Supporting employee wellness doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, small but targeted steps can make a big difference when it comes to helping your team feel their best—physically, mentally and emotionally.
If you’re looking to learn how to start an employee wellness program, there are easy ways to build a healthier, happier workplace and improve employee morale. And no, you don’t need a huge budget or a fancy on-site gym to make it happen!
Here are seven wellness ideas that are simple, meaningful and easy to roll out at any workplace.
1. Set Monthly Wellness Challenges
Many of us spend a lot of the workday sitting. Encouraging your team to move more can help boost energy and reduce stress.
One easy way to get started? A step challenge! Employees can track their steps with a phone, watch or pedometer. Offer a fun prize or simply give shoutouts to participants. You’ll build camaraderie while helping everyone feel more energized. Wellness challenges also work great for remote teams.
Looking for more movement ideas?Share this blog with your team about Sneaky Ways to Move More Every Day.
2. Support Financial Well-Being
Financial wellness resources can be a wonderful investment for your team. Many employees have access to a 401(k), but that doesn’t mean they fully understand how to use it. Partnering with your 401(k) provider to offer financial literacy workshops, one-on-one retirement planning sessions or budgeting tools can empower your team to make confident, informed decisions about their future. It’s a benefit that supports long-term health and reduces stress.
3. Pick a Monthly Wellness Theme
Pick a topic each month to highlight wellness. It could be as simple as sharing a tip in your team newsletter or providing more information on a specific theme.
Try themes like:
- Hydration
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Mental Health
A monthly theme keeps wellness top of mind and gives your team fresh inspiration to stay healthy all year long.
4. Encourage Screen Breaks
Breaks aren’t a luxury, they’re a necessity. Encourage your team to take regular screen breaks, go for a quick walk or just pause to breathe and reset. Even five minutes can make a big difference in helping employees recharge and come back to their work with a fresh focus.
Prolonged screen time can take a toll on vision, contributing to fatigue, dry eyes and headaches. Remind employees to follow the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Reducing blue light exposure is another way to protecting eye health from digital devices.
5. Share Mental Health Resources Company-Wide
Mental health is just as important as physical health, and talking about it helps break the stigma.
Share resources like free mental health apps or company tools like an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The more open we are about mental health, the easier it becomes for people to seek support when they need it.
If you’re looking for inspiration, try these 5 Simple Ways to Support Employee Mental Health.
6. Create a Peer Wellness Groups
Wellness works best when we support one another. Consider creating employee-led peer groups focused on different aspects of well-being—whether it’s physical health, mental wellness, caregiving or nutrition. These spaces can be powerful sources of support, connection and motivation.
You can use a digital bulletin board or even start a dedicated monthly meeting for employees to attend if they’re interested. When employees see their peers participating, they’re more likely to get involved and stay engaged.
7. Lead by Example
Wellness starts at the top. When leaders take breaks, prioritize their own well-being and encourage open conversations, employees are more likely to do the same.
Displaying healthy behaviors like taking breaks, using PTO or even sharing when you’ve sought support for stress or anxiety can help normalize conversations around mental health. This matters more than ever—nearly 29% of adults will experience depression at some point in their lives, yet stigma often prevents people from getting help.
Even small actions, like joining a walking meeting or checking in with your team about how they’re really doing, can build trust and reinforce a culture of care and compassion.
Let’s Keep It Going
Employee wellness isn’t just a once-a-year activity; it’s something we can build into our everyday culture. When you make small, consistent efforts to support your team’s well-being, you create a workplace where people feel valued, supported and ready to thrive!
