on a bulletin board in the office. - Start a community library
Ask employees to lend or donate books to the community library, and create a simple sign-up sheet so people can check books in and out.
Financial
- Financial education workshops or classes
Focus on a specific topic each class, like Investing, Managing Debt, or HSA/FSA. - Privacy/security/fraud advice
Advise your employees on how to prevent identity theft and what to do if their information gets compromised. - Weekly tips
Send out weekly tips to employees to make financial education a regular part of their routines at work. - Retirement plans
Educate your employees about retirement planning, whether the company offers one or not.
Occupational
- Height adjustable standing desks
Invest in height adjustable desks so employees can easily switch back and forth between sitting and standing while they work. - Ergonomic evaluations
Offer free ergonomic assessments for your employees so they can optimize their work station for better productivity. - Flexible work hours
Allow your employees some flexibility to their work schedule so they can better manage their personal and professional lives. - Remote work days
Giving employees the option of working from home one day a week lessens their commute and gives them more time to spend with their family.
Social
- Random acts of kindness
Encourage random acts of kindness in the office. Create “compliment cards” that people can fill out and give to each other. - Themed clothing days
Pick one day a month for a themed clothing day at work, whether it’s “Flannel Shirt Friday” or “Crazy Hat Day,” it gets people talking and interacting. - Get involved with a charity
Any of the “drives” – clothing drive, shoe drive, canned food drive, blood drive. Take your pick! - Decorating for holidays
Invite employees to decorate their work space for different holidays throughout the year. People end up mingling and visiting each other to see how they decorated. Plus it makes the office look festive!
