For many, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a shift of focus to health and well-being. This may well include some of your employees. It’s important to note that these wellness employee engagement ideas are not Band-Aid solutions for bigger issues. Burnout, lack of resources, toxic behaviour, and hustle culture are all bigger issues that need to be addressed at the root. Once those larger issues are uncovered and managed, these ten ideas can be a great way to give back to your team. It can be hard to for an employee to think of enjoying a running club when they feel like the workplace around them is on fire. When the right systems are in place these engagement ideas can help create a better working environment. Otherwise, they are at risk of being seen as inauthentic. “Sure, I’ll get that massage right after I finish that 40 page report you just told me you need by 9am tomorrow.” When done right, businesses that support employee wellness will be seen as more desirable employers.

Here are ten ways to increase employee wellness.

10 Wellness Focused Employee Engagement Ideas

Offer Mindfulness Exercises

Bringing mindfulness into the workday is a great way to reduce stress and increase focus.

What it looks like: corporate subscriptions to apps like Headspace or Calm.

Provide Employees Gym Passes

Exercise is proven to improve mood and increase energy. Providing employees with a complimentary or subsidized gym pass is a great way support employee health

What it looks like: Free gym passes, exercise classes, or subscriptions to fitness apps to help reduce barriers to employee health.

Offer Healthy Food

Having healthy food and snack options at the workplace helps employees make choices to better support their health.

What it looks like: Onsite free or paid options for healthy food.

Remind Employees About Benefits

Employees can get busy. Reminding them of the benefits your company offers can be the nudge they need to book a therapy, massage, acupuncture, or chiropractor session.

What it looks like: Verbal reminders from leadership to take time for self-care, or emails outlining corporate benefit details.

Offer Quiet Spaces

Dedicate different areas within the office for quiet work. Providing space for employees to focus, or meditate can be a good way to reduce workplace stress.

What it looks like: Quiet or soundproof work pod and dedicated quiet space meeting rooms.

Bring in a Yoga Instructor

Offer free corporate yoga for your team. This could be done over lunch, once or twice a week.

What it looks like: Hiring a yoga instructor to host a class or offering a subscription to a video yoga class and dedicated office space for your team to do a yoga practice.

Provide Onsite Wellness Services

Bring wellness into the workplace by bringing in certified professionals to offer services at the office. It could be a guided stretch class to help with desk posture, or a guided meditation, or any other service that is offered in their employee benefits plan

What it looks like - Setting a dedicated day of the month or week when a professional wellness service comes in. Be sure to communicate it to the team in advance so they can take advantage of the service.

Offer Wellness Workshops

Bring in a specialist to host a wellness workshop. It could be anything from how to better manage stress, how to improve your wellness routine, or to how to meal plan.

What it looks like: Offering a free workshop on wellness during work hours. Bringing in a specialist to share their expertise on a wellness topic.

Start an Exercise Club

Make being healthy a fun team-building experience by hosting an exercise club. It could be anything from a stair challenge to a lunch hour walking club.

What it looks like: An organized exercise club that employees can participate in.

Provide Flexible Work Schedules

This is one of the highest-rated benefits of workplace wellness. Having a flexible schedule that allows employees to work in the way that suits them best means they can prioritize their own wellness.

What it looks like: Providing flexibility for when employees work. This might mean they can take that spin class at 2 pm because it helps them focus for the rest of the day. Having the autonomy to prioritize self-care and their wellness, while still getting their work completed is a strong indicator of workplace happiness.

Employees will continue to value their health and organizations that are supportive will benefit from the retention of great employees or recruiting new talent.

Want to bring more wellness into your workplace?

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