10 Examples of Great Employee Wellness Programs

Did you know that 99% of Airbnb employees would recommend their workplace to a friend? As a brilliant example of a company dedicated to maintaining employee wellness, Airbnb is just one of many offering their staff members wellness workshops, exercise spaces and an environment to thrive

Employee wellness has become a key concern for many brands worldwide. An employee wellness program is a workplace initiative designed to support and improve employee’s overall health, well-being, and productivity. These programs often include services related to physical health, mental health, nutrition, fitness stress management, and financial wellness. 

Common wellness program offerings include onsite gyms, virtual fitness classes, counseling services, and access to healthy snacks at work. Programs may also include mindfulness workshops, stress management activities, and incentive-based challenges that reward employees for healthy behaviors. 

While most businesses focus on increasing conversions and retaining loyal customers, how many also consider employee retention in a fast-paced industry environment?

Without satisfied employees, you’re unlikely to have satisfied customers. Maintaining employee wellness through workshops, ergonomic support, and health benefits breeds a positive, productive workforce that works twice as hard to capture new opportunities for your brand.

In fact, 77% of employees enrolled in company wellness programs report higher levels of job satisfaction in comparison to those without the same benefits.

With this in mind, we’re delving deeper into the benefits of introducing an employee wellness program to your workforce retention strategy and sharing 10 of our favorite brand examples to inspire. 

10 Inspiring Employee Wellness Programs to Follow

Here are ten wellness programs to take inspiration from:

1. Nike 
2. The Iowa Clinic 
3. Expedia 
4. Adobe
5. Hotjar
6. Patagonia 
7. Zappos 
8. Johnson & Johnson 
9. Airbnb 
10. Google

Nike’s Wellness Program

The sportswear business is known for its innovative consumer campaigns, but recently, it has also introduced an impressive wellness program for its global workforce.

Starting in their headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike now provides their in-house employees with a fitness zone called the Bo Jackson Center, which is full of gym equipment, rock climbing walls, an indoor basketball court, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool to encourage health and wellness during the work day.

Image Source

They aim to engage their employees from all angles to create a more agile workforce going forward.

“We believe that a skilled, valued, and engaged workforce is key for growth and sustainability, and we want to empower suppliers to engage with and value their people because we know that high employee engagement leads to a more efficient, agile, and committed workforce, which results in beneficial outcomes for both the individual and the organization,” claims Nike in a recent press release.

While this is only the beginning, the company has since released an Engagement and Well-being (EWB) Survey to their factory workers to learn more about current engagement levels and any improvements that employees believe should be made to improve their working conditions.

The Iowa Clinic’s Wellness Program

The Iowa Clinic is another example of a wellness program that prioritizes the health of its employees directly.

Rather than creating on-site wellness centers, their strategy is to offer healthcare and wellness gift cards to workers as incentives for performing well within the company.

Using the HR program Cooleaf, the healthcare company allows members to tap into recurring wellness programs and activity gift cards they can use in their local area.

Better still, the company also hosts a number of online webinars that educate employees on the importance of health screenings, and then offers discounts on their next appointment at the clinic.

Expedia UK’s Wellness Program

Expedia’s creative approach to employee wellness also deserves a place on our list. Introducing a ‘wellness allowance’ to their UK employees, the business offers workers up to £1200 per year to spend on fitness and fitness-related kit.

This gives employees the ability to choose activities that personally appeal to them and enjoy them outside work hours.

“One of the best Expedia Group benefits is the wellness reimbursement. I’ve been with the company for about five years, and I am appreciative of what it has done for me. I bought a new snowboard, lift passes, bicycle, paddle board, snowshoes, hiking gear, gym memberships, fitness classes, running registrations, and other workout-related things along the way,” says Quenita Dich, Salesforce System Administrator at Expedia.

Image Source

“Since I’m such an active person, this perk helps provide me [with] things that I can do that make me happy and healthy.”

The main advantage of Expedia’s wellness program is the flexibility for employees to choose how they would like to spend their allowance.

Adobe’s Wellness Program

Adobe also puts employee wellness first with its myriad of wellness initiatives. These range from healthy lunch options to flexible working conditions and fitness centers at each office site around the globe.

Image Source

Adobe also hosts whole-company wellness days, during which employees step away from their work for the day and engage in fun outdoor workshops that build morale and promote teamwork inside and outside the office. 

Hotjar’s Wellness Program

Hotjar is a brilliant example of a brand incorporating employee wellness from home. As we embrace the WFH era, where 88% of employers now offer hybrid or fully remote contracts, maintaining employee wellness remotely is crucial for a productive workforce.

Hotjar now gives each employee $ 4,000 to create their very own home office that contributes not only to their physical health but also to their mental health.

They also encourage every employee to participate in open mental health discussions in person and from home, and they offer extended leave to those struggling in the wake of the WFH adjustment.

“At Hotjar, mental health is health. We believe that eating well, exercising, and taking care of your mental health all fall into the same bucket: health,” says David Darmanin, Founder and Chairman of Hotjar.

“In fact, we actively encourage team members to talk about their own mental health—in team meetings or our company-wide mental health channel on Slack.  And to take time off as a preventative measure and to get some relief—before their mental or physical health is suffering too greatly.”

Hotjar’s wellness program has a particular focus on employees’ mental health and general health, which is an essential component to a productive and efficient environment. 

Patagonia’s Wellness Program

Patagonia’s wellness program made it on the list due to their commitment to getting their employees into the great outdoors.

Offering outdoor seating spaces to switch up the office environment, this brand believes fresh air is the answer.

Image Source

Hosting on-site and off-site yoga sessions, mindfulness walks, and nature workshops, the sustainable brand aims to improve the work-life balance of every employee who spends their days sitting at a desk. 

Zappos’ Wellness Program

Zappos partnered with a fitness brand called Wellthily to create its own employee wellness program. Offering employees on-site fitness suites, yoga classes, and healthy eating workshops, they take full advantage of their partnership with wellness experts.

Aiming to create an on-the-go wellness program, Zappos also allows traveling employees to tap into their wellness services by providing health snacks in hotels, free workout gear to use outside of the workplace and gift cards to enjoy workout classes anywhere, any time.

“Wellthily and Zappos.com have come together to make on-the-go health and wellness easier for everyone,” says the founder of Zappos, Nick Swinmurn.

“Wellthily believes in wealth through health. Their goal is to create social impact through wellness by offering an array of health-focused services at hotels all over the world.”

The goal is to create tangible social impact through wellness by offering a wide range of health-focused services.

Johnson & Johnson’s Wellness Program 

Did you know that Johnson & Johnson was one of the first global brands to introduce a company-wide wellness program?

“By the 1970s, CEO James Burke started a groundbreaking wellness program called Live for Life,” said Peter Fasolo, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Johnson & Johnson.

“As a result of that initiative, we were the first company to be tobacco-free, as well as one of the first to promote employee safe driving and to have a global HIV prevention program.”

Today, Live for Life offers in-house stress management, fitness centers, incentives for healthy eating, and more. 

Airbnb’s Wellness Program

Next up, let’s talk about Airbnb. This company takes employee wellness extremely seriously.

Airbnb has hired an employee experience department responsible for maintaining workforce wellness on and off-site.

One initiative the employee experience department implemented is the introduction of ‘home-like’ offices. This means that office spaces look cozy and inviting and encourage employee conversation. Workstations are ergonomic, and all employees get to have an input into how their space is designed.

Including your employees in creating your office setup is a brilliant way to empower them with control over their work-based wellness and to encourage them to tailor their work experience to their individual needs and preferences.

Google’s Wellness Program

Last but not least, let’s talk about Google. As an enterprise with one of the largest office locations on the globe, they have plenty of space to enhance the employee experience.

Image Source

Their newest GFit program allows employees to navigate the Google office on foot or bike to different wellness sessions set up across the campus.

These include mindfulness training, nutritional workshops, and access to on-site doctors for any healthcare concerns.

What Are The Benefits of Employee Wellness Programs?

It goes without saying that employee wellness benefits a business. From reducing absenteeism to encouraging healthy behaviors, companies that prioritize employee wellness can expect higher productivity and a workforce willing to stick by their side.

Let’s have a closer look at some of the key benefits you can expect when introducing an employee wellness program to your business:

• Improving employee morale: Employees that work in an organization with an employee wellness program are more likely to enjoy their work. When they feel confident about their mental and physical health, supported employees are less stressed at work and more focused on the task at hand.
• Encouraging healthy behaviors: By introducing healthy eating programs, fitness equipment, and mental well-being workshops, you can encourage healthy behaviors within your workforce. In turn, maintaining a healthy workforce significantly reduces business healthcare costs. 
• Boosting employee retention: happier employees are more likely to keep showing up. In fact, wellness programs alone reduce absenteeism by 14-29%, according to Zippia. 
• Attracting new talent: If your business advertises itself as an employee-first company, you quickly attract new talent. High-caliber workers make a beeline for companies that will offer them brilliant perks and a comfortable work environment.
• Improving teamwork: Many wellness programs are group-based. These can be workshops, fitness classes, or even comfy areas where staff members can congregate. The more time employees spend together as a group completing fun tasks and wellness initiatives, the more they will bond and become an unbreakable team.

The benefits of prioritizing employee wellness are undeniable. While upfront costs to introduce health-first initiatives into the workplace can be steep, they pay off in higher employee retention rates, reduced healthcare costs, greater business profitability, and a happier, healthier workplace. 

How to Structure & Implement a Wellness Program

Creating an effective employee wellness program requires careful planning, clear structure, and thoughtful promotion to ensure engagement and long-term success.

Here’s a practical approach for implementing a wellness program:

Assess employee needs: Conduct surveys or focus groups to understand health priorities, interests, and challenges.

• Set clear goals: Define what the program aims to achieve, such as improving physical health, mental well-being, or reducing stress.
• Choose program types: Incorporate a mix of offerings like fitness classes, nutrition guidance, mental health resources, and stress management workshops. 
• Develop a launch plan: Schedule a rollout with clear timelines, responsibilities, and communication strategies. 
• Promote participation: Use emails, posters, meetings, and incentives to encourage employee engagement.
• Provide flexible options: Offer in-person and virtual activities, or hybrid options, to accommodate different schedules and preferences. 
• Monitor and evaluate: Track participation, gather feedback, and measure outcomes to refine and improve the program over time.

By following the best practices, organizations can create a structured wellness program that engages employees, supports overall health, and delivers meaningful results. 

How to Track the Effectiveness of a Wellness Program

Measuring the success of a wellness program is essential to ensure it meets employee needs and provides a tangible return on investment.

Key strategies include:

• Track participation rates: Monitor how many employees attend activities, use resources, or engage with wellness challenges
• Measure health outcomes: Collect anonymized data on fitness improvements, reduced stress levels, or other health indicators where possible. 
• Assess employee satisfaction: Use surveys, feedback forms, or focus groups to understand how employees perceive the program.
• Evaluate ROI: Compare program costs with outcomes such as reduced absenteeism, higher productivity, or lower healthcare costs. 
• Analyze trends over time: Review participation and outcome metrics regularly to identify which initiatives are most effective.
• Adjust programs based on data: Use insights to refine offerings, improve engagement, and better align with employee needs.

By systematically tracking these metrics, organizations can ensure their wellness programs are effective, provide real value, and continue evolving to support employee health and satisfaction. 

Create a Successful Wellness Program for Your Company

As we step into a new era of employee wellness, your company must stay ahead of the curve regarding in-office and remote wellness trends and be prepared to adapt its wellness initiatives to fit your changing workforce dynamics.

Getting your employees involved is the key to creating a successful workplace wellness program. Following the footsteps of brands like Airbnb and Expedia, allowing staff members to customize their workspaces and tailor wellbeing tasks to their preferences is a brilliant way to ensure every employee is satisfied.

It’s also important to be transparent when introducing a company wellness program. This helps you attract new talent. There are a few ways to do this. Ensure your wellness program is mentioned in all job descriptions and incorporate wellness into your overall branding. This could be achieved through health-based blogging, real-life employee stories, or social content showcasing your wellness workshops.

Before creating your own wellness program, start by getting closer to your workforce. Are they a strong team? Do they need to spend more time together? Is mental health or physical health a more pressing issue for your employee base?

Find out more about their current workplace stressors and ensure your program is tailored to your workforce's needs for the best shot at success. 

About the Author

Dmytro Spilka Director and Founder at Solvid

Dmytro is a Head Wizard at Solvid, a creative inbound marketing & software development agency in London. His work has been featured and mentioned in a wide range of publications, including The Next Web, Business2Community, Huff Post, Kissmetrics, Crazy Egg, Sitepoint, SEMRush, and more.

See full profile