We understand you want to improve company culture. Maybe you know that focusing on employee health can benefit your company. But starting corporate fitness and daily steps challenges may feel overwhelming.
You’re not alone. Many of our clients were surprised by how much impact something as simple as physical activity and corporate fitness and daily step challenges could have.
Most of us spend a lot of time glued to our screens. Research shows the average American spends over 7 hours a day looking at a screen. It’s easy to picture desk-bound workers.
Studies show employees sit for 65% to 75% of their workdays. Is there something we can do to offset this?
You may have asked, can wellness programs actually impact the bottom line? Workplace wellness programs can address several of these critical aspects.
Companies spend a lot on healthcare costs for their workers, with costs over $13,728 each year, per person. Addressing that can lead to direct financial gains.
Encouraging workers to increase their daily steps could lead to better health results. Wellness initiatives, like step challenges, often lead to lower absenteeism and increased productivity.
What actually *is* a step challenge? These challenges encourage employees to move more and increase their steps by setting goals.
It’s a fun way to help the team get moving. Consider setting attainable targets, perhaps exceeding the average American’s 3,000 to 4,000 steps per day.
Effective corporate wellness initiatives, including walking challenges, have distinct key features. These are important to consider.
Let’s take a closer look.
A critical aspect of any corporate wellness program is ease of participation. No one wants something too complicated to join.
Whether it’s using personal devices or offering alternatives, accessibility is the aim. This means taking away as much resistance and difficulty from being active.
Everyone wants to see where they’re at. Apps or fitness trackers give feedback and help with engagement.
Tracking keeps employees involved and committed. They know if they’re hitting the numbers, which leads to more motivation.
Some prefer teamwork, others flying solo. Having options lets employees find what suits them best.
Group challenges create bonding. But individual targets are better for others; they have something different in mind.
Small victories deserve a shout-out. Think about using recognition, incentives, or prizes for when you reach targets or achieve goals. It can push you just that extra bit.
Publicly acknowledging employee milestones keeps up the engagement. When a goal or target is met, this recognition may inspire others to do the same, boosting camaraderie.
Think beyond typical solutions when planning a corporate challenge. Fresh, fun activities get people on board.
There is a large world of what you can offer and customize. Just find what’s most right for your group.
Sitting around a stuffy board room can make you want to zone out. Try hosting “walking meetings” to keep things lively. You also knock out two targets: work chat and steps.
Think of a stroll outdoors to get creativity flowing. Brainstorming is usually easier after some walking. Try it.
Where can employees enjoy walks nearby? Give ideas using trail guides.
Showing appealing options might sway some. Getting some fresh air never hurt anyone.
After-work walking clubs could build bonds. Employees get chat time plus steps.
This is really a double win for work culture. Start that lunch club now.
You want that big impact from step challenges, right? Smart, planned communication does it.
It lets everyone know how this health shift helps them. Be clear and open.
Mapping all messaging is smart planning. It works great when marketing things to your company employees.
Think emails, socials, and intranet news all pushing steps. Spread out reminders leading up.
You get tons of digital messages daily. Skip “Hello there” emails that go straight to trash. Instead, you need a personalized subject line or message.
Using their names matters in open rates. Show them “I actually wrote this for you.”.
Today we mostly communicate visually. Try sharp graphics; maybe some short videos, even GIFs.
Use those online creative tools. Try sending out content ideas from credible sources like the Fitabase Blog and Research Library or CNN Health News.
Inclusive challenges invite broader groups. How? Step conversions.
Converting activities recognizes diverse ways to be active, encouraging employee wellness. This could also encourage walking and creates an inviting space.
Maybe someone’s in a wheelchair, or prefers swimming, or any physical reason. Letting diverse activity count opens participation.
This supports team members with physical limitations. You are trying to bring the teams closer, not push people apart.
Many devices track activity beyond simply “stepping”. But they don’t make the conversation from minutes of another physical activity to steps for an individual or company challenge.
Here’s an example of how you could count efforts, by assigning step “equivalents” for consistency:
See below for a helpful reference for more step conversions:
| Activity | 30 Minutes | 60 Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Aerobics | 3,000 steps | 6,000 steps |
| Weight Training | 4,000 steps | 8,000 steps |
| Swimming | 3,600 steps | 7,200 steps |
Being transparent like this about tracking gives everyone comfort. Knowing every effort is counted fairly for the whole group helps to boost employee engagement.
This also gives people with lower walking capacity a space to participate. Converting efforts equitably keeps goals reachable.
More inclusion and participation leads to higher employee engagement and enjoyment. More folks take pride and ownership in workplace wellbeing. Consider surveying interest first when exploring activity conversions.
Choosing a timeframe for your walking challenge impacts employee participation and excitement.
Step challenges usually last from one to two months. This is long enough to get everyone going, but not too long to lose engagement.
Ongoing walking contests year-round give employees chances to commit. They give everyone multiple attempts and so it may even help keep wellness at the front of their minds.
Recognizing wins, big or small, is huge. People respond to being “seen.”
Did someone cross that halfway point? First team to goal? Get noticed on a channel that everyone will see them.
You’ve heard the messages about emails getting lost or buried in an inbox. This is one you want people to read, for their colleagues.
Beyond parties, maybe small gifts work as people need encouragement. Some options may even help people reach more goals.
Ideas could be: paid time off, gift cards, or company lunches. Fit the reward to company values, of course.
So many positive outcomes come from focusing on health for your team members. These can improve company culture in a simple, effective way that can easily bring direct and indirect benefits. “Corporate fitness and daily steps challenges” can make for a big win.
What if taking additional small daily strides could make for major gains down the road for the company’s productivity? And show everyone truly feels included and energized? These seemingly minor tweaks really might shape broader gains across time, helping employees build healthier habits.
That should be encouraging when considering the broader impact and ROI a step challenge investment offers your business. A simple wellness challenge like this can work great for any company to generate excitement.
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