25 Ways To Spend A Wellness Stipend

In the relentless pursuit of top talent, forward-thinking organizations are rewriting the playbook of workplace benefits. Traditional offerings like healthcare and retirement plans, once considered deal-sealers, now face a changing landscape. Within today’s diverse workforce, where individuals have unique aspirations and needs, companies are realizing that one-size-fits-all solutions no longer suffice.

This is where wellness stipends step into the spotlight, offering a dynamic and highly personalized approach to employee well-being. Wellness stipends provide employees with the autonomy to invest in their well-being as they see fit, empowering them to design unique paths to health and happiness. By aligning their wellness spending with personal goals and preferences, the burden of meeting individual needs is lifted from employers, while employees gain access to an array of benefits that they genuinely desire.

This article covers the definition and mechanisms of a wellness stipend, the motivations for employers to adopt this benefit, and 25 creative and effective ways to make the most of wellness stipends.

What Is a Wellness Stipend & How Does It Work?

A wellness stipend, also known as a lifestyle spending account or wellness allowance, is a financial benefit offered by companies to support employee health and well-being. Employers typically allocate a specific budget per employee, granting them the autonomy to determine how to best utilize these funds in pursuit of their individual health and wellness goals. This adaptable approach to wellness has become increasingly essential, especially in a work landscape that has seen the rise of remote, hybrid, and flexible work arrangements.

The beauty of a wellness stipend lies in its versatility. Employees can utilize these funds to cover a wide range of health and wellness expenses, including physical fitness, mental health, financial well-being, and more. These stipends can be distributed as one-time benefits or recurring allowances, paid out monthly, quarterly, or annually, depending on the company’s policies.

Example: At Wellable, employees receive a monthly wellness stipend of up to $150, which they can allocate within a designated marketplace or apply as exceptions as needed.

Why Offer A Wellness Stipend As A Benefit?

Employers are increasingly recognizing the importance of nurturing workforce well-being. Beyond its positive impact on employee morale and job satisfaction, providing a wellness stipend offers tangible benefits for organizations. By enhancing and demonstrating a commitment to employee health, employers experience:

Elevated productivity
Enhanced employee retention rates
Improved talent acquisition
Cultivation of a more positive work culture
Reduction in illness-related absences

What Can You Do With Wellness Stipends?

Wellness stipends open a world of possibilities for employees looking to invest in their health and happiness.

25 Ways To Spend Wellness Stipends

Gym Membership: A gym membership is a classic way for employees to utilize their wellness stipend. It grants access to a variety of fitness equipment, group classes, and professional trainers, encouraging regular physical activity.

Fitness Classes: Fitness classes offer structured workouts tailored to employees’ interests, whether they want to find inner peace through yoga or elevate their heart rates with invigorating spinning sessions. By devoting their wellness stipends to classes that align with their fitness goals and levels, employees can maintain high motivation and engagement.

Fitness Apps & Subscriptions: With the rise of digital solutions, employees can invest in fitness apps and subscriptions that provide on-demand workout routines, nutritional guidance, and progress tracking. These apps allow for flexibility and convenience in maintaining a fitness regimen.

Wearable Devices: Wearable fitness trackers and smartwatches help individuals monitor their health metrics and set wellness goals accordingly. While these gadgets typically track metrics like heart rate and sleep patterns, the ongoing advancements in technology promise an exciting future for wearables devices—one that employees won’t want to miss out on.

Fitness Equipment: For those who prefer working out at home, wellness stipends can cover the cost of fitness equipment, from resistance bands and yoga mats to dumbbells and cardio machines. Empowering employees to create their ideal home gym makes committing to fitness goals more enticing and attainable.

Fitness Clothing: Promote an active and healthy lifestyle by allowing employees to invest their wellness stipend in activewear. New workout attire could be the extra nudge to get employees to the gym, trail, or yoga mat.

Personal Trainer: A personal trainer provides structured guidance for achieving fitness goals. With wellness stipends, employees can work with a professional who tailors workouts to their needs, helping them make progress in a supportive, one-on-one setting.

Health Coach: Research indicates that employees working with health coaches achieved greater improvements in nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and tobacco use than those who worked independently. Health coaching is a powerful tool for enhancing wellness, offering personalized guidance to help employees make sustainable lifestyle changes.

Recreational Sports League: Whether it’s shooting hoops or scoring goals, team sports enhance both physical well-being and social wellness. Employees can allocate their wellness stipends towards joining a recreational sports league to engage in friendly competition while investing in well-rounded well-being.

Physical Therapy: Physical therapy can be particularly beneficial for those recovering from injuries or surgeries. Wellness stipends can cover the cost of these sessions, designed to address specific health concerns, improve mobility, and reduce discomfort or pain.

Alternative Health Care: Beyond traditional medical services, wellness stipends can be directed toward chiropractic care or consultations with alternative health care providers. These options offer holistic approaches to well-being, focusing on musculoskeletal health, alignment, and natural healing methods, providing employees with diverse avenues to support their health and wellness journey.

Mindfulness & Meditation: Promoting mental well-being is as crucial as physical fitness. Mindfulness and meditation workshops, classes, or apps are valuable resources for employees to enhance their stress-management techniques, improve their focus, and achieve better work-life balance.

Ergonomic Office Furniture: Promote comfort and productivity by offering employees the option to invest their wellness stipend in ergonomic office furniture. Whether working from home or within the office environment, tailoring their workspace with ergonomic solutions such as supportive chairs and standing desks can create a healthier and more efficient work experience.

Healthy Meal Kit Service: The nightly dinner dilemma is a universal challenge, one that often tempts people to opt for the convenience of takeout or frozen dinners. Encourage healthy eating habits by allowing employees to invest in meal kit delivery services. These services provide fresh ingredients and chef-designed recipes, making it easier for them to prepare nutritious meals at home.

Supplement Subscription: Employees can use wellness stipends to subscribe to nutritional supplement services that offer vitamins, minerals, protein powders, and other supplements tailored to their needs.

Health Content: Encourage employees to stay informed about health and wellness by allowing them to use wellness stipends for health-related magazines, books, or newsletters. This option promotes continuous learning and self-improvement.

Fitness Events: Encourage employees to participate in fitness events such as marathons, cycling races, or team challenges. These events promote physical activity, camaraderie, and a sense of accomplishment.

Substance Cessation: Employees seeking to quit smoking or overcome substance abuse can use wellness stipends for counseling, support groups, or medications as part of their wellness journey.

Spa Service: Beyond their luxurious appeal, spa services like massages and facials foster mental well-being through relaxation and stress relief. Employees can use wellness stipends to prioritize self-care and unwind from the demands of daily life.

Skincare Products: The skin is the largest organ of the body, so why not invest in its health? Employees can use their wellness stipends to invest in professional-grade skincare products that contribute to healthy, radiant skin.

Vacation: Organizations can supplement their PTO policies with the option to devote wellness stipends toward vacation expenses. This encourages employees to take a break and recharge, promoting work-life balance and elevating job satisfaction.

Financial Services: Navigating investments and managing budgets can feel overwhelming, especially in times of economic uncertainty. Financial advisors, counselors, or workshops are valuable resources that help reduce stress and secure a more stable financial future.

Active Outdoor Adventures: For adventure enthusiasts, wellness stipends can be a ticket to thrilling experiences like hiking, zip-lining, or rock climbing. Beyond the physical benefits, these activities connect employees with nature, promoting mental well-being.

Childcare Services: Recognize the unique needs of working parents by offering the option to use wellness stipends for childcare services. This not only helps ease the juggling act of work and family responsibilities but also provides parents with much-needed peace of mind, knowing that they can access quality childcare without shouldering the full cost.

Pet Expenses: Support the well-being of employees and their furry companions by allowing the use of wellness stipends for pet-related expenses. Whether it’s covering veterinary bills, pet insurance, grooming services, or even pet-friendly activities, this option recognizes the importance of pets in employees’ lives.

Is A Wellness Stipend Taxable?

Typically, stipends offered to employees by their employers are categorized as taxable income. Therefore, it’s advisable for employees to allocate a portion of their wellness stipend to cover taxes when the tax season arrives. It’s worth noting that Social Security and Medicare taxes don’t need to be paid since they aren’t considered earned wages.

Conclusion On Wellness Stipends

Wellness stipends represent a transformative shift from one-size-fits-all benefits to a more tailored and dynamic approach. By recognizing the diverse needs of today’s workforce and empowering them to craft their distinct journeys toward holistic well-being, organizations can play a pivotal role in supporting employees in cultivating sustainable, effective, and enjoyable lifestyle changes.