Have you ever thought of starting a worksite wellness program? Over 156 million full-time workers in the U.S. spend most of their waking hours in the workplace. Meaning, employers are in a unique position to influence their employees’ mental and physical well being.
Do you want to support employee wellness, but aren’t sure what worksite wellness program makes sense for your company?
Let’s take a look at ten workplace wellness ideas that your employees will love.
Why Are Corporate Wellness Programs Valuable?
Corporate wellness programs offer benefits to both employees and employers. Did you know that 81% of large employers and 49% of small employers offer workplace wellness programs?
Valuing work wellness can be a significant differentiating factor between employers.
What are the benefits of wellness for your employees?
- Increased productivity
- Decreased absenteeism
- Higher morale
- Improved employee retention
- Increased engagement
- Reduced stress levels
- Reduced health care costs
When you factor in all of these positive outcomes, why not implement a worksite wellness program?
10 Corporate Wellness Program Ideas
Here are some out of the box wellness ideas to get you started on a corporate wellness program.
1. Create De-Stress Zones
Everyone experiences stressful workdays. Offering a space for employees to vent, de-stress, or yes, even cry, can be incredibly valuable. Bottling emotions can be harmful to one’s health, and losing your cool in front of coworkers can be embarrassing and have negative repercussions.
As an employer, creating a space for employees to calm down and reset will be beneficial for your employees’ workplace morale and mental health. Consider growing a community garden, installing a pond, or planting more trees near your office.
2. Incorporate Stretch Breaks
Allowing time for your employees to stretch regularly will offer a much-needed break and reduce built-up tension. Whether employees are mainly sitting or standing throughout the day, offering stretch breaks every three hours for a few minutes is a great workplace wellness idea.
3. Make Your Office Pet-Friendly
Becoming a pet-friendly workplace is not always possible, but allowing employees to bring their pets to work occasionally can do wonders for lowering stress levels. Even having an aquarium can help reduce stress and promote office wellness.
4. Encourage Healthy Eating
One of the best wellness initiatives for employees is offering home-grown vegetables onsite.
At Babylon Micro-Farms, we’re committed to building sustainable micro-farms, which can support employee wellness. By installing our remotely managed hydroponic micro-farms, you’re showing employees that you take nutrition seriously. Choose from our curated selection of the highest quality, non-GMO seeds that grow right in your office.
Indoor micro-farms not only encourage employee nutrition but also offer the additional benefits of having plants in the workplace. Studies have shown that office plants can help reduce stress and anxiety, increase productivity, and make workspaces more attractive to job applicants.
5. Create a Company Health Library
Over half of employees have unhealthy eating habits while at work. Building a library of books, whether physical or digital, on health and wellness is a great way to support employee wellness. Consider offering employee nutrition programs or take a half-day to bring in a professional and host a lunch and learn wellness workshop.
6. Actively Encourage the Use of PTO
Employees often don’t use all of their paid time off, typically out of dedication to their work or a fear of falling behind. However, your employees need to take time off to rest and relax.
A study by the American Psychological Association revealed that working adults were 58% more productive when they returned from time off. Build a company culture that encourages PTO for the health, wellness, and efficiency of your employees.
7. Create a Culture of Movement
The average American sits for eleven hours a day, and 20% of all deaths in people 35 and older is due to lack of physical activity. Workplace inactivity increases the risk of:
- Chronic pain
- Chronic illness
- Weight gain
- Depression
Promote a culture of wellness at work through walking meetings, offering active breaks, and simply encouraging employees to move more often. If your company has decided to grow a community garden, encourage employees to make their way outside during the work day and tend to it.
8. Promote Mental Wellness
Wellness activities also provide an opportunity for employees to meet coworkers in other departments. Promoting employee interaction strengthens comradery and creates a sense of belonging as friendships develop.
Some mental wellness at work ideas to implement at your company include:
- Yoga
- Guided meditation
- Book clubs
- Gardening
- Purchasing fresh flowers for the office
- Group cooking classes
- Group picnic
- Group walks
- Artistic activities (e.g., after hours paint night)
- Send out a “Wednesday Wellness” email
9. Negotiate Corporate Discounts for Health Club Memberships
Companies commonly partner with health clubs to offer employee membership discounts. The discounted rate can incentivize less-active employees to invest in their own wellness outside of work. If your company offers a discounted gym membership, remember to elevate this benefit to everyone.
10. Post Maps for Outdoor Trails or Walking Routes
Posting maps or walking paths in a common room is a practical, inexpensive company wellness program idea. Offer printed maps for employees to take and explore the area. Many employees may take walks around the parking lot at lunch without realizing there are more scenic paths nearby.
Grow a Worksite Wellness Program at Your Company
Choosing a worksite wellness program is a benefit to both companies and their employees. Whether your company is large or small, plenty of workplace wellness options are available to support the mental and physical health of employees.
Are you ready to implement a workplace wellness program (or two) at your company? Consider offering sustainable, heirloom vegetables to encourage a healthy diet for employees while at work.
Grow with us by contacting info@babylonmicrofarms.com and begin your journey towards a healthier company culture.