Creating Workplace Wellness Challenges That Actually Work

Are your employees enthusiastic about coming to work each day? Or do they drag themselves through the door, counting down the hours until they can leave? Employee wellness isn’t just a trendy concept—it’s becoming essential for businesses that want to thrive. Wellness challenges offer a practical solution that can transform your workplace culture while improving health outcomes for your team.

But how do you design wellness initiatives that employees actually want to participate in? And what makes some challenges succeed while others fizzle out after the initial excitement?

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about implementing effective workplace wellness challenges that engage your employees and deliver meaningful results for your business.

What Are Workplace Wellness Challenges?

Workplace wellness challenges are organized activities designed to promote healthy behaviors among employees. These structured programs encourage staff to adopt positive habits related to physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and other aspects of wellbeing.

Unlike traditional wellness programs that might focus on individual health assessments or education, challenges add elements of friendly competition, teamwork, and time-bound goals to make wellness more engaging.

At their core, wellness challenges serve multiple purposes:

They provide structure and motivation for developing healthy habits
They create shared experiences that strengthen workplace relationships
They demonstrate your company’s commitment to employee wellbeing
They make health improvement fun rather than a chore

A well-designed wellness challenge transforms healthy behaviors from something employees feel they “should” do into something they actively want to participate in.

Why Your Business Should Implement Wellness Challenges

The benefits of wellness challenges extend far beyond simply checking a box for your company’s health initiatives. When thoughtfully implemented, these programs deliver measurable returns for businesses of all sizes.

Improved Employee Health and Wellbeing

The most obvious benefit is improved physical and mental health among your workforce. Regular wellness challenges can help:

Reduce stress levels and burnout symptoms
Improve physical fitness and energy levels
Enhance sleep quality and duration
Develop better nutrition habits
Decrease health risk factors like high blood pressure or cholesterol

A healthier workforce translates directly to business benefits: fewer sick days, lower healthcare costs, and higher productivity levels throughout the workday.

Enhanced Employee Loyalty and Retention

In a tight labor market, keeping your best talent is crucial. Wellness challenges demonstrate that you care about employees as people, not just as productivity units. This investment in their wellbeing fosters loyalty that pays dividends:

Employees feel valued beyond their job functions
Team members develop stronger connections to the workplace
Staff satisfaction increases, reducing turnover intention
Your company becomes more attractive to potential new hires

Consider the example of Draper, Inc., a manufacturing company that implemented a comprehensive wellness program including regular challenges. They saw their turnover rate drop from 33% to just 3% over several years—a dramatic improvement attributed largely to their wellness initiatives.

Stronger Company Culture and Team Bonding

Wellness challenges create shared experiences that break down departmental silos and hierarchical barriers. When employees participate together in health-focused activities:

Communication improves across teams and departments
Employees develop relationships outside their immediate work groups
A sense of camaraderie develops through shared goals
The workplace becomes more enjoyable and engaging

Zappos, known for its exceptional company culture, regularly incorporates wellness challenges into its employee experience. Their team-based fitness challenges and nutrition competitions have become integral parts of their workplace identity, contributing to their consistently high employee satisfaction ratings.

Measurable Business Impact

Beyond the human factors, wellness challenges deliver concrete business results:

Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism (working while sick)
Lower healthcare costs and insurance premiums
Increased productivity and work quality
Enhanced company reputation as an employer of choice

Johnson & Johnson, an early adopter of comprehensive wellness programs, estimates they’ve saved $250 million on healthcare costs over a decade, with a return of $2.71 for every dollar spent on wellness initiatives.

Effective Types of Wellness Challenges

The most successful wellness programs offer variety to engage employees with different interests and health goals. Here are several categories of challenges that have proven effective in workplace settings:

Physical Health Challenges

These focus on increasing movement and physical activity:

Step Challenges: Perhaps the most common wellness initiative, step challenges encourage employees to increase daily walking. They’re popular because they’re simple to understand and accessible to most employees regardless of fitness level.

Workout Bingo: Create bingo cards with different exercises in each square. Employees mark off activities as they complete them, aiming for lines or full cards.

Deskercise Challenge: Develop a series of exercises employees can do at their desks. Challenge staff to complete a certain number of “deskercise” breaks each day.

Fitness Class Exploration: Encourage employees to try different fitness classes (in-person or virtual) over a month, with points for each new class type.

Nutrition Challenges

Eating habits significantly impact overall health and energy levels:

Eat Your Vegetables: Challenge employees to eat a certain number of vegetable servings daily.

Water Intake Challenge: Encourage proper hydration by tracking daily water consumption.

Meal Prep Monday: Participants share photos of their prepared healthy lunches or dinners.

Sugar Reduction Challenge: Help employees become aware of hidden sugars by tracking and gradually reducing sugar intake.

Mental Health Challenges

Mental wellbeing deserves equal attention in your wellness program:

Mindfulness Minutes: Challenge employees to practice mindfulness or meditation for a set number of minutes each day.

Gratitude Journal: Participants record three things they’re grateful for daily.

Digital Detox: Encourage limited screen time outside of work hours.

Stress Management Techniques: Introduce a new stress-reduction technique each week for employees to practice.

Social and Community Challenges

These challenges strengthen connections while promoting wellness:

Charity Fitness Challenge: Convert activity (steps, miles, minutes exercised) into company donations to charity.

Volunteer Day Challenge: Encourage teams to volunteer together for community service.

Random Acts of Kindness: Challenge employees to perform and document kind gestures for colleagues or community members.

Team Adventure Challenge: Organize outdoor activities like hiking or kayaking for teams to complete together.

Other Popular Challenge Categories

Expand your wellness program with these additional focus areas:

Financial Wellness: Challenges around saving, budgeting, or financial education.

Sustainability Challenges: Initiatives to reduce waste, save energy, or adopt eco-friendly habits.

Sleep Improvement: Challenges tracking sleep duration and quality, with education on sleep hygiene.

Learning and Growth: Challenges focused on reading, learning new skills, or personal development.

Designing Wellness Challenges That Actually Work

The difference between successful wellness challenges and those that fizzle out often comes down to thoughtful design. Follow these principles to create initiatives that genuinely engage your team:

Keep It Simple

Complex rules or tracking requirements create barriers to participation. Design challenges with:

Clear, easy-to-understand goals
Simple tracking methods
Minimal time commitment requirements
Straightforward rules and scoring

For example, rather than creating complex point systems based on multiple metrics, a step challenge might simply track average daily steps with a clear target (e.g., 8,000 steps per day).

Leverage Technology Wisely

The right tech tools make challenges more engaging and easier to manage:

Mobile apps for convenient tracking
Wearable devices that automatically record activity
Online platforms that display leaderboards and progress
Automated reminders and encouragement

Many small businesses successfully use free or low-cost options like:

Stridekick for step challenges
MyFitnessPal for nutrition tracking
Slack channels for challenge communication
Google Forms for simple progress reporting

However, avoid making technology a requirement that might exclude some employees. Always provide alternative tracking methods for those who prefer them.

Foster Accountability Through Small Teams

Individual challenges can feel isolating, while very large group challenges make personal contribution feel insignificant. Small teams create the perfect balance:

Groups of 3-5 employees create meaningful accountability
Team formats encourage peer support and motivation
Mixed-department teams build cross-functional relationships
Small groups foster personal connection and encouragement

Consider forming teams that mix departments, seniority levels, and physical locations to strengthen organizational bonds.

Secure Visible Leadership Support

When leaders actively participate in wellness challenges, participation rates increase dramatically:

Executives should join challenges alongside regular employees
Managers should discuss challenges in team meetings
Leadership should share their own progress and experiences
Company communications should highlight the importance of the initiatives

At Clif Bar, executives regularly participate in company fitness challenges, creating a culture where wellness is visibly valued at all organizational levels.

Appoint Wellness Champions

Designated wellness champions can dramatically increase engagement:

Select enthusiastic employees from different departments
Provide them with resources and information to promote challenges
Empower them to answer questions and provide support
Recognize their contribution to the program’s success

These champions serve as the human face of your wellness program, making it more accessible and relatable to all employees.

Motivating Participation Through Rewards and Recognition

Even the best-designed challenge needs effective incentives to maximize participation. Consider these approaches:

Meaningful Rewards

The most effective rewards align with wellness goals and company values:

Health-related items (water bottles, fitness trackers, etc.)
Wellness experiences (massage gift cards, fitness class passes)
Extra paid time off or “wellness days”
Contributions to health savings accounts
Healthy catered lunches or snack deliveries

While monetary rewards can be effective, non-monetary recognition often provides better long-term motivation for wellness activities.

Recognition for All Participants

While winners deserve acknowledgment, recognizing all participants encourages continued engagement:

Certificates of completion for everyone who finishes
Company-wide recognition of all participants
Celebration events that include everyone involved
Highlighting personal improvements rather than just top performers

This approach prevents wellness challenges from becoming activities that only appeal to already-fit employees.

Creating Positive Competition

The competitive element should motivate without discouraging those who don’t win:

Focus on improvement rather than absolute performance
Create multiple award categories (most improved, most consistent, etc.)
Implement team challenges where cooperation balances competition
Keep leaderboards positive by highlighting achievements rather than shortcomings

Remember that the primary goal is health improvement, not winning at all costs.

Enhancing Engagement Through Gamification and Communication

Effective communication and gamification elements can significantly boost participation and enjoyment.

Gamification Strategies

Game elements make wellness activities more engaging:

Points systems that reward consistent participation
Levels or badges to mark achievements
Surprise challenges or bonus opportunities
Progress visualization (digital or physical)
Storylines or themes that make challenges more immersive

For example, a walking challenge might include a virtual “trek” across a famous trail, with milestones marked by interesting facts about locations “reached” through accumulated steps.

Communication Best Practices

Clear, consistent communication keeps challenges top-of-mind:

Launch with excitement and clear explanation
Provide regular updates on overall progress
Share success stories and testimonials
Send encouraging reminders without becoming annoying
Create dedicated communication channels for challenge discussions

Consider a multi-channel approach using email, messaging platforms, physical posters, and team meetings to ensure information reaches everyone.

Feedback and Iteration

The most successful wellness programs continuously improve based on participant feedback:

Collect input before, during, and after challenges
Make adjustments based on what you learn
Track metrics to measure effectiveness
Build on successful elements in future challenges
Address barriers identified through feedback

This approach creates a wellness program that grows more effective and engaging over time.

Sample Wellness Challenge Ideas Ready to Implement

Looking for specific challenges to get started? Here are ready-to-implement ideas organized by timeframe:

Daily Wellness Activities

These quick activities can be incorporated into daily work routines:

Water First: Employees drink a full glass of water before their morning coffee or tea.

Midday Movement: Everyone stops for a 3-minute stretch break at noon.

Gratitude Moment: Teams share one thing they’re grateful for at the start of daily meetings.

Posture Check: Random “posture check” reminders prompt employees to adjust their sitting position.

Deep Breathing Break: Three deep breathing exercises before returning from lunch.

Weekly Challenge Events

These provide structure throughout the week:

Meatless Monday: Encouraging plant-based meals to start the week.

Take the Stairs Tuesday: Elevator avoidance day.

Walking Meeting Wednesday: Conduct appropriate meetings while walking.

Thoughtful Thursday: Practice random acts of kindness.

Fruit Friday: Company provides fresh fruit for snacking.

Monthly Wellness Initiatives

These longer challenges allow for more significant habit formation:

Month of Mindfulness: Daily meditation sessions starting at just 2 minutes and gradually increasing.

Hydration Station: Track water intake with a goal of increasing consumption throughout the month.

Sleep Improvement Month: Focus on developing better sleep habits with weekly education and tracking.

Financial Wellness Series: Weekly financial education sessions paired with personal finance challenges.

Implementing Your First Wellness Challenge: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to launch your first wellness challenge? Follow these steps for success:

Assess Employee Interests: Survey staff to determine which wellness areas interest them most.
Set Clear Objectives: Define what you hope to achieve with your wellness challenge.
Choose an Appropriate Challenge: Select a challenge type that aligns with employee interests and company goals.
Determine Timing: Choose a timeframe that avoids major work deadlines or holiday periods.
Establish Rules and Tracking Methods: Create simple, clear guidelines and easy tracking systems.
Prepare Communication Materials: Develop announcements, instructions, and promotional materials.
Select and Brief Wellness Champions: Identify enthusiastic employees to help promote the challenge.
Launch with Excitement: Kick off the challenge with energy and clear information.
Monitor Progress and Provide Support: Keep track of participation and address any issues.
Celebrate Completion: Recognize participants and achievements when the challenge concludes.
Gather Feedback: Collect input on what worked well and what could be improved.
Plan Your Next Challenge: Use feedback to design an even better follow-up initiative.

Measuring Success: Beyond Participation Numbers

How do you know if your wellness challenges are truly making a difference? Look beyond simple participation counts to measure:

Health Metrics: Anonymous aggregate data on health improvements
Absenteeism Rates: Tracking sick days before and after implementing challenges
Employee Satisfaction: Surveys measuring changes in workplace satisfaction
Productivity Indicators: Work output and quality measurements
Retention Impact: Turnover rates compared to pre-wellness program periods
Healthcare Costs: Long-term trends in company healthcare expenses

These metrics provide a more complete picture of your wellness program’s business impact.

Overcoming Common Wellness Challenge Obstacles

Even well-designed wellness programs face challenges. Here’s how to address common obstacles:

Participation Barriers

If employees aren’t participating, consider:

Simplifying challenge requirements
Offering multiple ways to engage
Ensuring activities are accessible to all ability levels
Addressing privacy concerns about health data
Providing time during work hours for participation

Maintaining Momentum

When enthusiasm wanes:

Introduce surprise elements or bonus opportunities
Share success stories to reinvigorate interest
Provide additional encouragement from leadership
Send friendly reminders and progress updates
Adjust goals if they prove too challenging or too easy

Inclusivity Concerns

Ensure your program works for everyone:

Design challenges accessible to employees with disabilities
Consider remote workers in your challenge design
Accommodate different fitness levels and health conditions
Respect cultural differences in approaches to health
Offer alternatives for those unable to participate in specific activities

Bringing It All Together

Workplace wellness challenges offer a powerful opportunity to improve employee health while strengthening your company culture. When thoughtfully designed and implemented, these initiatives create lasting value for both your team members and your business.

The most successful wellness programs share key characteristics:

They focus on making healthy behaviors enjoyable, not just mandatory
They create social connections through team-based activities
They receive visible support from company leadership
They evolve based on participant feedback and measured results
They become integrated into the workplace culture rather than existing as isolated events

By incorporating the strategies outlined in this guide, you can create wellness challenges that genuinely engage your employees and deliver meaningful health improvements.

Taking the First Step

You don’t need an elaborate program to begin. Start with a single, simple challenge based on employee interests. Measure the results, gather feedback, and use what you learn to build a more comprehensive wellness program over time.

Remember that consistency matters more than complexity. Regular, simple challenges often prove more effective than occasional elaborate ones. Focus on creating sustainable healthy habits rather than dramatic short-term changes.

Your investment in employee wellness through engaging challenges will pay dividends in improved health, stronger workplace relationships, and enhanced company performance.

Additional Resources

For further guidance on implementing effective wellness challenges:

The Wellness Council of America (WELCOA) offers resources specifically for small and medium businesses
The CDC Workplace Health Resource Center provides free tools and guidance
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) offers wellness program templates and best practices

Consider exploring how CrewHR’s employee scheduling tools can support your wellness initiatives by making it easier to coordinate challenge activities and track participation. Effective scheduling ensures employees have time to engage in wellness activities while maintaining productivity.

What wellness challenge will you implement first? We’d love to hear about your experiences and success stories as you enhance employee engagement through workplace wellness.