12 easy and creative ways to promote wellness in the workplace

Focusing on wellbeing in the workplace can boost employee engagement, loyalty, job satisfaction, and productivity, as well as creating a happier and healthier work environment overall. A wellness programme can also help to reduce absenteeism, employee turnover, and your healthcare costs as an employer. Prioritising wellbeing means more than just offering medical benefits to your employees — here are some simple, creative ways you can encourage healthy habits and promote wellness in your workplace:

1. Provide healthy food options. If your office is typically filled with high-calorie, high-sugar snacks, consider adding in some healthier options, such as yogurt and granola bowls, fresh fruits, veggies and dip packs, and low-sugar snack bars. Prioritise high-protein, nutrient-dense snacks with little added sugar to help your team feel satisfied and energised without a crash.
2. Set up a gratitude board in your office. Research shows that adopting a regular gratitude practice can come with physical and mental health benefits — so why not help your employees bring more gratitude into their lives? Set up a whiteboard in your office (or a virtual message board if your team is mainly online) where your team members can write down things they’re grateful for. Remember to remind your team to add to the list on a regular basis.
3. Encourage employees to take nature breaks. Even a short time spent outdoors can help to improve mood and reduce feelings of stress. If there’s a natural area or green space near your office, you can help relieve stress for your team by suggesting that they take a break and get out into nature at some point during the workday. Depending on your location and your tech setup, you may even want to consider holding some of your team meetings outside.
4. Host a hydration challenge. Drinking water is essential to good health and plays a key role in many of the body’s functions — but it can be difficult to remember to drink enough throughout the day. Set up a white board beside the water bottle refill station in your office and have employees track how many times they refill their bottle during the day for a set number of days, and provide a prize for the team member who drinks the most water.
5. Allow for walking meetings and organise a lunchtime walking club. Walking is one of the best forms of exercise for long term physical and mental health. Encourage your employees to get more walking into their day by allowing them to have “walking meetings” when appropriate, or organise a lunchtime walking club where team members can socialise together while getting some exercise.
6. Encourage your team to share their unique wellness and fitness practices. If you have a team member who has a particular interest in a specific wellness practice (like meditation, yoga, or Nordic walking, for example), consider asking them to host a lunch-and-learn information session with other team members who might be interested in learning about it. This can help inspire your employees to take on new habits or activities while also getting to know other members of their team.
7. Bring more plants into the office. Plants are a natural mood booster and can help to clean the surrounding air. Consider decorating your workspace with climate-appropriate plants and encourage employees to bring in small plants for their desks — just be sure to accommodate any allergies and avoid plants that give off a strong fragrance.
8. Encourage team members to participate in local charity runs or walks together. When there’s an appropriate event coming up in your community, gather a group of team members who would like to participate together and ensure they have a way to connect. This is a great way for employees to get to know other members of their team while taking part in a healthy physical activity and supporting a local initiative — it’s a win-win all around.
9. Set up ergonomic workstations. Provide ergonomic chairs and adjustable sit-stand desks or desk converters to reduce neck strain, prevent workplace injuries, and reduce the health risks associated with prolonged periods of sitting.
10. Appoint workplace wellness ambassadors. Consider bringing together a group of employees who are interested in organising wellness-focused initiatives and events for your organisation. They can meet regularly to come up with ideas and plan upcoming wellness events. Note: It's likely that some initiatives this group proposes will require funding, so you'll want to pre-determine how much your organisation is able to allocate, and appoint someone who will be in charge of managing the budget.
11. Provide on-site health screenings for your employees. Consider bringing regular health screenings, such as blood pressure checks, cholesterol tests, or body composition analyses, directly into your office to make preventative care convenient for your employees. If your organisation has a group health plan with Allshores, contact our wellness team to find out what types of on-site health screenings we can provide to your team.
12. Organise cultural celebrations. Diversity and inclusion in the workplace are essential to creating a safe and happy work environment for all employees. You can encourage your team to celebrate diversity and inclusion by planning themed wellness activities, potlucks with healthy international foods, and educational sessions about different wellness practices around the world.

There are so many ways to support your employees’ wellbeing and foster a culture of wellness in your workplace. If your organisation has a group health insurance plan with Allshores, look out for our monthly wellness newsletters for more ways to promote wellness among your employees, including corporate wellness challenges, educational programmes, and healthy habits programmes focused on topics such as nutrition, stress management, and physical activity. We’re your partner in workplace wellness, and we’re here to help.