We asked 4 corporate wellness program leaders what has been most effective in promoting wellness at their organizations. Their best wellness program ideas included tech trends, races, and donations for a good cause. The most common theme? A little friendly competition.
1. Get Everyone on Board
Getting everyone in the organization involved in the wellness program can create great results. At Entrata, Brandon Fish, VP of HR, has seen the most success with big activities such as a company-wide 5k race, a private talk with fitness experts, gym memberships, and regular in-house chair massage.
Employees are also wanting access to mental health services that help them improve their overall wellbeing. Some common mental health services include:
- Counseling
- Life coaching
- Nutrition and fitness coaching
2. Shed Pounds for a Good Cause
A yearly company-wide fitness competition can do more than create healthier employees. By tying the fitness competition into the community, Clearlink employees can do good for more than just their health. For each positive pound of change (fat lost or muscle gained), Clearlink donates $10 to the local food bank.
The buck doesn't just stop there. Cammie Cable, VP of HR at Clearlink recently sent one hard-working (and hard sweating) employee on a trip to Mexico after they won the yearly fitness competition. Getting fit for charity is an excellent way for employees to do something for themselves AND give back to the community.
Related: The Step-by-Step Guide to Increase EAP Utilization
3. Create Visual Cues
For some organizations, keeping track of fitness competitions where everyone can see them is the best motivator. Diana Hasselfeld, Nurse Practitioner at Varian Medical Systems, has seen the best results by tracking data on a bulletin board and providing rewards based on improvements. It's a great way to create a little healthy competition in the office and get people on board with your initiatives.
This type of tracking system can be geared toward every type of employee in your company, whether they're seasoned fitness enthusiasts or casual walkers.
Related: Wellness Program Ideas: 3 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
4. Tech Tricks
Everyone loves a new gadget—especially if it's free. HR Director Randy Rassmusse at Nelson Laboratories has seen great success with their recent Fit Bit challenge. Each employee received a free base model Fit Bit (or a higher model for a discount).
It's a cinch to create contests based on easily trackable data, which can significantly improve your employee participation.
Take it to the next level by providing employees a mental health platform that they can access on the go!
Related: Complete Guide to Workplace Wearables
Getting creative with your wellness program is crucial because each company has a different culture and a different set of needs. Try a few things and see what works best for you!
Disclaimer
By participating in/reading the service/website/blog/email series on this website, you acknowledge that this is a personal website/blog and is for informational purposes and should not be seen as mental health care advice. You should consult with a licensed professional before you rely on this website/blog’s information. All things written on this website should not be seen as therapy treatment and should not take the place of therapy or any other health care or mental health advice. Always seek the advice of a mental health care professional or physician. The content on this blog is not meant to and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
