It’s important to have company-wide health practices and wellness programs in place for employees. These are the exciting bonuses that come with a job that potential applicants are attracted to and can be the reason why people stay with a company long-term. Here are some fresh, new ideas to incorporate into your workplace wellness program!
- Make the office pet-friendly
Studies have shown that the presence of animals can help improve mood and reduce stress. Having a pet-friendly office allows employees to take a break from work, spend time with a fluffy friend, and bond with their co-workers. This can help improve relationships in the office and even the quality of life of your employees. If you can’t allow your office to be pet-friendly every day, choose one day out of the month for people to bring their most-loved family member in!
- Start a culture club
Although a culture club isn’t solely focused on health and wellness, it can have a segment dedicated to starting health-related clubs or events. Depending on the interest of your employees, there are a ton of options for employee-run wellness activities. For example, a running club, reading club, or organizing to participate in a walk to support disease or illness. This offers teams, groups, and activities that your employees can be excited about joining.
- Keep ergonomics teachings up-to-date
We’ll admit it, ergonomics training likely isn’t your employees’ favorite part of the year. However, you learn more about posture, pain, and even buy blue-light-blocking glasses for their time spent on the computer.
- Hold an outdoor event (picnic, field days, etc.)
With the summer months around the corner, take the time to organize a field day or company-wide picnic. You can celebrate your employees, be outside for a day, and have activities for everyone to participate in. Simply getting outside and being active for a day annually can help improve mood and gives the company a fun day off to look forward to.
- Treat everyone to healthy, company swag
To boost company morale, you can treat everyone to a gift at some point during the year. Whether it’s at a one year anniversary or upon hire, give everyone a gift featuring your company logo. To keep it in the realm of health choose a reusable water bottle, sunglasses, or activewear.
- Host meditations and yoga
At particularly stressful times of the year, consider offering meditations and yoga classes for your employees. This is as simple as connecting with a local teacher and blocking off an hour or two in a relaxing, cozy conference room. It’s been proven that these practices help with stress and anxiety, which the levels of can be extremely high due to work.
- Plant a garden or trees
If you have the area available in or around your office, take a day to plant a few trees or create a community garden. This can allow for a fun day of employee bonding, help invigorate participants by spending a day outside and can help improve mood by having a new, beautiful place to spend outdoors during breaks.
No matter what unique new ideas you may have for your company wellness program, make sure they pique the interest of those who are participating. These are the types of perks that people look for in their employer so ask or survey your employees for what they would enjoy doing to help become healthier at work.
