Employee Wellness Programs & Activities for the Workplace

You found our guide to employee wellness programs and activities for the workplace.

Employee wellness programs are initiatives that encourage staff to adopt healthy habits. For example, healthy-living credits, meditation and work-life balance workshops. The purpose of these programs is to decrease absence and liability and increase worker health and happiness. These systems are also called “workplace wellness programs,” “employer wellness programs,” and “corporate wellness programs.”

These ideas are similar to virtual wellness programs. This article also offers some ideas for rethinking employee wellness.

This guide includes:

• benefits of employee wellness programs
• employee wellness programs examples
• employee wellness activities
• wellness games for employees
• wellness ideas for employees
• corporate wellness events

Including:

• wellness games and activities
• out of the box wellness ideas
• health and wellness activities
• wellness at work ideas
• wellness challenge ideas

Let’s get to it!

Employee wellness activities

Here are some creative wellness activities for employees.

1. Battle of the Elements

Battle of the Elements is one of the most fun employee wellness games. This challenge turns positive lifestyle changes into a friendly competition. Employees break into teams corresponding to a healthy change. Each team represents an element:

Fire = give up smoking

Water = drink more water

Air = get outside more often

Earth = eat healthier

Teams receive specific goals, such as “do ten jumping jacks every time you crave a cigarette,” or “eat five servings of green vegetables today.” Team members will earn one point for each day they meet the goal. At the end of the event, the team with the most points wins.

2. Midday Meditations

In remote or office settings, employees can struggle with focus. One way to encourage mindfulness and decrease stress is to host midday meditations.

Each workday, send an alert to participants to take a moment to breathe and clear their minds. You could ask an employee to guide the meditation, watch a video together, or use an app like HeadSpace.

Or, for a more hands-on approach, make your own company meditation portal and have folks upload calming pictures, music, and audio meditations.

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3. Mr. Rogers Calls

Loneliness is one of the most overlooked health risks for remote employees. Mr. Rogers Calls are an easy way to battle isolation.

First, create a Slack channel and invite interested participants. Then, install the Donut app to randomly pair members for chats. We recommend setting the app on one week intervals, but you could assign matches more or less frequently.

Donut pairs participants and prompts them to schedule a video call or in-person meetup to talk about non-work topics.

If your remote colleagues have trouble thinking up talking topics, then they can refer to this list of icebreakers.

4. Microhabit Missions

Microhabits are small, simple actions requiring little effort but still having a big impact over time. Unlike major lifestyle changes, microhabits are sustainable, making them a great approach for employees looking to improve their well-being without overwhelming themselves.

You can issue “microhabit missions” where the team tries to add a new mini health habit into their routine over a week.

For example:

• Make your bed daily
• Take a 5-minute walk after lunch to recharge
• Drink one extra glass of water each day
• Set aside one minute in the morning for deep breathing or meditation
• Send one positive message or compliment to a coworker daily
• Write down one thing you’re grateful for at the end of each day

When employees work together on microhabits, they can cheer each other on and hold one another accountable, making it easier and more fun to actually follow through.

5. Healthy Cooking Club

Busy employees do not always eat balanced meals. Healthy eating and cooking lessons can be a great addition to workplace wellness programs.

You can invite a nutritionist into the office or onto a Zoom call to educate employees on the fundamentals of eating well, followed by a hands-on cooking lesson.

The best approach is to prioritize convenience and focus on low-effort meals and snacks folks can prepare easily, no matter how hectic their schedules get.

For a more social element, staff can also swap healthy recipes via a collaborative Google Doc or link collector, and can upload pictures of finished dishes to a cloud-based photo album.

6. Employee Financial Wellness Workshops

Economic health is an important facet of overall well being. By launching employee financial wellness programs, you ensure that your teammates’ monetary health is as strong as their physical and mental health.

These programs can consist of meetings with financial advisors, financial literacy workshops, trials or subscriptions to fintech apps, as well as worksheets, websites, virtual calculators, podcasts, and videos that help employees learn how to better manage money.

You could even do collaborative “minimal buy months” where employees can win prizes for thrifty finds or the most creative upcycling or re-use of an existing possession.

7. Volunteering

According to the Mayo Clinic, helping others can improve physical fitness while also reducing anxiety and depression. Many professionals find it tricky to find time to volunteer while working. You can include philanthropy as part of your wellness program.

For example, arrange quarterly community offistes where participants contribute to a cause, hold fundraisers, or introduce a volunteering time off policy where employees get time off to do service.

Here is more about corporate volunteering programs.

Wellness ideas for employees

Here are innovative ideas to improve employee wellbeing.

1. Healthy Living Credits

Healthy Living Credits is a program teambuilding.com uses to help remote staff practice self-care. Each month, staff members can spend up to $100 on services such as gym memberships, house cleaning, or salons. We use Hoppier cards to facilitate the perk.

The regularity of the perk encourages employees to maintain healthy habits.

2. Traveling Meetings

One of the perks of modern work is the ability to take meetings from unconventional locations. Following this logic, you can encourage employees to get exercise during calls by taking walks. Once a month, hold traveling meetings and walk while you talk, or meet up in a zen location like a park.

Remote participants join the call by dialing in via phone or smart watch, and stroll through a park, beach, or city center. Traveling meetings help remote employees get exercise, fresh air, and sunshine.

3. Wholesome Snack Packs

Many companies stock communal break rooms with nutritious snacks. Work from home employees can benefit from healthy bites too.

To keep your staff energized, periodically send them wholesome snack packs full of healthy foods.

What to include:

• Granola bars
• Baked chips
• Popcorn
• Pretzels
• Nuts
• Organic fruit snacks
• Peanut butter pouches
• Apple sauce packets
• Whole grain crackers
• Low-sugar dried fruits

Here are more office snack ideas.

4. Meal Subscriptions

Meal subscriptions can be a great wellness benefit for employees. These services can help them eat healthier without having to research recipes, meal plans, shop for ingredients, and measure amounts.

You can either order a fully-prepared meal, or one that requires very little effort to assemble.

For more information, here is a New York Times guide to the best meal kits. Or, you could offer employees an equivalent stipend to a local meal prep business.

5. Career Coaching

Professional development is a key element of employee satisfaction. To keep employees’ skills sharp and careers thriving, provide coaching as part of the wellness program. You could either cover costs of a set number of sessions, or partner with a coaching company to offer employees a discounted rate on services. These sessions can fill in the gap between one on one meetings. Not to mention, these services provide employees with a safe space to explore options and a neutral party to bounce ideas off of.

6. Life Coaching

Life coaching is another service option to offer in your wellness program. This service takes a more holistic approach than career coaching. Instead of focusing solely on job satisfaction or personal wellbeing, life coaches take a big-picture approach and help patients achieve balance in all areas. You can negotiate a discounted rate for employees, or offer every teammate a complimentary introductory session.

7. Professional Organizers

Clean environments are pivotal to work success. Your office likely has cleaners, but certain departments can still get cluttered. Or, perhaps employees work from home, or could simply use help getting things in order at home.

You could bring in an organizer to give tips on managing and arranging possessions, or offer stipends for organizer consultations or storage supplies.

These professionals help clean up the clutter, and will also teach staff skills and develop systems to maintain order.

8. Team Wellness Emails

Team wellness emails are one of the easiest free employee wellness program ideas. You can send regular emails to remote staff members highlighting healthy topics.

Here are some topic ideas:

• Avoiding procrastination
• Working with proper posture
• Setting realistic goals
• Easy at-home workouts
• Showing gratitude for colleagues
• Work from home conflicts
• Beginning or end of day self-care rituals

The emails can be about general health points, or work from home wellbeing. Sending these messages serves as a reminder for remote workers to take care of themselves and each other, and assures your team members that you care.

9. Health Screenings

Health screenings are a powerful way to show employees you care while promoting a culture of wellness. These quick check-ins for factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, or glucose levels help employees spot potential health risks early.

To make the most of these screenings, schedule them during work hours for convenience and pair the results with actionable resources like wellness coaching or follow-up tips. You can even turn the experience into a wellness day by adding workshops or activities that encourage healthy habits.

By focusing on prevention, you support employees’ health and build a healthier, happier workplace.

10. Employee Assistance Programs

Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are like a wellness safety net, offering employees confidential support for challenges that might affect their work or personal lives.

These programs typically provide resources like counseling, legal advice, and financial planning to help employees navigate stressors with confidence.

To maximize the impact, make EAP details easy to access, and consider hosting a quick info session or creating a digital resource hub.

Also encourage managers to normalize using the program by sharing how it can benefit everyone, not just in emergencies.

11. Remote and Flexible Working

Remote and flexible working programs are game-changers for employee wellness, offering teams the freedom to balance work with personal priorities.

These programs reduce commuting stress, open doors for healthier routines, and give employees the autonomy to work when they are most productive.

To make these options effective, set clear expectations for communication and performance, and equip your team with tools to stay connected, like virtual check-ins or collaboration platforms. Offering flexibility doesn’t mean sacrificing structure so regularly review workloads and encourage boundaries to prevent burnout.

When done right, these programs create happier, more engaged teams who feel trusted and supported.

Here is how to create a strong remote work culture.

Wellness games for employees

Here are some wellness games to play at work to gamify building healthy habits.

1. Water Drinking Challenge

The water drinking challenge is one of the most beneficial wellness challenge ideas.

According to the Mayo Clinic, adults should aim to drink an average of eight cups of water a day. To ensure your virtual employees stay hydrated, launch a water drinking challenge.

You can make a dedicated Slack channel, and message channel members to take drinks periodically throughout the day. You could also order a tracker water bottle for employees and challenge them to upload pictures of their empty canteens.

2. Clean Desk Challenge

Maintaining a tidy workspace promotes focus and mental health. You can encourage your employees to keep their at-home offices neat by launching a clean desk challenge.

At the end of each workday or workweek, ask participants to upload photos or video clips of clean desks to a channel or form. Or, you can ask for pictures of clean desks at random intervals, which incentivizes employees to keep desks clean consistently.

At the end of the challenge, you can award a larger prize to the teammate with the most clean desk pictures. Or, you can raffle off digital gift cards each day of the contest by pulling the winner from daily entries.

3. Step Challenges

You can inspire employees to walk more by issuing a digital step challenge.

First, decide on a goal, such as 6,000 steps a day. Many smartphones already have a built-in step-counter participants can use to track steps. Employees could also use an app, fitness tracker, smartwatch, or old-fashioned pedometer. Ask employees to record their progress, then check in on a weekly basis.

For extra fun, award prizes for certain amounts of steps. For example, participants who exceed the goal by 20,000+ steps might win an Amazon gift card. You could even track cumulative results and give updates such as, “together this month we walked 500 miles– the distance between here and New York City!”

Here is how to do a step challenge at work.

4. Fitness Challenge

First, set a goal such as “take a daily walk,” or “do ten minutes of cardio every day.” You could choose more interesting and harder challenges too, such as couch to 5k. Next, set a time period for the challenge, such as a quarter or month.

Employees will log whether or not they complete the goal each day. We created a free tracker tool to keep score. You could also track progress through apps like Map My Run or Espresa.

At the end of the challenge, give a prize to the employees who complete the full run. You can offer a more significant reward to the teammate with the most impressive results. If budget allows, then award all finishers a prize such as a $10 gift card. This approach will incentivize participants to stick with the challenge instead of quitting after the first time they fail.

Corporate wellness events

Here are some employee wellness event ideas for HR and team leaders.

1. Wellness Retreat

Many companies plan wellness retreats for employees. Even if your organization is fully remote, you can invite teammates to participate in a day or two of health-focused events together by planning a virtual wellness retreat.

Here are a few ideas:

• guided meditations
• yoga and fitness sessions
• nutritionist consultations
• healthy cooking classes
• storytelling workshops
• goal-setting sessions
• self-compassion exercises
• relationship counselling
• digital mindfulness worksheets
• ask-a-doctor chats

These events give employees the chance to practice self-care, learn valuable skills, and connect with colleagues. The retreats tend to take place in beautiful places based in nature, but you could set up focused sessions on wellness in the office or in town too.

Here is a list of more retreat ideas.

2. Health Fair

To host a health fair, plan a series of web sessions and virtual activities related to health and medical topics. You can recruit health care providers and vendors to give virtual talks and demonstrations.

Some ideas:

• CPR courses
• Mini telemedicine check-ups
• Self-exam tutorials
• Tips for work at home health
• Survival skills and first aid classes or exercises
• Information sessions about employee benefits
• Online company store with healthy products

When planning your fair, reach out to your health insurance carrier, preferred medical providers or company health team, and health vendors to inquire about more virtual options.

3. Mental Health Fair

Mental health is just as important as physical health. Due to the individual nature of remote work, it is extra important to monitor employees’ mental and emotional wellbeing.

By hosting mental health fairs, you can set up a series of virtual activities and informational sessions that teach staff how to manage stress, express emotion, and cultivate mindfulness.

Some ideas:

• Therapist “ask-me-anything” sessions
• Guided yoga and meditation
• Speakers to dispel stigma
• Zoom support groups
• Journaling prompts
• Coping skills workshops and worksheets
• Self-help podcasts
• Tips on managing workplace stress
• Random acts of kindness

Holding seminars about mental health de-stigmatizes the subject and encourages employees to ask for help when necessary.

Here is a list of ideas for Mental Health Awareness Month.

4. Employee Book Club

Book clubs offer employees personal enrichment and social time. Every month, give participants a reading assignment. You could send members a physical or digital copy of the book, or offer to reimburse the cost of purchase. Teammates will meet in person or on Zoom to discuss the book in real-time, or will post reflections on an internal forum or Slack channel.

Chosen books do not have to be work-related. Members can read recent bestsellers or personal favorites instead. Or, you can choose books related to health, wellness, and self-care. Be sure that the selected title is work-appropriate and accessible.

Here is how to run an office book club.

5. Wellness Team Building Events

Wellness team-building activities boost both employee health and workplace connection, often nurturing social, mental, and physical health simultaneously.

Some ideas:

• ​​Group yoga sessions
• Guided nature walks or hikes
• Wellness trivia games or game shows
• Virtual breathwork workshops
• Journaling and gratitude workshops
• Aromatherapy or DIY essential oil blending sessions
• Art therapy or creative mindfulness exercises
• Zen garden building or terrarium making

Learn about our wellness team building experiences.

Benefits of employee wellness programs

Here are some of the reasons for wellness programs at work.

1. Reduces Stress and Burnout

Wellness programs that target stress reduction, such as guided meditation or flexible schedules, help employees perform well longterm. However, these initiatives also foster self-awareness, teaching employees to identify stress triggers before burnout sets in, creating a more proactive, resilient workforce.

2. Boosts Employee Morale

Providing wellness perks like stipends or mindfulness classes shows employees they are valued. Plus, publicizing progress and celebrating team wins motivates team members to join their coworkers in participating, cultivating excitement and connection.

3. Increases Productivity

Healthy and happy employees work more efficiently. The key to showing ROI on wellness programs is thinking beyond the obvious outcomes. For example, investing in ergonomic office equipment improves physical comfort, but also helps employees maintain focus, cutting down on minor distractions that impact productivity.

4. Improves Longterm Loyalty and Retention

Employees are more likely to stay with companies that care about their well being.Wellness programs also create a sense of gratitude and belonging, which employees remember during tough career decisions, making them less likely to leave.

5. Encourages Proactive Problem Solving

Wellness programs that promote mindfulness and stress management can help employees build emotional resilience. This resilience translates to better problem-solving skills when team members encounter challenges, both personal and professional.

6. Bolsters Social Connections at Work

Group wellness initiatives—like walking challenges, yoga sessions, or cooking classes—create opportunities for employees to bond outside of traditional team projects. These connections can foster stronger collaboration when folks turn their attention back to work tasks.

7. Reduces “Presenteeism”

You’ve probably heard about absenteeism, but presenteeism—when employees are physically present but mentally checked out—can be just as damaging. Wellness programs focused on mental health and work-life balance can help employees stay engaged during the workday.

Employee wellness programs examples

Here are some different types of workplace wellness programs for employees.

1. Employee Financial Wellness Programs

Slogan: Stress-free wallets, stress-free minds.

Purpose: These programs alleviate financial stress by providing employees with the tools, resources, and guidance they need to make informed financial decisions

Ideas: 

You can offer workshops on budgeting, investing, and retirement planning with tools like financial coaching apps or one-on-one sessions with certified advisors.

You can also implement paycheck-alignment programs to help employees better manage cash flow between pay periods.

Bonus idea: Organize a “financial literacy challenge” with fun quizzes and prizes for team members who reach specific milestones like saving a set amount or creating a budget.

2. Employee Wellness Incentive Programs

Slogan: Turn healthy habits into rewards.

Purpose: These programs motivate teams to prioritize their health by offering rewards that encourage sustainable habits.

Ideas: You can incentivize wellness with creative perks. For instance, create a “step store” where employees can trade accumulated walking miles for gift cards or extra PTO.

Also consider offering points for healthy activities such as participating in fitness classes, completing mental health courses, or attending wellness webinars.

Bonus idea: Add a social element by introducing team-based wellness challenges like “Who Can Drink the Most Water this Week?”

3. Employee Mental Wellness Programs

Breaking the stigma, building resilience.

Purpose: These programs support psychological wellbeing by providing resources and a safe space for employees to manage thoughts and emotions.

Ideas:  Good programs go beyond traditional EAPs by incorporating creative options like access to on-demand therapy apps, mindfulness retreats, or virtual mental health-first-aid training.

Hosting weekly meditation sessions or mood-boosting activities like “gratitude journaling lunch breaks” can make mental wellness an approachable daily habit.

Perhaps create “mental health lounges” in the office, complete with soothing music, comfy seating, and self-care resources.

Bonus idea: Launch corporate employee mental wellness programs for leaders to help them cope with the pressures of working at executive levels.

4. Passive Employee Wellness Programs

Slogan: Wellness that works without the work.

Purpose: These programs provide easy, low-effort health benefits that fit naturally into employees’ daily routines.

Ideas: Subtle wellness initiatives can create a huge impact without requiring employee effort.

Examples include stocking healthy snacks in breakrooms, installing standing desks, or upgrading office lighting to mimic natural daylight.

Even integrating greenery into the office can reduce stress while boosting air quality and morale.

Bonus idea: You can also sponsor office-wide subscriptions to streaming fitness or wellness platforms like Calm or Peloton.

5. Employee Fitness and Wellness Programs

Slogan: Fuel your body, fuel your career.

Purpose: These programs encourage physical activity by offering resources and opportunities that help employees stay active and raise their energy levels.

Ideas: Many programs offer onsite or virtual fitness classes like yoga, HIIT, or Zumba.

You can also make fitness inclusive by providing chair workouts or stretch breaks for those with mobility challenges.

And do not forget quirky activities like office dodgeball leagues or “deskercise” competitions for extra laughs.

Bonus idea: Build camaraderie and fitness with team-based programs like “Steps Across the States,” where employees collectively walk the distance between your company’s offices (or just popular landmarks!).

Conclusion

Wellness programs are important for employees. With remote workers these programs are even more important.

By offering a robust employee wellness program, you communicate that you care about your remote staff and give your workers the tools and resources to live a more well-balanced and beneficial lifestyle. Over time, these practices can result in higher productivity, employee engagement, and retention rates and lower absenteeism, turnover, and insurance costs.

We also have a list of reasons why employees quit jobs and company retreat ideas for work. Plus a list of ideas for employee stress management, and a list of ideas for virtual stress relief.