12 Employee Wellbeing Ideas for London Offices That Staff Will Actually Use

Most companies now have some kind of wellbeing offer. The problem is that a lot of it goes unused. A gym discount nobody claims or an app nobody opens doesn’t help anyone.

The best employee wellbeing ideas have three things in common: they’re easy to take part in, they happen during the working day, and they feel personal. Here are twelve that tick those boxes, with ideas for every budget.

Low-cost ideas

1. Protect the lunch break

Encourage people to take a real lunch away from their desks. Leaders going first makes it feel allowed.

2. Walking meetings

London has plenty of places to walk, from the Thames path to the city’s squares and parks. One-to-ones work especially well on foot.

3. No-meeting blocks

A meeting-free morning or afternoon each week gives people time for focused work and reduces the feeling of constantly being behind.

4. A proper “how are you?” culture

Short check-ins at the start of team meetings, where people can be honest, help managers spot problems early.

5. Make support easy to find

List your Employee Assistance Programme, mental health first aiders and external support such as Mind in one easy-to-find place.

Mid-budget ideas

6. On-site chair massage days

Chair massage is consistently one of the most popular office perks because it’s quick, fully clothed and comes to people’s desks. A therapist sets up in a meeting room, staff book a 10 to 20 minute slot, and they go back to work feeling more relaxed. Monthly sessions give people something to look forward to.

7. Healthy snacks and better coffee

A well-stocked kitchen is a small, daily signal that you care. Add fruit, nuts and decent tea and coffee.

8. Lunch-and-learn sessions

Invite experts to talk about sleep, financial wellbeing, nutrition or menopause at work. Mental Health UK found 59% of people cited poor sleep and 48% cited money worries as sources of stress (Mental Health UK), so these topics matter.

9. A quiet room

Turn an underused room into a calm space for a few minutes away from noise and screens.

Bigger ideas

10. A wellbeing calendar tied to awareness days

Plan activities around dates like Time to Talk Day, Mental Health Awareness Week, World Mental Health Day and Stress Awareness Day. It keeps wellbeing on the agenda all year.

11. Flexible working that really is flexible

Giving people more control over when and where they work can make a big difference, especially for parents, carers and long commuters.

12. A full wellness day

Combine several activities in one day: chair massage, a healthy lunch, a short talk and a group walk. It’s a great way to launch a wider wellbeing programme or thank the team after a busy period.

How to make wellbeing ideas stick

• Ask staff what they want before you spend money.
• Make it regular. One-off events are nice. Routine is what changes how people feel.
• Track take-up. If something isn’t used, change it.
• Look at the root causes. Perks help people recover, but workload and management matter more.

Read next: What Is Corporate Chair Massage? A Guide for HR and Office Managers in London and World Mental Health Day: How London Employers Can Support Staff All Year Round

Add chair massage to your wellbeing plan

Corporate Calm brings professional, fully-clothed chair massage to offices across London. We’ll help you choose the right format, from a one-off treat to a regular wellbeing day.

Email info@corporate-calm.co.uk or call 020 7100 5465.