Wellness Programs: Everything You Need to Know About This Workplace Trend

Corporate wellness programs are the growing trend you need to follow. More and more companies are hopping on the wellness bandwagon and offering programs for their employees. Studies show that wellness programs decrease employee absenteeism, boost employee retention, and increase overall employee happiness. In fact, over 50% of employers have implemented some type of wellness program in the workplace.

Developing successful employee health initiatives requires more than just procuring discounted gym memberships. These programs should primarily reflect the goals you have for your workforce, as well as the company culture and values you aim to nurture.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about implementing a health program for your company.

Implementing corporate wellness programs is surprisingly easy

Most initiatives that involve the entire company may seem like another responsibility for the HR team. However, employee health programs can be quite simple to create and put into practice. You could delegate a small committee to oversee these efforts, or even spearhead the initiative yourself!

A fantastic way to ignite employee enthusiasm for these initiatives is to assemble a “health pack”. This could include anything from branded active gear to an activities journal, serving as a straightforward first step in launching a health initiative at your company.

Download our free wellness kit checklist to start your own wellness program.

Use wearable tech to incentivise participation in workplace wellness programs

Two of the most popular trends today are (1) health promotion and (2) cutting-edge technology. Your company can stimulate participation in health programs by offering something that merges these two trends: wearable tech. A branded wearable tech product for employees who reach a specified participation level could motivate more involvement.

Not only will this incentive encourage employees to participate in your wellness initiatives, it will also support company loyalty by gifting them a branded product that they will actually be excited to use. Some examples of branded wearable tech that would add another dimension to your workplace wellness initiatives are:

• Fitness band
• Headphones
• Mobile mp3 armband

Some non-tech wearables that also make great branded gifts to integrate into your program are:

• Bluetooth beanie (for runs in the wintertime)
• Baseball cap
• Polo shirt
• Softshell 3/4-zip jacket

Promote health and environmental friendliness at the same time

Is it one of your values as a company to promote environmental friendliness? It’s simple to integrate your company’s green initiatives into your workplace wellness initiatives. While you’re considering branded products to use as incentives for encouraging participation in your wellness programs, you may want to consider some eco-friendly products.

Here are some ideas for green-friendly branded products to utilize in your corporate wellness initiatives:

• Plant fiber drawstring bag
• Backpack made from 100% recycled material
• Reusable water bottle