Health and Wellness Leads : Employee Wellness Program Ideas: Holiday Activities

Tying wellness activities into holiday themes is a plan usually used to create interest and participation. However, be aware that offering holiday activities in the workplace can create concerns. Your workplace may have policies and instructions already in place about concerns such as appropriate decorations themes, work time, etc. Be sure to check with upper management regarding all instructions and policies.

Remember to include and acknowledge the holiday celebrations of the various cultures or groups represented in your workforce. It is generally safer to use graphics, themes, and wording that are not specific to one culture, as others might feel left out. In fact, acknowledging diverse holidays, if done respectfully, can help familiarize your workforce with values and practices of different cultures and ethnic groups.

A few topical ideas for holiday themes include:
• Company Wellness Program Committee participants distribute “healthy heart valentines” to each employee for Valentine’s Day.
• Thanksgiving “turkey trot”. Workers who exercise three times a week for at least one-half hour between November 1 and 15 are entered into a drawing for a free turkey (can be purchased at the local grocery store or donated).
• Chinese New Year tai chi demonstration. Consider a follow-up workplace introductory tai chi class offering.
• Christmas/Kwanzaa/Hanukkah/etc. holiday food potluck. Members of different cultural or ethnic groups bring in a dish reflective of their holiday traditions. Each person can say a few words about the origin and tradition behind the food. In this holiday theme, food does not have to be be low fat or particularly healthy, since the purpose is enhancing cultural diversity, not counting calories.

Pre/Display Holiday Weigh In

Holiday weight gain can be a large health challenge. This wellness program activity is fun, low-key, and helps employees monitor their weight during the holiday season.
• Participants weigh-in with a “trusted” confident prior to Thanksgiving. The weigh-ins may be conducted on the honor system, but weight must be recorded on a weight-tracking card. You might invite a local nurse or Weight Watchers representative to monitor weigh-ins.
• workers set a personal intention of maintaining their weight from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.
• Weight cards are stored in a secure file location.
• Give weekly weight control hints. These ought to be posted next to the wellness bulletin board, sent via email, or offered in flyer form.
• Or, alternate the weekly hints with healthy recipe options.
• Remind staff members of the necessity to continue physical exercise during the full holiday season.
• Weigh everyone the first work day following New Year’s Day. Record the weight on the tracking card.
• employees who have maintained their weight or who have lost weight receive a prize and award certificate.
• staff members who gained weight receive a certificate of completion and an invitation to continue participation in a related health weight wellness exercise.