---
title: "Effective Employee Benefits: Implementing Wellness Programs"
description: Learn why 87 % of workers weigh wellness benefits when job-hunting and how to design a high-ROI workplace wellness program for 2026.
image: https://blog.mullinginsurance.com/hubfs/MUL_Blog_WellnessPrograms.png
---
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[Home](https://mullinginsurance.com/) » [Mulling Insurance Blog](https://blog.mullinginsurance.com) » Effective Employee Benefits: Implementing Wellness Programs
# Effective Employee Benefits: Implementing Wellness Programs
Posted on [June 18, 2024](https://blog.mullinginsurance.com/implementing-wellness-programs)
Employees are the backbone of any company. At the end of the day, no matter how innovative the product or how thorough the service is, a workplace is only as functional as the people who work there. More companies have started turning toward employee wellness programs to educate and encourage healthy lifestyles both in and out of the office. Creating a robust program is timely since [87% of employees](https://www.zippia.com/advice/employee-wellness-statistics/) report considering health and wellness offerings when choosing an employer. Not only do they help your employees feel better, these wellness programs can [chip away at healthcare costs,](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11640894/) increase productivity and morale, and decrease employee turnover.
Whether your company is looking to start a wellness program or has one that may need a check-up, let's explore the different types of wellness programs, components of success, and opportunities for implementation in any company.
## Types of Wellness Programs
[United Healthcare](https://www.uhc.com/content/dam/uhcdotcom/en/HealthReform/PDF/Provisions/WellnessFAQ.pdf) distinguishes two different types of workplace wellness programs. These are participatory programs and health-contingent programs.
**Participatory Wellness Programs**
Participatory wellness programs invite employees to participate in an activity no matter their ability. For example, if your company gave a free membership to a recreation center for all employees or invited a healthcare provider to give out flu shots one day, that would count as a participatory wellness program.
**Health-Contingent Wellness Programs**
Health-contingent wellness programs require an individual to qualify for a health factor to get a reward in return. There are two different kinds of health-contingent wellness programs:
1. **Activity-only wellness programs** - These programs require an individual to complete an activity related to health to get a reward in return. For example, participating in a walking or diet program.
2. **Outcome-based wellness programs** - These programs require an individual to attain a specific health outcome or goal in order to receive a reward. For example, not smoking or being in a healthy blood pressure range.
## **Components of a Successful Program **
With all of the different options for a wellness program, where do you start when creating or evaluating your own?The [Harvard Business Review](https://hbr.org/2010/12/whats-the-hard-return-on-employee-wellness-programs) has established six different pillars of a successful wellness plan:
1. **Multilevel Leadership:** When trying to implement a wellness plan, employees are more likely to take part if they see company leadership participating too. If the CEO makes time for health and wellness, employees will not feel guilty joining in on the fun!
2. **Alignment:** Wellness plans should align with the rest of the company's culture and goals. Intentionality behind wellness plans can increase employee participation.
3. **Scope, Relevance, and Quality:** Wellness plans should include a variety of options to help employees find something that works best for them. While some employees may seek resources for physical health, others may request mental health programming.
4. **Accessibility:** Opportunities to engage in wellness plans should be accessible to employees of all abilities, including physical and financial.
5. **Partnerships:** Both internal and external partnerships can increase the quality and credibility of the care provided by a workplace wellness plan. Inviting health professionals is helpful to employee education and promoting local recreation opportunities encourages employee community engagement.
6. **Communications:** A diversity of media channels to spread wellness messaging can help engage all employees to participate in wellness programs. Communication methods can be anything from typical channels, like emails or videos, to more subtle environmental suggestions, like bike racks outside the office or appealing staircases throughout the building.
## **Step-by-Step Launch (or Refresh) Checklist**
Implementing a wellness plan for your company can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be! When deciding the best way to kick off your company's wellness plan, consult executives and follow HIPAA guidelines. Create a wellness plan best suited for your workplace environment, and continually evaluate the process to keep your plan relevant.
1. **Secure C-suite buy-in** with data.
2. **Survey employees** to identify top needs and barriers.
3. **Set SMART goals**, like 30% participation or 10% drop in tobacco use.
4. **Choose program type(s) and [check for HIPAA/FMLA/ADA compliance](https://blog.mullinginsurance.com/employee-benefits-compliance).**
5. **Pick the right partners.**
6. **Measure and evaluate quarterly.** Track participation, health metrics, etc.
## Ready to Strengthen Your Program?
Any questions about revising your workplace wellness programs? Contact the Mulling team for a [free Employee Benefits Review](https://content.mullinginsurance.com/employee-benefits-review). We’ll review your strategy and help identify areas to help make sure you are keeping your employees healthy and happy.
*Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in June 2024 but, as of November 2025, has been edited for accuracy and comprehension.*
---
*[](https://mullinginsurance.com/our-team/kevin-mulling/)**[Kevin Conrad, LUTCF](https://mullinginsurance.com/our-team/kevin-conrad/) **| Commercial Insurance Advisor*
*With more than a decade of experience in employee benefits, Kevin Conrad specializes in helping businesses find the right benefits program that keeps their employees healthy and happy.*
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