7 HR Ideas for Global Employee Health and Fitness Month

April is coming up soon, which means it’s time to start thinking of what HR can do in honor of Global Employee Health and Fitness Month! It’s important that we prioritize the physical and mental well-being of our employees - work isn’t everything! However, it can feel overwhelming to make time for fitness when work takes up such a significant portion of the day. That’s why we’ve put together a list of items you can provide for your teams to make fitness accessible and feasible!

Sign Up for a Corporate Gym Membership

Gym memberships are a staple in tons of people’s routines, but for some 9-5ers, fitting in time for the gym can seem impossible! In the morning, there may not be enough time, and after work, we’re exhausted. Also, we can’t forget the costs associated with getting a gym membership - those monthly fees add up quickly! That’s why you should consider signing your company up for a corporate membership plan. By doing so, you’ll be removing the obstacle of cost, and you should also encourage personal development time for employees to take advantage of this membership!

• LA Fitness offers an amazing Corporate Wellness Program! Submit your organization’s details for a customized quote!

Get a Headspace Membership

Health and fitness isn’t just about our bodies. A true state of well-being starts with the mind. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the stresses and pressures of work and everyday life. By providing your employees with a mindfulness subscription, like Headspace, you’re helping them create a peaceful mindset which is foundational to having a successful day, both at work and off the clock!

• Headspace offers a corporate plan as well, so submit your details for a personalized quote!

Try out Incentivized Exercise

A great way to make the most out of this month is to organize a fitness-driven group activity and place a reward at the end! One way you can go about this is to put together a company marathon! This can either be one event or you can set a benchmark distance for your team to run before the month’s end. Have your team log their progress as they get closer to reaching the goal and give out some gifts when the marathon is over! The reward could be cash, gift cards, anything you feel would resonate with your team.

Go to a Yoga Class

We all know that yoga is a fantastic way to relieve stress and reconnect with ourselves. We get so caught up in our day-to-day tasks that we can often forget to ask ourselves how we’re doing. Providing your team with a yoga class will remind them to take that extra time to sort of reconfigure themselves. This is an activity that benefits both the mind and the physical body, both of which can be deeply affected by working an office job due to implications from stressful situations and sitting at a desk for extended periods of time.

• Check out Innergy Corporate Yoga! They offer classes all across the country, and they even offer virtual sessions to account for your team members that are working from home.

Dedicate a Group Offsite

Offsites are always super fun for the team! They break up the monotony of the week and give everyone a chance to get to know their peers better outside of a professional environment. Settle on a physical activity that the whole team would enjoy and go participate as a group! Examples of this could include activities like indoor rock climbing, skating, or even bowling if that’s more up your alley (pun intended)! The best exercise is the kind that doesn’t feel like exercise. Making this a fun group outing is a great way to encourage your team to get up and move while having a blast at the same time!

• Texas Rock Gym offers a corporate “Team Building” program starting at $45 per person!

• The Dairy Ashford Roller Rink offers a variety of adult skating options on Thursdays starting at $10 admission with a $3 rental fee!

• Bowl and Barrel is a personal favorite of our team at GoCo! Bowling starts at $15 for a half hour per lane with a $5 rental fee, but you can inquire about custom quotes for your organization’s specific needs!

Try out “Walking Meetings”

For meetings that are one-on-one or smaller groups, think about going for a walk while discussing whatever it is that you need to discuss! Obviously, this is more practical for more relaxed meetings where you wouldn’t need to be in front of your computer. Taking a walking meeting gets you away from your desk, gets your blood flow going after sitting at your desk for a while, and gives you a chance to get some fresh air while still being productive! Plus, a change of scenery is always appreciated. 

Do a Raffle for Your Team

In honor of celebrating health and fitness, consider splurging a bit on an item to give away to one of your team members! You can organize a raffle-style contest so that your employees can enter to win a higher-ticket item that encourages them to focus on and prioritize getting active. Some ideas for a coveted prize could include things like a FitBit or an apple watch, or even more niche things like a bike or a Peloton!

• FitBit Smart Watches start at $179.95!

• Apple Watches start at $199!

• Dick’s Sporting Goods has bikes starting at $299.99!

• Finally, the Peloton Bike starts at $1,495, plus a delivery and set-up fee of $250!

Getting active and appreciating health and fitness in the workplace looks different for everyone! Hopefully, these options have provided you with ideas suitable for every member of your team. We wanted to give you ideas that don’t frame fitness as a burden or a chore, but more so as a fun act of self care! Remember to make the most out of this special month and to get moving!