Making changes to a health and fitness routine is a personal decision. Still, research shows that workplace nutrition and wellness programs can be effective at reducing absenteeism, improving work performance, and boosting productivity. This means that every workplace has the power to improve its employees’ lives—and it pays off for the businesses as well. That’s why every May, organizations worldwide celebrate Employee Health & Fitness Month. This time is dedicated to promoting the importance of employee well-being.

How do you, as a business, get started? This blog aims to serve as a comprehensive guide for companies starting initiatives for Employee Health & Fitness Month. We'll explore why employee health matters and provide some actionable ideas. We’ll also discuss ways to boost engagement and recognize health leaders with incentives.

Join us as we delve into the key areas that can transform your workplace into a hub of health and productivity during Employee Health & Fitness Month.

What is Employee Health & Fitness Month?

Employee Health & Fitness Month began in 1989 as an annual moment dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles within the workplace. Recognized both nationally and globally, this month gives companies and employees a nudge to consider workplace wellness and create changes that improve lives and boost businesses.

The core goal is to encourage employers to champion health initiatives and motivate employees to adopt healthier habits, fostering a culture of well-being and productivity.

Why prioritizing Employee Health & Fitness Month matters for your business

With so many competing priorities and economic uncertainty making business decisions difficult, why should a business invest time and resources into Employee Health & Fitness Month?

Boosted energy & productivity

Healthier employees, both physically and mentally, exhibit higher energy levels, better focus, and greater engagement. This direct link translates to improved job performance and overall business output. This makes workplace wellness programs a smart investment.

Reduced absenteeism

Promoting healthier lifestyles can lead to fewer sick days and reduced instances of presenteeism—the dreaded pattern of behavior where employees come to work while sick. When everyone is present and active more often and more consistently, your teams will work more smoothly. Your project management can thrive, and you can more easily spot inefficient patterns and trouble-spots.

Potential for lower healthcare costs

For companies offering health benefits, a healthier workforce can result in lower overall claims and potentially stabilize or reduce insurance premium increases over time. Investing in preventative health measures can yield long-term financial benefits, making it a cost-effective strategy.

Enhanced company culture & morale

Wellness initiatives show workers that the company cares about its employees beyond their work output. This fosters loyalty, improves morale, and makes the company a more attractive place to work. A strong focus on employee well-being can significantly enhance company culture and employee satisfaction.

By prioritizing Employee Health & Fitness Month, businesses can reap the benefits of increased employee productivity, reduced absenteeism, lower healthcare costs, and a more positive company culture.

Actionable ideas: How to celebrate Employee Health & Fitness Month

This section serves as a practical guide for implementing health and wellness plans during Employee Health & Fitness Month. A multifaceted approach should include coverage of physical, nutritional, mental, and preventative health.

Promote physical activity

The first and most effective goal of this month is to get employees to move more. Encourage employees to get moving with company-wide step challenges, virtual or on-site fitness classes—such as yoga or stretching—and implementing walking meetings. Promote stair use. Share resources for local parks and trails to inspire outdoor activities. Participation can be encouraged with employee incentives and rewards, which we’ll cover in the next section.

Encourage healthy eating habits

Host nutrition workshops, either virtually or in-person, to educate employees on healthy eating. Share healthy recipes and organize a healthy potluck. Provide healthier snack options in breakrooms. Run a hydration challenge to encourage better drinking habits. Employee rewards and incentives can also be connected to grocery store loyalty points or gift cards, which helps make this kind of challenge more sustainable.

Support mental well-being

Share resources for stress management and host mindfulness or meditation sessions. Promote work–life balance and encourage regular breaks. Remind employees about Employee Assistance Programs, if you have them available. In every way you can, emphasize the idea that mental health is a crucial component of overall fitness.

This also means doing everything you can as an employer to make sure that the workplace itself is not a huge source of stress, anxiety, or chaos. Do you have a known problem in your workflow or business structure that causes a lot of pressure or intense deadlines to land on a few employees? Changing that structure may include longer-term projects like changing project management styles, hiring more employees, or adjusting timelines.

We have an entire guide on avoiding employee burnout and boosting engagement here.

Champion preventative care

Encourage employees to schedule annual check-ups and screenings. Provide information on preventative health topics. Consider hosting an on-site health screening event, such as blood pressure checks, or a virtual Q&A with a health professional. Allow flexible time off for medical appointments to support practical health management and modern schedules.

Boosting engagement with incentives during Employee Health & Fitness Month

Incentives are really effective in nudging employees to adopt new habits. Offering an incentive can reward great participation, help employees overcome inertia, and show appreciation for their efforts. By offering rewards, you can significantly boost engagement during Employee Health & Fitness Month.

Rewarding participation and milestones

Structuring rewards for both ongoing engagement and achieving specific goals can drive sustained participation. For example, small rewards for weekly check-ins can keep employees motivated, while larger rewards for completing a month-long challenge can provide a sense of accomplishment. Whether the reward is for hitting a step count or completing a nutrition challenge, recognizing these milestones encourages employees to get involved and stay involved.

Flexible and targeted financial support

Gift cards or prepaid cards used as employee rewards can remove financial barriers. These rewards can provide employees with the flexibility to approach their own plan and achieve their personal fitness and wellness goals.

• Fitness and wellness: Gift cards can help cover costs of gym memberships, fitness classes, workout gear, wellness apps, or spa treatments. The right reward should allow employees to choose their own clothing, gym memberships, classes, or other important decisions.

• Healthy eating: Gift cards can offset the increased cost of healthier groceries, supporting employees' nutrition goals. A prepaid card is the most flexible, but gift cards can also be filtered to be used at a variety of local grocery stores or supplement stores.

The emphasis here is on choice. Giving people a choice puts them in command and makes them feel a greater sense of agency and personal involvement. Plus, giving people choices prevents you from wasting money on rewards that just don’t fit. A gift card for a local grass-fed butcher shop could be a great idea for encouraging healthy meat consumption, for example, but it won’t help your vegan employees at all.

If you focus on employee wellness and support your employees in making smart choices, you can increase participation and make Employee Health & Fitness Month more effective.

Recognizing your health leaders during Employee Health & Fitness Month

Employees who volunteer to lead initiatives, organize events, or motivate their peers play a crucial role as wellness champions. Their efforts are invaluable in driving the success of Employee Health & Fitness Month, so it’s important to recognize and reward these leaders.

Acknowledging wellness champions encourages these employees to keep going. Recognition could also inspire others to get involved and reinforce the company's commitment to wellness. Recognition not only validates their hard work but also fosters a culture of appreciation and motivation.

How should you recognize these leaders?

• Public thanks: Acknowledge their efforts in a company email or newsletter or give a shout-out during meetings
• Token of appreciation: Offer an extra reward card or gift that shows their time and effort is valued
• Extra PTO: Provide additional paid time off is a powerful motivator

By planning ahead to recognize employee wellness champions, you can make their work and motivation an active part of promoting health and wellness within your organization.

Employee Health & Fitness Month is an opportunity to enhance productivity

In addition to improving employee lives and morale and building a great company culture, Employee Health & Fitness Month is an opportunity to enhance productivity. Happy, healthy employees do better work and work more efficiently within the organizing structures that make up modern business. By addressing physical activity, nutrition, mental health, and preventative care, companies can adopt a holistic approach to employee well-being.

This Employee Health & Fitness Month, take a closer look at your company and how you bring out the best in your employees. Even small steps can make a big difference. Investing in employee well-being is a strategic investment in your company's future.

Ready to make a positive change? Tango can help you launch an incentive-powered employee wellness program right now.  

To learn more, take a look at our wellness program page. To speak to an incentives expert, you can either book a demo or give us a call at 925-738-3100.