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As a manager, you may notice things throughout the year that your employees do that make you proud. And then there are other things that you know could be improved.
The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to start implementing employee wellness programs that can help boost employees’ confidence, health, engagement, and morale, all while developing a teamwork mentality. Wellness programs can truly make a difference in how much employees feel cared for, both inside and outside the organization.
There are hundreds of employee wellness ideas you can use every month throughout 2022, and they’re inexpensive, easy, and fun. Do them once or continue them throughout the year in tandem. Come up with creative ideas based on your team’s needs, or use some of our favorites for inspiration.
10 General Employee Wellness Ideas for 2022
- Make note of birthdays and work anniversaries to make sure you acknowledge each employee’s day throughout the year. The acknowledgement can be a day off, a small gift, or simply a greeting card.
- If your business is large enough, consider creating a small gym with a few cardio machines and free weights. If you already have a gym, see if you can make some updates or additions. In addition to enhancing physical health, exercise can improve one’s mood, boost mental health, and relieve stress, all of which contribute to a more positive and productive work environment. If you don’t have the space, offer discounts to a local gym if that’s not already a part of your employee benefits package.
- Plan virtual lunches once a week throughout the year to help your team members get to know one another better, which is especially necessary if they live in multiple states. Keep the discussions light and fun; you can talk about work during your other meetings.
- While considering everyone’s dietary needs and restrictions, keep healthy snacks available for individuals who work in the office.
- Host monthly, one-time seminars and classes, such as a fun cooking demonstration, fitness training, retirement seminar, art/painting class, music appreciation, crafts, and so on.
Special seminars, such as a painting class, may help your team members discover talents they never knew they had.
- Ask each employee if there are charitable organizations they would particularly like to support, and make efforts to do so throughout the year for some if not all of these organizations. You could host charity drives, volunteer with the organization, or increase awareness of the cause.
- For teams that work in the office, invest in ergonomically designed furniture and equipment that can make them feel more comfortable and productive. Be willing to buy (within reason) similar furniture and equipment for employees who work remotely, if they are interested. Include comforting, soothing design elements throughout the office.
- Ask your employees what is working and what they feel could be improved. Nothing can kill an employee’s morale like the perception that he or she is not being heard, so make sure you listen to their opinions and needs.
- Host on-site or virtual yoga classes once or twice a month. Alternatively, set aside time for mindfulness techniques to relieve stress.
- Join a recreational community sports league. You pretty much can’t get more benefits than that: a feeling of camaraderie, a winning spirit, and teamwork development while boosting the physical and mental health of those who participate.
An Idea for Every Month
Support from the team may help employees stay on track toward their New Year fitness goals.
January
Help yourself and others stay on track with their New Year’s resolutions by offering small rewards for those who excel.
February
During this American Heart Month, promote heart health by bringing in professional providers for free, private health screenings.
March
March can be a very long, dreary month here in Michigan, so warm it up with laughter. Spontaneously host a virtual or in-person Improv Comedy Day or Hour. It can be a great way to bring out someone’s personality and make them feel more comfortable. And you know what they say about laughter and medicine. (If some of your team members are more introverted, that’s OK. Don’t force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do. That’s who they are too, after all, and you value them just as they are.)
April
Combine spring cleaning and charity. Ask your employees to donate used clothing, household items they no longer need, and outdoor wear. Collect them in the office throughout the month because seeing how much is being donated can be inspirational. Send them to your team’s favorite charity or charities on April 30, and make this an annual tradition.
May
Plant a community plant or vegetable garden right outside if you have the land. Team members would feel a sense of ownership and have something to look forward to when they come into work. Plus, it’s good for the environment. If you don’t have the land, consider a small indoor garden or place plants around the office that people can help maintain.
June
Plan a walk-to-lunch day once a week. Meet for lunch at a nearby park, and encourage employees to walk together to the park and back. It’s a combination of fitness, team building, and getting some sun for its mental health benefits.
July
Show your team’s patriotism by busting out in song. Every day at about noon or 11 a.m. throughout the month, play a patriotic or otherwise fun American-themed song. (Think Lee Greenwood.) Encourage the team to sing along out loud – and loudly. No lip syncing allowed. The benefits: stress relief, mood boost, and probably a lot of laughter.
A field day featuring sports and games can be an excellent team-building opportunity.
August
Go all out for field day, perhaps on a Saturday, with picnic foods, drinks, and games. Organize a full baseball game, compete in volleyball games, set out the cornhole boards for tournaments, and bring out the basketballs. If you want to invite families, include features for the children such as bounce houses, or hold the event at a park that has a splash pad. Sometimes, employees need to get to know each other outside of a work environment in order to resolve unspoken conflicts and feel more connected.
September
September is for the soul. Post daily inspirational quotes on a wall or board in the office or through your digital office communication system. Rotate the responsibility of finding a quote around the office, or do it all yourself in order to simplify it.
October
Just for kicks, host a pumpkin-carving challenge. Post images of the jack-o-lanterns on your business social media pages with a poll allowing viewers to choose their favorites. Encourage employees to share the poll or post on their personal pages as well. It might not seem like much, but art can be a healthy outlet. And you watch and see: your team members will be counting down the days until they can do it again in 2023.
November
“Tell me something good. What are you grateful for today?” Set up an anonymous online spreadsheet or digital survey that can be shared with the entire team. Ask all employees to list something they are grateful for, something good they did, or something good that happened to them that day. Continue for the entire month to create a contagiously positive vibe throughout the office. And the basics like, “I’m grateful for my family and my health,” are not enough. Remind them to be more creative and genuine in their submissions, which is why we encourage anonymity.
December
Start all over again. Consider a whole team resolution for 2023. Is there something you all want to do in 2023 to better yourselves on a personal level? Is there room for work-related improvement? Discuss this together to create a team bonding moment.
(Michigan Planners assists businesses of all sizes in boosting their employee wellness and engagement initiatives. Call one of our offices, located in Washington Township, Traverse City, and East Lansing, to see how we can help you in 2022.)