Without going to extremes, you can provide your employees with a way to figuratively get a healthy jump on 2020. (Photo: Shutterstock)
The new year is officially upon us. That means many employees will be setting and working toward their new year's goals! If you have a corporate well-being program, chances are you're encouraging and working with employees to do this—so it makes complete sense that you would also brainstorm and implement creative tactics to help them get a head start on their well-being goals in 2020.
Over the past couple years, I've seen our clients take a number of unique approaches. So I thought I'd share a few of my favorites—ideas I hope will inspire you to take action with your own employees in the new year.
Related: How employers can promote employee wellness
Ready, set, jump! Some people jump into frigid water to celebrate the new year. Without going to extremes, you too can provide your employees with a way to figuratively get a healthy jump on 2020. Consider a four-week "Jump Start" program. Have employees set a few short-term goals that will enable them to make headway towards bigger 2020 goals (perhaps variations on their New Year's resolutions).
Run a race in stiletto heels—or snow shoes! Can you picture your CEO running a 5K in stiletto heels? That's exactly what one financial services company did when their CEO helped raise awareness for its 5K charity race by jogging in heels! Employees raised money and participated in the race just for the chance to see their CEO (who happens to be male) strut his stuff in sparkly stiletto heels. A little too snowy to run a 5K this winter? Make it a snow shoe race instead!
Building—and donating—bikes. HR staff at one large biotech company work with employees to lead fun team-building activities—including an obstacle course where employees assemble new bicycles, race around the corporate campus, and then donate the fully-built and safety-checked bikes to a children's charity. This one hits the physical, emotional and social dimensions of wellbeing and has a charitable tie-in which appeals to many employees!
Crash the gates! It can be tough to reach employees who work "on the line" at manufacturing firms. So, one large chemical manufacturing company decided to get creative by having HR staff meet workers where they're at—via "gate crashing." The HR team greets employees at the plant's gate during shift changes. During this face-to-face time, HR team members distribute informational flyers, fruit and other incentives to promote current and upcoming well-being programs.
Get Freaky on Fridays. At one insurance company, leaders took center stage in a popular class called "spontaneous dance" on Fridays. It's 15 minutes of movement, similar to a flash mob, and just what employees need on a Friday afternoon to stay motivated and active. Imagine employees getting their groove on to J-Lo, Maroon 5 or Taylor Swift!
Well-being bingo. Consider a new year's-themed bingo-style program to create awareness about your well-being program and increase participation in activities around well-being, stress, fitness, and volunteerism. Have participants complete tasks on their bingo cards designed to help them boost their well-being—such as limiting screen time, taking stretch breaks and walking more. When they finish the activity squares, participants can shout an invigorating "Bingo!!!" and have a strong start to the new year!
The start of any new year can be challenging for employees as they attempt to start working toward their healthy eating and fitness goals. But, with your help, they can make it to the finish line! I hope the creative tactics I shared above help you think differently about how you can motivate and inspire your employees to stay true to their health and fitness goals as they start the New Year!
Ann Wyatt is vice president, program management & engagement at HealthFitness where she oversees a national account management team. Her role includes strategy development and driving engagement for new and existing health management and corporate fitness programs, employee recruiting and training, program quality assurance and operations management.
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