How to Engage Employees Who Never Participate in Your Wellness Programs

If the same employees are showing up for all your wellness challenges, what happens to everyone else? 

More organizations need to be asking themselves this question. It’s easy to focus on the people who join every challenge, open every wellness email, and encourage coworkers to participate. But a successful program also needs to make room for individuals who haven’t found their way in yet.

If you want to engage non-joiners in wellness programs, the first step is finding an activity that’s easy, welcoming, and worth their time.

Start Off With a Fresh Invitation

If someone has never participated in a wellness program, another announcement won’t change much. They need a reason to notice. Show people what they should expect from a different experience, whether it’s getting outside for a few minutes, spending extra time with coworkers, discovering a new activity, or returning to their desk with more energy and focus.

Even something as simple as making your message more specific (“Join your team for a 15-minute walk and take a break together”) gives everyone a clearer picture than a generic announcement (“Sign up for our next challenge”).

The latter example asks employees to enroll in an event short on details and incentives. The former tells them what to expect and why it will be enjoyable.

Related: 7 Ways to Increase Wellness Program Participation Without Increasing Your Workload

Make the First Step Easy

Wellness programs can look complicated from the outside looking in, especially to someone who has never taken part.

Think about what you would want to know if you were a new participant. How does the activity work? Does anything need to be tracked? How will it be tracked? What are the goals? Who else is participating?

Remove those questions before they become barriers.

Start with activities that require little preparation and offer an immediate benefit like a short walking break or casual team activity. That positive first experience gives them a reason to participate again.

Give Employees More Than One Way to Join

Reality check: There isn’t a single activity that will appeal to everyone. One employee might enjoy a step challenge, while another prefers a group activity during lunch, and someone else just wants to do their own thing.

Offer activities that vary in time, format, and level of involvement. Let people participate on their own or with coworkers – or both. Include options that support movement, connection, mental wellbeing, and taking a break from workday duties.

That flexibility will give them easy entry points into your next program.

Let Coworkers Make the Introduction

Sometimes the best way to introduce someone to a new wellness program is through a person they already know and trust.

A coworker can explain how an activity works, answer potentially awkward questions, and validate the program’s worth. Using this social onboarding strategy also gives employees something valuable from Day 1: someone to participate with.

Identify wellness champions who personally invite coworkers that haven’t showed up in the past. A simple “Hey, we’re taking a walk at lunch. Want to join us?” can be more appealing than a blanket, companywide announcement.

Related: Walking Group Benefits: Elevating Employee Well-Being and Performance

Take a Fresh Look at Your Wellness Language

The words you use shape who feels included in a wellness challenge. Terms like “challenge,” “goal” and “achievement” motivate some. But just as many will respond better to messages about taking a break, getting outside, spending time with coworkers, or boosting their energy.

When you’re communicating with employees who haven’t participated before, make sure you’re answering these 4 quick questions:

1. What is it? 
2. How much time does it take? 
3. Who can join? 
4. What do I need to do?

Then be sure to tell them why it’s worth their time. Keep your message simple, friendly, and clear. Employees should be able to understand the opportunity right away.

Don’t Ask for Year-Round Participation

Engagement doesn’t mean being tethered to a wellness program 52 weeks of the year. People naturally have different schedules, interests, and priorities that ebb and flow over time. 

Someone who skips a spring challenge might jump into a walking challenge in the fall. Someone who doesn’t enjoy tracking steps might be drawn to a more social challenge with colleagues.

That’s perfectly reasonable and normal. 

Wellness programs should aim to create periods of energy and connection throughout the year without expecting every employee to participate year-round. A new season and fresh activities give people a reason to come back when they’re ready.

Related: Why “Always-On” Wellness Programs Lose Their Mojo

5 Ways to Reach Employees on the Sidelines

When planning your next initiative, look for opportunities to make it more appearling. Start here:

1. Choose simple activities: Remove unnecessary preparation, equipment, and complicated instructions.
2. Invite people personally: Ask managers and coworkers to bring someone along who has not engaged in a while.
3. Offer choices: Give them different ways to participate based on their personal interests and schedules.
4. Lead with benefits: Tell people what they’ll gain from joining, not just what they need to complete.
5. Create more opportunities: If somebody skips an activity, give them a fresh reason to dive in next time.

These changes strengthen employee wellness program participation by removing barriers that might keep people from getting started. 

Give People a Reason to Come Back

If you’ve been trying to reach the same group of nonparticipants with a barrage of emails, reminders, or incentives, it’s time to change your approach.

The goal isn’t to get every employee participating all the time. It’s to create positive experiences that help more people see a place for themselves in your program. 

Sometimes all it takes is a positive, memorable experience to turn someone who has never participated into someone who’s willing to try — and eventually into someone who encourages others to join. 

How HES Helps Organizations Reach Employees

HES takes a practical approach to wellness program participation by creating inclusive experiences that give employees approachable ways to join.

Our wellness challenges are designed to bring people together around movement, connection, and everyday wellbeing. Walking challenges, such as Walktober and 10K-A-Day, give the workforce accessible ways to step away from their usual routine, get moving, and have fun with coworkers.

This also helps teams build momentum throughout the year. Each new activity offers another chance to find something that encourages healthier habits.

If your organization is trying to reach more employees, let’s talk. Contact us here or call 800.326.2317 to begin the conversation. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do some employees never take part in wellness programs?

Employees have different interests, schedules, and preferences. Some don’t know how to get started, while others prefer activities that are more accessible. Organizations that offer a variety of activities give them more opportunities to participate.

How can you re-engage employees in wellness programs?

Start with a fresh invitation. Offer an activity that’s easy to understand, simple to join, and enjoyable to do. Personal invitations from coworkers also make it easier for people to take that first step.

How can organizations improve employee wellness program participation?

Make participation easy to understand and easy to fit into the workday. Be sure to communicate the immediate benefits and create opportunities for employees to participate with their coworkers.

Do employees need to participate all year for a wellness program to be successful?

No. Participation inevitably changes throughout the year. Giving everyone regular opportunities to join activities they enjoy is a more sustainable approach than expecting everyone to participate continuously.

What role does social connection play in wellness participation?

Challenges inherently should be inclusive to be successful. A familiar face always makes a new activity easier to try. Shared experiences also help wellness become a more natural, enjoyable part of workplace culture.