How to Develop a Budget-Friendly Employee Wellness Program
An employee wellness program is good for your employees and your business; wellness programs result in greater productivity, improved health, reduced absenteeism, and greater team spirit in the workplace. In addition, wellness programs are increasingly a deciding factor for talented candidates when choosing between prospective employers, so give your company a competitive advantage by ensuring yours is attractive.
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While wellness is now a priority for both employees and organizations, many companies lack the budget or resources to implement all-encompassing, personalized programs. Fortunately, you can put together a wellness program that provides your teams with health benefits and an improved work-life balance without breaking the bank.
To get you started, here are some easy, low-cost employee wellness program ideas for any workplace.
Paid Time Off. Giving your employees at least one day of PTO to use as they see fit won’t cost you much, but will do a lot for morale.
Pets at work. Pets are proven to reduce stress, so keep productivity high by allowing your employees to bring their furry friends to the office. Don’t want cats and dogs running amok? Limit it to once a month, or make it an annual event. Still too much? Install a calming aquarium in the office.
Group outings. Team events, like company picnics, can have a beneficial effect on your employees’ well-being so schedule one or two a year.
Ergonomic workstations. De-cluttered desks, chairs with back support, plenty of natural light and even standing desks - all easy and inexpensive ways to maintain employee wellness.
Plants in the office. Plants clean the air and produce oxygen - no more stuffy, stale office air making employees feel listless! Just remember to water them.
Incentives. If your employees choose to get healthy, reward them with incentives; reduced health insurance costs, movie tickets, and gift cards are all low-cost ways to meaningfully support them.
Fitness room. If your budget doesn’t stretch to gym memberships, create a workout area in your office stocked with second-hand gym equipment and mats, or add a basketball hoop to your parking lot. Make this even better by establishing…
Exercise clubs. Walking, running, soccer…whatever your employees’ interests, a club is a fun way to boost both their health and camaraderie with their colleagues. Have a large company? Start a company-wide league.
Flexible work schedules. This costs you nothing! Employees are very concerned with work-life balance, so offering them the flexibility to arrive at a time that suits them in the morning, leave early, or work from home is a huge, high-value wellness perk.
Free healthy snacks. Stock your breakroom with free healthy snacks and drinks. Avoiding processed, overly sweet or salty snacks is a quick and easy way to protect employees’ health and keep their energy levels up. Survey your employees to discover the types of healthy snacks they would like, and bulk-buy them.
Volunteer days. Contributing to the community will give your employees a sense of purpose. A team day dedicated to volunteering allows employees to give back, gives their teamwork skills a nice boost, and assures them that they’re working for an employer that cares, not a corporate machine.