The Complete Guide to Building a Wellness Champion Network

Any HR professional knows how challenging it can be to implement a wellness program — and then have your team participate in it. After all the hard work of creating a program that can transform your employees’ lives for the better, it then feels like an uphill battle to convince them that they should join.

Well, there’s no better way to convince your team that something is right for them than through their peers. That’s why finding the right wellness champions can help you get everyone genuinely excited about your wellness initiatives. 

The Who: Spotting an Effective Wellness Champion

Wellness champions are employees who volunteer to promote, support, and energize your workplace wellness initiatives. They’re the folks who get genuinely excited about promoting work-life wellness and creating a thriving, vibrant community at work. They serve as a bridge between management and staff, making wellness programs more accessible and relatable to their colleagues.

But beyond just being passionate about wellness, these champions need the right mix of traits to succeed:

• Enthusiasm: Your wellness champions should have a natural excitement about health and wellness that’s contagious. This will make everything so much easier, as people will sense that they’re missing out on something fun if they’re not participating in your wellness programs.
• Communication: The ability to explain wellness concepts without sounding like a forced fitness influencer’s Instagram caption is a must. No matter how good their intentions are, the message has to be clear and exciting for it to work.
• Leadership: An exceptional wellness champion can guide without pushing and motivate without preaching.
• Empathy: Understanding that not everyone’s journey starts at the same place is key for any wellness champion.
• Organization: Being able to stay organized is an invaluable skill in almost any role, including this one. Being organized keeps wellness initiatives running smoothly and efficiently.

Now, let’s clear up some common misconceptions about wellness champions. Some may think that they need to be fitness experts to promote wellness, but that’s not the case! Nobody is asking wellness champions to teach a yoga class in the office. All they have to do is direct their coworkers to their nearest yoga studio. 

Next: Some people think that being a wellness champion is an extra job, but that’s not the case. For the right candidate, promoting wellness in the office is a great way to channel existing enthusiasm into something meaningful!

The Why: The Benefits of Wellness Champions

So, why is it all that important for organizations to rely on their wellness champions to spread information and increase employee participation? There are a few reasons:

The Challenges of Traditional Wellness Programs

No matter how well-intentioned your HR team is, top-down wellness programs can feel slightly forced or unnatural. Employees might see these wellness programs as just another corporate mandate, like casual Friday dress codes or mandatory team-building exercises. 

Seeing it as a company requirement rather than a voluntary wellness initiative can trigger resistance or indifference in the employees who need these programs the most.

How Champions Drive Engagement

This is where your wellness champions come in. Peer pressure is powerful stuff, and the right wellness champion could influence your employees much better than management ever could. For example, when Laura from accounting raves about how amazing the new meditation app is, people will listen. 

Wellness champions create authentic, grassroots momentum that no amount of corporate emails can match.

Building a Culture of Wellness 

A culture of wellness isn’t something you can just install like a new software update. It needs to grow organically. And that’s where wellness champions shine. They help include wellness in everyday conversation and activities. This makes healthy choices feel less like a company program and more like how things are done around here.

Advancing HR KPIs

Wellness champions can be a fantastic asset for HR leaders looking to meet important KPIs and improve the bottom line. They help move the needle on key metrics like:

• Employee engagement: Taking a peer-to-peer approach to wellness can convince more employees to participate in them. As revealed in Wellhub’s Return on Wellbeing 2024 report, one in four Wellhub clients have more than 81% of employees engaged in the wellness program, and peer-to-peer promotion is a key part of increasing engagement.
• Healthcare costs: Nobody wants to spend more on healthcare than they need to, which is why getting your employees onboard with wellness programs is so important. An effective wellness program can decrease healthcare costs by $360 per year, according to the American College of Sports Medicine. That’s $360,000 per year for a company of 1,000!
• Retention: A wellness champion can help employees stay aware of and engaged with your wellness offerings. Because if they don’t know about them, then they might as well not exist. This can be disastrous for retention, as more than 50% of workers would jump ship to a company with better benefits, according to a 2024 Maven report. 
• Culture: A company where employees are involved in wellness initiatives is a company with engaged workers. That’s because a workplace culture of wellness leads to higher engagement levels, lower stress, and lower depression, according to the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

The What: Wellness Champion Activities and Initiatives

Now, before you let your wellness champions loose in the workplace, it’s a good idea to have a clear game plan of what wellness activities and initiatives you want to promote. The following activities, from education initiatives to mental health strategies, can transform your office from “meh” to “yeah!” when it comes to wellbeing.

Education & Awareness

Knowledge is power, and when it comes to wellness it’s also the key to better habits. Your champions can spread the good word through: 

• Lunch & learns: Invite experts or use internal resources for presentations that feed the mind and soul, like expert nutrition tips and simple fitness routines. The benefit of doing a lunch & learn instead of a regular talk is that everybody loves free food, so you’ll have an easier time getting a great turnout!
• Workshopsand seminars: These are deep dives on wellness topics that matter. Think healthy cooking demos so nobody burns the quinoa. Or ergonomic sessions on how to take care of your body while working a desk job.
• Wellness library or resource hub: Curate a comprehensive online library of wellness videos, podcasts, and resources.
• Theme days or weeks: Organizing events around specific themes like World Mental Health Day or Global Wellness Day. Taking advantage of these themes can help you enjoy the external momentum. Who knows, your team might be seeing other companies’ wellness initiatives on social media or in ads.

Physical Activity

Getting people moving doesn’t have to feel like punishment. Here’s how to make fitness fun:

• Fitness challenges: Turn everyday activities into friendly competitions. A step challenge could encourage people to park in the furthest spot from the office or take the stairs instead of the elevator. Quick wins to boost fitness!
• Active breaks: They say sitting is the new smoking, and nobody wants their chair to be a health hazard. Promoting walking meetings, stretch breaks, or standing desks could help reduce the total time your team spends sitting in their chairs. 
• Offsite fitness classes: Partnering with local gyms and fitness studios can give employees the opportunity to work out at reduced financial costs. The classes will still be a mental and physical challenge, though!
• Team sports and activities: Nothing builds team spirit quite like trying not to let your department down in the company softball league. These activities can help employees get in the fitness spirit while also building cross-departmental camaraderie. Win-win!

Healthy Eating

You are what you eat, so let’s make sure your team isn’t turning into a bag of chips: 

• Healthy potlucks: There’s no better way to share healthy cooking knowledge than with a healthy potluck. Who knows, maybe Karen’s famous kale salad will become the office’s new obsession.
• Nutrition workshops: Hosting healthy eating workshops can help everyone get on the same page about what healthy and fulfilling options can replace that afternoon candy bar.
• Healthy vending machine options: We all need a pick-me-up, especially on busy days. Making sure the office vending machine is stocked with healthy and protein-packed options can prevent that snack run from turning into a sugar crash.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs: Partnering with local farms to deliver fresh produce straight to the office can be a significant incentive for employees to restock vegetables and not processed foods. Less farm-to-table and more farm-to-desk.

Mental Wellbeing

No holistic wellbeing campaign is complete without a strong emphasis on mental health. About two-thirds of HR professionals think that stress and burnout in their team is their number one problem, according to a Paychex survey. These strategies can help mitigate that: 

• Mindfulness and meditation sessions: Many people know that meditation is good for them, but they also often don’t know where to begin. Offering stress-free, beginner-friendly sessions can help even your most high-strung employees find some inner peace.
• Stress management programs: Almost two-thirds of employees find their job to be very stressful, according to OSHA. These programs can help employees find solutions for what’s causing them stress and find ways to manage it.
• Mental health first aid training: Equipping champions to spot when someone needs support before they hit the wall, like common signs of anxiety or depression, can help prevent burnout. Through tailored seminars, wellness champions can learn how to approach sensitive conversations, provide initial support, and guide colleagues to appropriate professional resources to intervene before someone on your team gets burnt out.
• Quiet spaces and relaxation zones: Everyone needs a breather every now and then, especially on particularly stressful days. Creating sanctuaries where people can recharge can give everyone a brief respite from the busy workday.

Social Connection & Team Building

Humans are social creatures, and creating a sense of camaraderie and belonging in the office can help everyone keep a more positive attitude. Here are some ways to achieve this:

• Volunteer events: Organize opportunities for employees to give back to the community while building team spirit. Participating in volunteering activities has been shown to improve physical health and reduce rates of depression and anxiety, according to Mayo Clinic.
• Social gatherings: Plan social events so people can remember that their coworkers are actually pretty cool outside of work. No need to hold a grudge against Jacob for scrutinizing your budgets — he’s pretty chill outside the office!
• Team-building activities: Although many roll their eyes at the thought of team-building activities, they’re actually very effective. They can lead to an increase in productivity of over 30%, according to EastPharma. Just make sure to implement the right team-building exercises!
• Employee resource groups(ERGs): These are communities within communities, where employees who identify with a certain group can support each other. Because wellness is better with buddies.

The How: Creating a Successful Wellness Champion Network

Now it’s time to build your dream team of wellness warriors. But before you start, you’ll want to know how to recruit, train, and support a champion network that’ll make any other company jealous.

Recruitment & Selection

Finding the right champions isn’t just about finding the fittest or most zen people at the office. You’ll want to find the perfect mix of personalities and talents:

• Define roles and responsibilities: Create something like a wellness champion job description. Of course, it doesn’t need to be as serious, but you want to be clear about what you’re looking for. Outline expected time commitments, key responsibilities, and what success looks like in the role.
• Identify key qualities: Your ideal champions should be more than just gym enthusiasts. Look for natural influencers, good listeners who won’t judge others, creative problem-solvers, and inclusive leaders who understand that wellness looks a little bit different for everybody.
• Diverse representation: Cast a wide net across departments, roles, and locations. You ideally want champions in every corner to cover all your bases, both in terms of company departments and wellness experts. Maybe some shine in nutrition while others are better equipped to give fitness advice.

Recruitment Strategies

Now, it’s time to actually convince your potential wellness warriors to join your army. You can try some (or all!) of these strategies: 

• Open call for applications: Send out the bat signal and see who answers. Make it clear that passion matters more than perfection and this isn’t another job where they will be micromanaged.
• Nominations: Ask managers and employees to nominate those who have been working as the de facto wellness cheerleaders of their teams.
• Employee surveys: Keep your eyes peeled for employees who are already passionate about wellness as you send out your employee wellness surveys.

Training & Development

Once you’ve assembled your wellness squad, it’s time to provide some support. Here’s how to prepare them for success:

• Onboarding: Give your champions the tools they need to succeed from the get-go. Your onboarding experience shouldn’t attempt to turn them into experts, but rather to help them become effective advocates. 
• Program goals and objectives: Clear goals help champions understand what they’re working toward, whether it’s boosting program participation or creating a more active workforce.
• Available resources: Show your champions what resources they have access to. From fitness apps to meditation rooms, make sure they know about every resource at their disposal.
• Communication strategies: The last thing you want is for your wellness champions to be wellness salespeople. Show them how to influence their peers without sounding like they’re part of a pushy insurance company’s sales team.
• Confidentiality and ethics: Some conversations about wellness get personal, and your champions should be prepared for that. Help them know when and how to keep things private and when it might be time to guide someone to professional help.
• Ongoing training: Wellness trends change very quickly, so keep your team fresh with regular learning opportunities.

Support & Recognition

Don’t just launch your champion team into the wild and forget about them. Even if they’re doing a great job right away, you’ll want to offer ongoing support and recognition to keep them motivated for the long haul. Try some of these ideas:

• Dedicated point of contact: Give your champion a go-to person for any questions, concerns, and comments.
• Regular communication: Keep the lines of communication open. You can try monthly check-ins, a champion chat channel, and regular newsletters.
• Feedback mechanisms: Your wellness warriors are your boots on the ground. They deserve a chance to shape the program too.
• Resources and budget: Put your money where your wellness is. A small budget for activities can go a long way, like healthy snacks for workshops or prizes for challenge winners.
• Recognition and rewards: Don’t forget to show your champions some love! After all, they’re doing all this work for the greater good of your team. You can show your appreciation through shout-outs in company communications, special development opportunities, and the occasional thank-you treat.

The Proof: Measuring Success and ROI

Let’s talk numbers. At the end of the day, you want proof that your wellness champion program is worth its weight in gold. Here’s how:

• Key metrics: Track participation beyond just headcounts: Look who keeps coming back for more. Gather employee feedback on energy levels, stress reduction, and overall wellbeing. Keep an eye on health screenings and assessments, too. Lower health issues should indicate a successful wellness program.
• Tools and technology: Keep it simple when it comes to tools. Use platforms that do the heavy lifting of tracking engagement, quick pulse surveys that won’t bore everyone, and your existing HR software.
• Demonstrating value: Make sure you’re speaking their language when showing value to leadership. Mix hard data with real success stories, and keep updates brief but impactful.

The Best Practices: Running a Wellness Champion Program

Running a successful program will take some trial and error, but the following strategies can help increase your chances of running a well-oiled machine from the start.

Leadership Buy-in and Support

Counting on the support of your executives can really change the game. When leadership shows up to meditation sessions or joins step challenges, it sends a powerful message. To achieve this, try to make the program align with your company values. If you preach work-life wellness, then your wellness initiatives should reflect that. 

And don’t forget to secure real resources! Executive support can help you fill up those coffers for a successful program.

Champion Empowerment and Recognition

Let your champions be creative with their initiatives. But give them the training they need to succeed. Regular workshops on wellness topics, leadership skills, and communication strategies can keep them sharp. You can also create opportunities for them to connect through regular meetings, online forums, or social events. 

Effective Communication and Promotion

Use every tool in your communication toolkit — email, intranet, newsletters, and more. Mix it up for the best results! 

With that said, some messages don’t need to be blasted to the entire company. Tailor your messages to different employee groups to hit different nerves. 

And don’t forget to share success stories and testimonials. Real stories from real colleagues pack more punch than generic tips that sound like they were pulled from the internet.

Program Evaluation and Improvement

Set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals to give your program a clear direction. Then, track those goals regularly. There’s no point in setting targets if you’re not checking progress. 

Use this data to spot what’s working and what needs tweaking. It’s important to stay flexible and to adapt. Sometimes, even the best-designed wellness plans need a refresh.

Sustainability and Long-Term Success

Make wellness a part of your company’s DNA, not just another initiative. This means integrating it into everyday operations and decisions. It should be institutionalized, which means that you should have a pipeline of future wellness leaders ready to step up. That way, the program can survive even after your wellness superstars have moved on.

The Secret, Revealed: Transform Your Workplace Through Champion-Led Wellness

Building a successful wellness champion network takes dedication, strategy, and support. From recruiting the right champions to measuring program success, every step is an important part of creating a workplace where wellness becomes part of your culture.

A comprehensive employee wellbeing program can provide the foundation your wellness champions need to succeed. After all, they need to have stellar wellbeing programs to promote to have a fighting chance at increasing employee participation.

Wellhub can help you craft the ideal workplace wellness program for your organization. Speak with one of our Wellbeing Specialists to see how we can help.

You May Also Like:

• Master Team Building: Activities, Games, and Strategies for Cohesive Teams
• Building the 5 Pillars of a Strong Organizational Culture
• Mindfulness Leadership 

References:

• Baharom, G. K., Stoverink, T. G., & Kalogiannidis, O. S. (2022). Effect of Team Building on Employee Productivity; A Case Study of Eastpharma Company in Turkey. Journal of Human Resource &Leadership, 6(4), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.53819/81018102t50109
• Marenus, M. W., Marzec, M., & Chen, W. (2022). Association of Workplace Culture of Health and Employee Emotional Wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12318. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912318
• Maven Clinic. (2024). Maven’s State of Women’s and Family Health Benefits 2024. https://info.mavenclinic.com/pdf/state-women-family-health-benefits-2024
• OSHA. (2023). Workplace Stress. https://www.osha.gov/workplace-stress
• Paychex. (2023). The Pulse of HR. https://www.paychex.com/sites/default/files/2023-06/2023_POHR_Report.pdf
• Thoreson, A. (2023, August 1). 3 Health Benefits of Volunteering. Mayo Clinic Health System. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/3-health-benefits-of-volunteering
• Wojcik, J. R. (2024). ACSM Blog. ACSM CMS. https://www.acsm.org/blog-detail/fitness-index-blog/2024/06/12/economic-benefits-of-workplace-wellness-programs-and-changes-since-covid-19