7 Low-Cost Wellness Initiatives Your Employees Will Actually Appreciate

How to Boost Employee Wellness Without Draining Your HR Budget.

You don’t need a big spend to offer meaningful wellness support. What employees want are simple, relevant resources that help them feel better and perform their best. If your wellness program feels overlooked or underused, it’s probably not about the budget, it’s about the execution.

These seven ideas are practical, affordable, and easy to put in motion.

1. Subsidize a Wellness App That Employees Actually Use

Instead of building something from scratch, offer partial reimbursement for apps like Calm, Headspace, MyFitnessPal, or Fitbod. A small monthly stipend gives employees freedom to choose what works best for them.

Worth noting: Swift Kennedy can help you structure and communicate these stipends through your existing benefits program.

2. Give Permission for True Breaks

Let employees know it’s okay to take a mental reset or a mid-morning walk. People are more productive when they feel trusted to manage their own well-being. Even a recurring “wellness hour” with no meetings can go a long way.

3. Offer Onsite Screenings or Flu Shots

It’s easy to coordinate a visit from a local provider to offer biometric screenings or flu vaccines. It saves employees time and helps catch potential health issues early.

Need help? Swift Kennedy can help connect you with local healthcare partners and handle the coordination.

4. Provide Quarterly Wellness Reimbursements

This is one of the simplest, most appreciated approaches. Offer $50–$100 per quarter for any wellness-related expense: gym memberships, therapy sessions, ergonomic office gear, even hiking boots.

People define wellness differently. Give them the flexibility to support their own needs.

5. Host Expert Sessions That Solve Real-Life Problems

Instead of generic wellness seminars, bring in speakers who address everyday issues. A nutritionist who explains how to eat healthy without meal prepping. A therapist who talks about managing burnout. A financial coach who can break down budgeting in a way that actually makes sense.

Swift Kennedy can help bring in vetted professionals for in-person or virtual sessions.

6. Share Wellness Micro-Content That’s Actually Useful

Curate quick, helpful videos or articles and drop them in Slack or your HR portal. Think short content like “5 signs of burnout,” “How to stretch at your desk,” or “What your HSA can pay for.”

If employees have to dig through a clunky portal or benefits packet, they won’t bother. Make it easy.

We help employers pull together and distribute these kinds of resources so they don’t get ignored.

7. Simplify How You Communicate Benefits

Many companies offer great resources, but employees don’t use them because they don’t know where to find them or what’s included. Audit your materials. Create a one-page cheat sheet. Send regular reminders with clear links and answers.

Don’t assume people remember what’s in your open enrollment packet from last fall.

Swift Kennedy can help you clean up your communication strategy so employees get more value from the benefits you already offer.

Need a hand?
Swift Kennedy works with employers to make wellness benefits simple, accessible, and cost-effective. Whether you’re just getting started or want to improve what you already offer, we can help you make it work.

👉 Reach out here to schedule a quick consult.