High engagement employee wellness challenges may be familiar to some employees; while for others these activities can provide an exciting new experience. Companies who regularly implement wellness challenges experience happier and healthier employees leading to long-term benefits for all involved.
But, what exactly are corporate wellness challenges and how can they help your team?
What Are Corporate Wellness Challenges?
What Are Corporate Wellness Challenges? Corporate wellness challenges are structured tasks aimed at improving overall well-being for employees. Topics offered should cover all six pillars of wellness: physical, nutritional, mental & emotional, sleep, occupational or financial wellness. They may consist of daily, weekly or ongoing activities aimed at meeting specific health goals.
At WellSteps, we have over 16 pre-designed Challenges as well as the ability for users to create fully custom challenges-picking any topic and unit of measurement. But, we don’t stop there, we even let the participant decide if they want to work on the Challenge alone or invite their peers for some friendly competition and social support.
One such challenge is the Step It Up Challenge, in which participants add steps (manual or via a synced device) to summit 14 of the tallest peaks in the world. WellSteps Challenges have been specifically designed to achieve high engagement rates, facilitate fun, and improve employee health across a variety of wellness areas.
Does My Company Need Challenges?
Why should companies invest in corporate wellness challenges? The benefits are clear.
Here is our list of eight major benefits you can enjoy from high engagement wellness challenges for employees:
1. Improved Physical Health
Wellness challenges encourage physical activity – which is vital for overall health. Physical challenges could be anything from a bike-to-work day, boycott the elevator, walking meetings only days, or run of the mill step challenges. At WellSteps, we present challenges and initiatives such as the Quest to 10,000 Steps Challenge or Daily 30 Challenge to help employees remain active even if they lack time for regular exercises outside of work.
2. Improve Mental Health
Workplace stress can be a great source of anxiety and illness; unchecked stress can lead to burnout, poor sleep habits and unhealthy behaviors that put a strain on health in general. Wellness challenges that focus on mental well-being can make an enormous difference for employees and organizations. Consider this, the American Institute of Stress studies reveal that 80% of workers experience stress at work, with 25% reporting feeling overwhelmed or like screaming because of it.
Stress reduction and sleep improvement Challenges that focus on stress reduction techniques, meditation, positivity, etc. can impact the stress level of employees by utilizing simple strategies everyday.
3. Increased Productivity
Studies conducted by the American Psychological Association show that healthy employees are more focused and efficient. A survey by 91% of employees who participated in wellness initiatives showed an increase in motivation when their company supported these programs.
High engagement wellness challenges also have the power to reduce absenteeism. When employees come prepared and in good health, they are more likely to show up to work and deliver optimal performances – making these programs beneficial to both staff and employers alike.
4. Strengthened Team Relationships
Wellness challenges strengthen bonds between employees and management. Activities encourage teamwork and camaraderie in an informal setting leading to teams bonding over shared goals, creating true allies rather than mere colleagues.
5. Greater Job Satisfaction Job satisfaction
It is no secret that employee job satisfaction goes beyond salary alone: it’s about feeling appreciated and supported at work. Wellness programs including wellness Challenges demonstrate this truth by showing employees they matter as individuals while contributing to a sense of belonging and fulfillment for all employees involved.
In short, happier employees tend to remain with your company longer, saving your company money and building a positive image as an employer.
6. Decreased Turnover Rates
Happily employed employees tend to remain with your company longer, saving on costly recruitment and training efforts for replacement employees. Wellness challenges foster loyalty by creating an office culture that prioritizes employee health and happiness. Employees feel valued by their employer and recognize that their company sees them as an individual-not just a number on a page.
Moreover, according to research by Reward & Employee Benefits Association (REBA), 60% of employees feel that benefits packages, including wellness challenges are a main contributor to their continued employment.
7. Building Healthy Habits for Life
Corporate wellness challenges are the catalyst to change motivating individual to make lasting lifestyle changes. Small actions, like drinking more water or increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, have lasting benefits that make an impactful statement about employee care.
8. Cultivate A Greener and Healthier Culture
Wellness challenges like biking to work or reducing waste not only improve employees’ health but also demonstrate your company’s care for both its staff and the planet, creating an atmosphere of responsibility and care within your workplace.
Now What?
Starting corporate wellness challenges doesn’t need to be difficult – begin with simple, engaging activities tailored specifically for your team’s interests. If you’re not sure what would drive the most engagement? Talk to them-see what they want then, head over to WellSteps to see how we can implement our proven effective Challenges in your workplace.
At WellSteps, we:
- Specialize in creating tailored corporate wellness programs that address physical, mental, and emotional well-being with our gamified challenges that promote engagement.
- Provide tracking tools to measure progress and outcomes.
- Offer an extensive library of ideas and resources including over 20 pre-designed Challenges.
- And, give the individual users power over their health by allowing fully custom Challenges where they choose their topic, gameboard, unit, title and even who participates.
So, what’s the bottom line? High engagement wellness challenges are more than activities; they’re investments in your team’s health, happiness, and productivity. By prioritizing employee well-being in the workplace, you will create an environment in which employees want to remain, flourish, and give their best effort.
Are you ready to transform the workplace culture with high engagement wellness challenges? Come visit WellSteps to discover how we can assist with designing and implementing effective corporate wellness programs tailored specifically for your organization.
Better yet, sign up for the WellSteps Report-our newsletter packed full of wellness topics, trends and recommendations to help you do wellness better.
