Healthier habits, happier teams: why physical wellness for employees matters

Providing your employees with the right tools and support to manage their physical health is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. Research shows that physical wellness enhances employee energy levels, mental well-being, and longevity in both their personal and work lives.

Though the benefits of physical wellness are widely known, nearly one-third of adults still remain inactive — affecting both their overall health and work performance. However, you have the power to change that by offering employee benefits that encourage healthier lifestyles — which in turn boosts their productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction.

Benefits of physical health in the workplace

Encouraging your employees to get more active through wellness benefits can have a tremendous impact on their productivity and your company's culture. Here’s how:

Increased energy and productivity

Regular physical activity boosts energy levels and cognitive function. This translates to more productive workdays, where employees stay focused and complete tasks more efficiently.

Improved mental health

Exercise is an effective way to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. Active employees often report having better moods, higher job satisfaction, and improvement in overall well-being.

Enhanced creativity and problem-solving

Physical activity stimulates brain function and enhances creativity, regardless of your mood. Employees who exercise regularly can take advantage of these benefits, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to their work.

Lower healthcare costs

From chronic disease prevention to lower hospitalization rates and improved mental health, it’s clear that physical health can drastically alter the need for employee healthcare. A healthy workplace can reduce overall healthcare spending by almost 5% — benefitting both employees and your company’s bottom line.

Improved cognitive function

Exercise can boost your memory, attention span, and decision-making skills, leading to fewer mistakes, better performance, and more efficiency at work.

Stronger immune system

Physical activity strengthens your immune system, potentially reducing the spread of illnesses in your workplace. This means fewer sick leave disruptions  and more consistent productivity among your employees.

Increased job satisfaction

Employees who prioritize their physical and mental health report higher levels of job satisfaction, leading to improved retention rates and a more positive workplace culture.

Stress reduction

Physically healthy employees are better equipped to handle workplace stress. This resilience can lead to fewer sick days, better decision-making, and more adaptability in the face of changes.

The best employee benefits to promote physical health

To promote physical health in the workplace, start with your employee benefits package. Many of these benefits are low-cost, high-impact, and may already be a part of your plan. The key is effectively communicating their value to employees and encouraging their regular use.

Easy access to primary care

Finding the right primary care physician and booking an appointment is a challenge we can all relate to. Investing in tools that make it easy for employees to schedule annual checkups and more can be a game-changer. Partners like OneMedical (a Nava Preferred Partner!) or apps that help employees find in-network providers are a great first step in lowering that barrier to entry.

Physical fitness subscriptions or stipends

For many, joining a gym or wellness studio can be too expensive. Offering a stipend is a way to ease the financial burden, even if you can’t fully take it on. Vendors like Wellhub (another Nava Preferred Partner!) enable your employees to find classes for a wide variety of fitness goals —whether training for a marathon or just improving their nutrition.

A general wellness stipend

Here at Nava, we offer a quarterly wellness stipend for our employees to put toward whatever they need on their wellness journey. We’ve had employees purchase new running shoes, get a therapeutic massage to ease back pain, or buy multivitamins to amp up their nutrient intake.

Incentives for active commuting

For companies in urban areas, encouraging employees to walk or bike to work can offer a daily outlet for exercise — not to mention the environmental impact. The incentives could range from monetary perks to an extra day of PTO.

Additional time for physical well-being

Companies like Nike are investing in employee well-being by providing extra time off. Through their annual “Well-being Week,” Nike offers all employees an entire week off to relax and recharge. It may not be realistic for you to offer a whole week, but adding a well-being day to your time off policy could give employees the opportunity to complete a long run, recoup after a big hike, or spend a day batch-cooking healthy freezer meals. The beauty of a policy like this is your employees can make it work for their own personal needs.

How to incentivize physical health in the workplace

• Communicate early and often: When your employees understand their benefits, they’re more likely to use them. Post often in your most popular communication channels about available benefits, especially if any are time-bound.
• Start small, think big: Any movement is better than no movement. Exercising just once a week can kick-start positive changes, so encourage your employees to get moving throughout their workday.
• Incorporate physical activity into team building: Everyone loves a happy hour, but it doesn’t exactly push you toward your health goals. Consider offering alternative team building activities that get your people moving. An event at your local rock climbing gym, a team spin class, or a hike on a nearby nature trail are easy to organize — and probably more cost-effective than a happy hour to boot!
• Create opportunities: Look for ways to weave movement into the workday. Standing desks, walking meetings, or even simple stretch breaks can make a big difference over time.
• Make it fun: Ditch the idea that exercise has to be a chore. Encourage employees to find activities they genuinely enjoy, whether it’s dancing, hiking, or joining a sports league. When exercise feels like play, it’s much easier to stick with it.

The role of leadership in promoting physical health

As an HR leader, a major part of your job is leading the way for your team — including with fitness. Here are strategies you can implement to get your team moving:

• Walk the talk: It’s time to lace up those sneakers. When employees see higher-ups prioritizing their health, it sends a powerful message. Be transparent about how you’re prioritizing your health: block time on your calendar for that yoga class, keep your camera on when using your walking pad during a meeting, and use your available benefits.
• Invest in wellness: Put your money where your mouth is. Allocate resources for health initiatives, whether it’s an on-site gym, fitness class reimbursements, or standing desks. Show your team their health is worth investing in.
• Create a culture of well-being: Health shouldn’t be an afterthought. Make it part of your company’s DNA. Celebrate health wins, big and small, and make it clear that taking care of yourself is important.

Nava can help

Ready to transform your workplace into a wellness hub, but not sure where to start? That’s where Nava can help. Schedule a call with one of our specialists and see how investing in your team's physical health can transform your workplace.

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