Workplace wellness ideas to keep employees happy

Employees' well-being isn’t just a personal issue. If your employees are happy and healthy, they’ll be more productive at work, more satisfied in their positions, and more likely to remain with your organization. They’re also less likely to experience injury or illness and more likely to contribute to their communities. Implementing employee wellness programs will benefit your employees, your company, and your community.¹

This blog will explore workplace wellness ideas that can help you create a positive work culture.

Benefits of promoting workplace wellness

Employee wellness programs have grown in popularity in light of research demonstrating their benefits. Once the province of large enterprises, wellness programs are now commonly offered by businesses of all sizes. Workplace wellness programs encourage healthy behaviors and reduce expenses related to healthcare and employee absenteeism.²

Programs that help your employees manage their stress, eat healthy, and get enough exercise also improve their morale and engagement. When people feel better, they’re often happier and better able to focus on their jobs. Investing in your employees’ health and wellness demonstrates your commitment to their overall well-being, which improves their perception of your business and increases their job satisfaction.²

Wellness program ideas for the workplace

Wellness activities for employees recognize the holistic nature of healthcare and help them prioritize their health without detracting from their jobs. Some wellness ideas for employees include the following.

Mental health support

According to the American Psychological Association’s 2023 Work in America Survey, 92% of employees want to work for a company that supports their mental well-being.³ Mental health services, such as counseling, stress management workshops, group resilience-building activities, and mindfulness programs, can help your employees proactively manage their mental health.⁴

Physical wellness activities

Exercise is one of the main pillars of physical health. You can promote more physical activity at work by offering gym memberships or on-site fitness classes. However, don’t limit physical wellness to structured classes–simply moving more is also important for good health. Step challenges and simple reminders to walk around or stretch during the workday can promote healthy activity.⁵

Nutrition initiatives

Good nutrition can protect people against many types of diseases, including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer.⁶ Programs, such as healthy cooking competitions, can encourage employees to share nutritious recipes.⁵ You can also stock healthy snacks to make it easy for employees to make nutritious choices at work.

Financial wellness programs

According to a study by the global consulting firm PwC, 57% of people report that finances are their biggest source of stress. Financial wellness programs can help alleviate this stress and positively impact other health markers, such as sleep and family relationships.⁷ Consider offering programs such as budgeting workshops and retirement planning seminars to improve your employees’ financial well-being.

Creating a positive work environment

A negative work environment is stressful regardless of how many wellness programs are offered. You can create a positive company culture through trust, transparency, and consistency.⁸

Flexible work schedules allow your employees to take care of their families or other obligations and maintain a better work-life balance. Creating remote or hybrid work schedules, or simply allowing employees to adjust their schedules to take time off when needed, can reduce stress and increase employee satisfaction.⁸

Another method of creating a positive work culture is encouraging open communication and honest feedback. Taking the view that mistakes are learning opportunities rather than assigning blame will foster collaboration and trust among employees and reduce feelings of negativity.⁸

Everyone enjoys being recognized for their hard work. Recognizing and rewarding your employees can make them feel valued, motivated, and engaged. Rewards can range from simple gestures like team shoutouts to more complex initiatives like financial bonus programs. You can also offer incentives such as an Employee of the Month program or extra time off for employees who have gone above and beyond their job duties.⁸

Engaging employees in wellness programs

Setting up employee wellness programs is only the first step toward creating a healthy work environment. If your employees don’t participate in them—whether because they don’t know about them or because they're worried they’ll be stigmatized if they do—you’re just wasting resources.⁹

Conducting wellness surveys to understand your employees’ needs will help you offer the types of programs that will deliver the most value. You can also host team-building activities such as group hikes or yoga classes to promote social connections as well as physical activity.⁹

You can also encourage your employees to engage with your wellness programs by ensuring leadership buy-in. Employees may perceive a lack of leadership engagement in wellness programs as an indicator that leadership doesn’t endorse or value participation.⁹

Promoting work-life balance

A sustainable work-life balance will prevent burnout and set your employees up for long-term success. Encourage your employees to take regular breaks, both during the workday and by taking time off for vacations. Flexible schedules, such as remote and hybrid work options, also allow employees to create a better work-life balance and avoid burnout.¹⁰

Managers should take the lead by taking breaks themselves and focusing on productivity rather than hours worked. If an employee puts in extra hours to finish a big project, encourage them to take some extra time off the next day to recover.¹⁰

It’s so easy to send a quick text or email that many people do so without thinking about it. Consider implementing boundaries around after-hours communication by encouraging managers not to message employees after the workday ends and employees not to respond until they're back on the clock.¹⁰

Measuring the success of wellness programs

As with any other initiative, measuring the success of your wellness program will help you evaluate your return on investment (ROI) and develop strategies for continuous improvement. Track metrics such as employee participation, engagement, and feedback. You should also measure changes in productivity and employee morale.

You can do this through surveys and by tracking data points such as healthcare cost savings and absenteeism rates. Based on the results of your findings, refine your program to better meet your employees’ needs.¹¹

Make a positive impact on your organization

Today’s businesses need leaders who can motivate their employees and cultivate a thriving workplace culture. The online MBA program at the University of Kansas will equip you with the skills you need to lead modern organizations. Our curriculum will prepare you for successfully managing all aspects of a business, including initiatives to support employee well-being. If you are ready to take the next step in your career as a business leader, review our admissions requirements and reach out to one of our admissions outreach advisors today.