Offering employee wellness programs/perks is easy. Making people want to use them? That’s the real challenge.
Today’s teams are stretched thin, juggling deadlines, Zoom fatigue, and everything in between. A generic wellness program won’t cut it. To move the needle on employee health, companies need incentives that feel personal, motivating, and maybe even a little fun.
That doesn’t mean throwing money at meditation apps and calling it a day. It means understanding what your people care about – and giving them a reason to care about wellness at work.
In this guide, we’re breaking down real-life wellness incentives that work (and a few that don’t). Whether you’re building a new initiative or rethinking an old one, these ideas will help you design a program people want to join.
Understanding Wellness Programs and Incentives
Before diving into incentive ideas, it’s important to understand the basics. What exactly is a wellness program? And how do incentives fit into the picture?
What Is a Wellness Program?
A wellness program is a company-supported initiative designed to help employees improve their physical, mental, and emotional health. These programs can be formal or informal, virtual or in-person, and vary widely in size and scope.
At their core, employee wellness programs are about creating a work environment where people feel supported in caring for their overall well-being – not just their job performance. This can include everything from gym reimbursements and nutrition workshops to stress management resources and flexible schedules.
Many organizations run broader workplace wellness programs or corporate wellness programs that align with company culture, values, and long-term health goals.
Common Goals of a Wellness Program:
- Reduce burnout and absenteeism
- Improve productivity and focus
- Support mental health
- Lower healthcare costs
- Boost morale and employee engagement
Whether it’s a startup or an enterprise-level organization, company wellness programs are becoming a standard part of a healthy workplace strategy.
What Are Wellness Incentives?
Wellness incentives are rewards or motivators used to encourage participation in wellness activities. Think of them as nudges – small (or big) benefits that make it more appealing for employees to take care of their health.
These incentives can be built into a structured wellness incentive program for employees or offered more casually, depending on the organization’s size and resources.
Examples of Wellness Incentives:
- Fitness tracker giveaways
- Extra time off for completing health challenges
- Monthly rewards for top wellness participants
- Recognition awards for wellness engagement
- Discounts on health-related products or services
When done right, wellness incentives for employees are more than just perks – they’re part of a larger commitment to staff wellness and organizational culture.
Why Offer Wellness Incentives?
Offering wellness resources is a good start, but offering the right incentives? That’s how real change happens.
In most workplaces, people already know that exercise, sleep, and stress management are important. The problem isn’t awareness – it’s follow-through. That’s where well-designed wellness incentives for employees can make a real impact.
Why Incentives Drive Results
Let’s be honest: changing habits is hard. Even with a robust employee wellness program, participation can drop if there’s no clear reason to engage. That’s why offering wellness incentives – rewards that make participation feel worthwhile – can turn passive awareness into active involvement.
Incentives spark curiosity, create friendly competition, and build momentum. Over time, they help normalize healthy choices as part of your everyday workplace wellness program.
It’s About More Than Perks – It’s Culture
Effective wellness program incentives for employees don’t just offer freebies – they signal that the company genuinely values its people. When employees feel supported in managing their health, it boosts trust, morale, and loyalty.
Small rewards like fitness challenges or flexible breaks can open the door to deeper cultural shifts: fewer sick days, better focus, and a team that shows up feeling their best.
Tangible Benefits for Companies
Wellness incentives aren’t just good for employees – they’re smart business. Organizations that invest in staff wellness see measurable returns, including:
- Lower absenteeism: Healthy employees miss fewer days
- Higher retention: People stay where they feel supported
- Better performance: Wellness boosts energy and mental clarity
- Cost savings: Reduced healthcare expenses over time
According to the CDC, well-designed corporate wellness programs can lead to a 25% reduction in sick leave, health costs, and disability claims over time.
In short, a thoughtful wellness incentive program for employees isn’t just about step counts and smoothies – it’s about creating a healthier, more productive workplace.
How Do Incentives and Programs Work Together?
A wellness program provides the structure and resources. Wellness incentives bring motivation.
Think of your wellness program as the framework, offering activities, tools, and support for employee health and well-being. The incentives are what get people to show up, stay involved, and build healthy habits over time.
Companies that combine strong programming with thoughtful health and wellness incentives for employees tend to see better participation, stronger outcomes, and more buy-in across teams.
15 Effective Wellness Incentives for Employee Wellness Programs
Not all employee wellness programs need to be high-budget or high-effort, but they do need to be high-impact. The most effective wellness incentives are the ones that meet employees where they are – physically, emotionally, and even virtually. Here are 15 ideas that work across industries and team types:
1. Fitness Memberships and Subscriptions
Whether it’s a gym membership, yoga studio pass, or an on-demand workout app, corporate exercise programs that support physical movement can boost both energy and morale—bonus points for offering options that fit remote and hybrid lifestyles.
2. Field Trips for Wellness
Organize occasional wellness-themed outings – like nature walks, museum visits, or team hiking days. These wellness activities for employees are a refreshing way to reconnect outside the office while promoting mental health.
3. Wellness Points Programs
Employees earn points for participating in wellness activities – like meditation sessions, daily steps, or attending a lunch-and-learn – and then redeem them for rewards. It’s a simple way to gamify workplace wellness programs.
4. Recognition Awards for Wellness Champions
Celebrate employees who consistently engage in health and wellness activities with shoutouts, small gifts, or monthly recognition. This builds momentum and makes staff wellness part of company culture.
5. Extra PTO for Participation
Offering a bonus day off for consistent engagement in your wellness program is a powerful motivator. Time is often more valuable than stuff, and it reinforces the company’s support for employee wellness.
6. Meal Delivery or Healthy Snack Credits
Partner with local vendors or apps to provide healthy lunches, smoothies, or snacks. These employee health and wellness ideas help remove barriers to better eating habits.
7. Therapy and Mental Health App Access
A truly modern company wellness program includes emotional support. Give employees access to counseling apps, therapy stipends, or even mindfulness subscriptions as part of your corporate wellness program.
8. Wellness Challenges With Prizes
Think walking competitions, water intake challenges, or gratitude journaling streaks. Pair them with small rewards like gift cards, company swag, or wellness gear to keep the momentum going.
9. Onsite or Virtual Fitness Classes
Host weekly Zumba, pilates, or stretch sessions – either in person or online. These health and wellness incentives for employees keep the team moving, even during busy workweeks.
10. Sleep Improvement Incentives
Reward employees for better sleep habits using trackers or self-reports. Rest is foundational to every other aspect of employee wellness.
11. Donation Matching for Wellness Goals
Let employees turn their wellness wins into charitable impact. For example, completing a wellness challenge could unlock a donation to their chosen nonprofit.
12. Financial Wellness Workshops
Stress isn’t always physical – many employees struggle with financial anxiety. Include budgeting classes or debt-reduction incentives in your wellness incentive program for employees.
13. Flexible Scheduling for Wellness Activities
Allow calendar blocks for mid-day walks, therapy, or meditation without guilt. Supporting work-life balance is one of the most appreciated wellness benefits.
14. Health Screenings and Preventive Care Credits
Offer incentives for attending annual checkups, getting flu shots, or completing biometric screenings as part of your program wellness goals.
15. Pet Therapy Days or Virtual Animal Meetups
Yes, this is a thing. And it works. Bring in trained therapy animals for stress-relief sessions or host virtual pet shows to brighten the remote workday.
Real-World Example: How One Company Boosted Engagement With Wellness Incentives
A mid-sized software company based in Toronto was struggling to get employees to engage with their existing employee wellness program. Participation in monthly activities had dropped to less than 15%, and feedback showed employees didn’t see the value in another generic step challenge. For more, check this Gallup report.
The Pivot: Listening and Personalizing
The People Ops team decided to revamp the program. They surveyed employees and learned that what people wanted most were options: mental health support, fitness reimbursements, and rewards that felt personal. Based on the feedback, they rolled out a revamped wellness incentive program for employees that included:
- A Wellness Points System where employees earn rewards for activities like attending therapy, completing movement challenges, or participating in digital detox days
- Quarterly recognition awards for “Wellness Champions”
- A mix of wellness incentives like massage vouchers, sleep tech, and donations to causes employees care about
The Results: Real Impact Within Six Months
- Participation jumped to 68% within the first two months
- Employee satisfaction scores rose by 22%, especially among remote workers
- Voluntary feedback showed that many employees felt the program helped them manage stress and build healthier routines
- Leadership noticed a drop in short-term sick days during high-stress quarters
By tailoring their approach and investing in both structure and motivation, the company turned an underperforming program into one of its most talked-about perks.
How to Build a Wellness Incentive Program That Truly Works
Giving away water bottles and hoping for the best isn’t a strategy. To get real results, your wellness incentive program needs structure, relevance, and a plan for long-term engagement.
Here’s how to design a program that employees won’t ignore – and that leadership will support.
Step 1: Start With Employee Input
Before building anything, ask employees what kind of wellness benefits matter to them. A short survey or feedback form can reveal more than assumptions ever will. Are they into fitness apps, therapy support, or more flexible work hours? Let them tell you.
Step 2: Set Clear Wellness Goals
Tie your employee wellness program to measurable goals. That could mean improving participation, reducing burnout, or simply increasing movement during the workday. Whatever the goal, ensure it’s tied to specific outcomes, not vague intentions.
Step 3: Mix Up Your Incentives
Don’t rely on a single type of reward. Blend small, ongoing motivators (like monthly raffles or step challenges) with bigger, less frequent ones (like extra PTO or wellness retreats). A good wellness program is inclusive, flexible, and varied.
Step 4: Make Participation Easy
People won’t jump through hoops for health. Use tools they already know – like Slack, Teams, or your HR platform – to track progress, share reminders, and celebrate milestones. The more seamless the experience, the better your engagement.
Step 5: Track, Tweak, Repeat
A successful workplace wellness program evolves. Review participation rates, get feedback, and refine the program every few months. The goal isn’t perfection – it’s consistency and responsiveness.
Conclusion: Wellness That Works Starts With Intentional Incentives
At the end of the day, a wellness program is only as strong as the engagement it inspires – and that’s where smart, human-centered wellness incentives make all the difference.
Whether you’re offering fitness memberships, organizing field trips, or rewarding healthy habits with real recognition, the goal is the same: to create a culture where well-being feels possible – and even enjoyable – at work.
So if your employee wellness program feels like it’s collecting dust, don’t ditch it. Rethink it. Talk to your team, mix in a few fresh ideas, and build a program that works for real people, not checkboxes.
After all, when employees feel good, they show up with energy, focus, and drive – and that’s a win for everyone.
