Gone are the days when companies only cared about profits, beating the competition, and chasing recognition. Today, employee wellness is at the heart of how successful businesses operate.
It’s no longer a perk. It’s essential to attract top talent, retain valuable employees, and foster a positive work culture.
Companies that step out of the old corporate mold and genuinely prioritize their people see incredible results:
Note that employee wellness programs aren’t a recent invention. In fact, companies have been experimenting with them for over a century.
One of the most notable examples came in 1979, when Johnson & Johnson launched its “Live for Life” program. It equipped employees with tools and resources for activities such as stress management and nutrition (1).
Since then, wellness initiatives have become a staple across industries, shaping the entire employee experience.
They start making an impact as early as the recruitment process.
Around 9 out of 10 employees consider the benefits package when choosing an employer, and more than half of Gen Zers and millennials rank wellness programs as essential or extremely important in their job search (2).
In this article, we’ll explore how to develop effective wellness programs tailored to your organization and share activities that can significantly contribute to achieving your wellness goals.
Let’s get started!
Corporate wellness programs have been a highly researched topic for decades.
Although incentives play a role in boosting wellness, research shows that the true success of any program depends on its quality, accessibility, and ability to meet employees’ evolving needs.
A good corporate wellness plan goes beyond one-size-fits-all solutions, focusing on engagement, inclusivity, and meaningful impact.
Now, let’s take a good look at what a good corporate wellness program looks like:
One of the biggest challenges for wellness programs is achieving high participation rates. Even the most well-designed initiative won’t succeed if employees don’t join in.
A 2021 Gartner report states that lowering entry barriers is essential (3).
This lowering process means:
Employees who see real value and convenience are more likely to engage.
It’s 2025, and employees want greater autonomy in managing their well-being, unlike the traditional autocratic cultures.
The best wellness programs recognize this and provide flexibility. This customized approach means that individuals take responsibility for their own health.
Examples include:
This balance of company-wide initiatives and personalized options ensures that wellness activities for employees are relevant and impactful.
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Rising healthcare costs and absenteeism are prompting organizations to prioritize prevention. A Fortune Business Insight report stated that many employers now invest in preventive health measures (4).
Strong programs integrate initiatives such as:
Preventive wellness activities reduce long-term costs and establish healthier habits that benefit employees inside and outside of work.
Modern wellness programs cannot ignore the growing need for mental health support.
Reports indicate that three-quarters of U.S. employees experience stress that impacts their sleep, while 80% consider mental health support a crucial factor when evaluating employers (5).
Effective programs are addressing this with:
By addressing mental well-being directly, employers build trust and create healthier, more resilient teams.
A growing trend in corporate wellness is extending programs beyond the employee to include spouses and family members.
Studies show that people are more likely to adopt and sustain healthy habits (such as becoming active, losing weight, or quitting smoking) when they do it with a partner or loved one (6).
To support this, many companies now include free spouse accounts and “above and beyond” activities that encourage family involvement.
Examples include:
Incorporating families creates stronger support systems at home, which helps employees stay motivated and engaged at work.
However, we need to address the elephant in the room here.
Many companies flaunt their wellness programs as a way to invest in their employees.
Sadly, some of these initiatives focus more on reducing healthcare costs and offering gym discounts, but often fail to provide step challenges that workers can utilize during their busy schedules.
Even with good intentions, many wellness programs fall short because they’re designed with a “set it and forget it” approach. They often don’t fully support what employees actually need at work or in their personal lives.
Gartner’s 2021 Employee Value Proposition Benchmarking Survey revealed that while 87% of employees have access to mental and emotional well-being programs, only 23% utilize them. The same trend holds for physical and financial wellness offerings (3).
As quiet quitting gains traction and companies struggle to fill open roles, employers must prioritize updating and enhancing their wellness offerings.
Read more: What Is Corporate Wellness? A Complete Guide to Workplace Wellness
Employees are the lifeblood of any organization. Even a small-scale setup runs successfully if the human force behind it is driven and focused.
We’ve highlighted how a good wellness program encompasses all potential aspects that could harm workers’ physical and mental health.
A wellness program can take many forms, depending on a company’s culture, size, and goals. It could be as simple as providing nutritional knowledge to people or as structured as catering to the wellness of entire families.
Fortunately, most companies are now working towards the holistic development of their people. The 2019 Employer Health Benefit Survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation reported that 84% of companies with more than 200 employees offered such a program (7).
Are you looking to transform both your business and the lives of your team members? BetterMe corporate wellness solutions provide a holistic approach to physical and mental health that boosts productivity and job satisfaction.
From a larger perspective, wellness programs may cover the following:
Companies that genuinely support their employees’ mental and physical health are significantly less likely to experience employee turnover. When people stick around, they naturally build stronger connections with their coworkers, which boosts teamwork, morale, and loyalty.
In fact, employees in solid wellness programs are 7 times more likely to say they have meaningful friendships at work. And that sense of belonging really matters.
It doubles the chances of a raise and makes promotions 18 times more likely (8)!
Therefore, a corporate wellness program isn’t a secret code to apply anywhere.
It’s strategically designed after scanning what the workforce wants.
Additionally, wellness programs may require updates in response to market demands and cultural considerations. Sometimes, even no-cost wellness ideas, such as candid conversations with employees, can reap substantial rewards.
Read more: Why Is Corporate Wellness Important?
Wellness program activities are developed after HR teams identify the gaps in the work culture.
Some organizations may need to focus on physical wellness, while others can benefit more from mental wellness activities for employees.
The best ones are flexible, easy to join, and offer something for everyone on the team.
Here’s a quick roundup of potential wellness activities you can conduct for your employees:
Sometimes, unique activities spark the most engagement.
Examples include:
Your organization may already have some of these programs in place.
Nonetheless, it’s essential to reevaluate the existing ones and tweak them or introduce new ones, if necessary. If your company has no active wellness initiatives, it’s time to work on integrating one right away.
If you’re serious about standing out as an employer people want to stick with, investing in wellness isn’t optional anymore.
When creativity meets empathy, innovation in corporate wellness can yield significant benefits. Instead of sticking to the usual perks, try a “laughter yoga” session midweek or a silent disco break to reset your energy levels.
You could also offer nature-based mini-retreats where employees spend an afternoon outdoors walking, journaling, and unplugging.
These aren’t just “nice to have” ideas.
Unique wellness activities like these demonstrate to your team that you value more than just their output. You value their whole lives. That kind of investment pays off in improved morale, increased loyalty, and reduced burnout.
Take the leap, listen to feedback, and push your wellness program from average to unforgettable. Your people and your bottom line will thank you!
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