Employee health and wellness activities can promote better mental, emotional and physical health as well as boost morale in the workplace.

As an employer, you have the ability to influence the atmosphere in your workplace and make a difference in the health of your employees by implementing wellness challenges and exercises.

In this article, we share 11 genuinely fun health and wellness activity ideas your employees will actually want to participate in.

1. Offer discounted memberships to a local gym

Cost and lack of convenience are two common barriers to joining a gym. You can remove both of those excuses from the equation by partnering with a local gym to offer discounts to all of your employees.

2. Host a team scavenger hunt

In addition to getting your employees up and moving, a scavenger hunt can easily be turned into a team-building exercise. A scavenger hunt can be held on the workplace premises for convenience, or offsite as part of a retreat or day-long activity.

3. Provide company scooters or bicycles

Whether you keep the equipment on-site or lend it out to your employees to use outside of work is up to you, but this can be a great way to incentivize physical exercise and even promote better mental health. 

4. Incentivize smoking cessation

Although the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the United States population has decreased significantly, from 20.9% in 2005 to 12.5% in 2020, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention reports that about 30.8 million adults currently smoke nationwide. Smoking is still the leading cause of disease, disability and death in the United States.

Because cigarettes and other tobacco products are so addictive, clean lungs and a longer healthier life often aren’t incentive enough. Consider establishing a financial incentive for your employees to quit smoking, such as a dollar for every day they don’t smoke.

5. Hold a wellness fair

Reach out to local healthy vendors and businesses and invite them to your workplace for a day to educate and offer services or products that will benefit the physical, mental, emotional and/or spiritual health of your employees.

6. Offer standing desks to those who want it

Sitting at a desk all day can result in back and neck pain, high blood pressure, excess weight gain and increased risk of heart disease. Offering standing desks to employees who prefer to use them is a simple way to promote wellness in the office.

7. Reward your team during crunch time or after a big accomplishment

When this is done well, it makes your employees feel seen, appreciated and incentivized to continue to do their best. You can treat everyone to morning coffee, cater in a healthy-but-delicious lunch or even provide personalized gifts.

8. Host an employee field day

Consider taking a break from the office and heading to a local museum, park or the beach. A field day can help your team to reset and decompress as well as build and strengthen collegial relationships.

9. Ditch the fast-paced activities and zen out instead

At times, work can be frustrating, overwhelming and downright draining. When work has been fast-paced, hectic or especially stressful (i.e. after wrapping up an important project) giving your employees permission to slow down and reconnect with themselves and each other can help restore balance and avoid burnout. 

Consider offering a slower-paced activity such as yoga, goal-setting meditation, breathwork exercises or aromatherapy.

Contact us for additional resources

At Mazzitti & Sullivan, we have made it our top priority to ensure you, your employees, and your workplace are as healthy as possible in mind, body, and spirit.

If you’re feeling a bit stuck as to where to go from here, or you simply would like to speak with one of our qualified team members and learn more about how you can foster wellness in the workplace, we’ve got you covered.

Simply give us a call today at 777-777-7777 to get started.