Employee wellness programs are nothing new, but they do seem to be more prominent these days. This is probably due in part to our increasing awareness about some of the health risks of strenuous work environments.

We know that a sedentary lifestyle can be very harmful, that staring at screens without interruption can be problematic, and that breaking up a day with active intervals can increase productivity.

It’s also been pointed out that healthier employees cost less, and that morale improves alongside wellness, which makes these programs beneficial for companies as well!

Ultimately it’s fairly easy to make sense of why wellness programs are necessary or beneficial. What’s a little bit trickier is implementing one successfully. But there are a few things you can consider in order to do just that.

1. Install Standing Or Adjustable Desks

We touched on the fact that a sedentary lifestyle can be devastating to one’s health, and one of the quickest ways to alter that lifestyle in the workplace is to install special desks that allow employees to stand when they want to.

There are unfortunately dozens of competing options out there, so you’ll want to read reviews of the desks before you choose which ones to install. But this is a generally affordable idea that can make a real difference on a day-to-day basis.

2. Welcome Pets

This is of course only possible if you first make sure that none of your employees mind having a few furry friends around. If that’s the case, however, a pet-friendly office can work wonders for wellness.

Animals keep things interesting, reduce stress, and even necessitate a couple of walks here and there, with the cumulative effect that the day becomes a little less monotonous and a little more active.

3. Start A Weight Loss Incentive

Provided your employees agree to it, you can even make something of a game out of weight loss, perhaps with a small bonus as an incentive. It sounds gimmicky, but this sort of thing can work.

You may recall an episode of the TV comedy The Office in which a character lost weight as part of a similar program. And a few years ago a man in the UK managed to win £5,000 after placing a bet on himself to lose 100 lbs. in a year!

You probably won’t come up with anything quite that extreme, but these little anecdotes are merely to suggest that incentives can work.

4. Encourage Activity Outside Of Work

You’re doing this to some extent merely by proposing a weight loss incentive. But this is more about communal activity. It may mean scheduling a hiking retreat now and then on a weekend, or perhaps starting a softball or ultimate Frisbee team that everyone can participate on.

Of course, you don’t want to set unrealistic goals for socialization outside of working hours – your employees need their personal lives! But providing this sort of optional, active outlet can encourage regular exercise.