I’m all for staying healthy and having nice plants, but now my boss keeps asking how many steps I’ve gotten and if I’ve done my breathing exercises… feels a little much? Also one of my coworkers already killed their succulent and we’re only 3 days in lol.
From my experience they are doing it because the insurance company is threatening to raise the prices. If most people in the business actually do the Wellness Challenges they won't raise it.
1
riptide318Mar 28, 2026
+1
It's superficial. Makes bosses feel like they're doing something, makes workers feel ostensibly more heard, and involved as a way to seemingly (but often not really) close the liminal gap between supervisor and employee.
You can see it because it's forced on _everyone_. As if they believe a "one layer fix" works for everyone. It's all very surface level - and if they treat people like they dont know, as individuals, that they have not been treating themselves right, that only promotes potential distrust and instability in the subject.
I hate corporate shit.
1
OverAd9609Mar 28, 2026
+1
You can kinda understand the managers: a healthy employee is definitely more productive, energetic, creative, and focused on the job. That’s a fact. But you just can’t achieve this by forcing people. It simply doesn’t work like that
1
twinklecosmicaMar 28, 2026
+3
wellness is great until it feels forced honestly
3
Pale-Sale1651Mar 28, 2026
+1
Compaines do this because it reduces health insurance costs, decreases absences, increases productivity. Those are all good things. But they give managers goals that are tied to their bonus, advancement, etc. At that point it becomes a pain in the butt for the employees. The managers are not sincerely interested in the employees' wellness; they're just interested in checking the boxes needed for a good bonus.
1
Fantastic_Low_1537Mar 28, 2026
+2
Wtf?
Have you considered telling him that you are their for money?
2
New-Energy8974Mar 28, 2026
+1
Forcing people is obviously not okay, and it’ll скорее give the opposite result. People will just follow rules for show, like “tick the box”, and actually it’ll make them resist even more. The only way that really works is by personal example. Let your boss show it on himself, so you kinda come to it by yourself.
1
geese-canadaMar 28, 2026
+2
I'd make myself scarce or quit if there's no way to opt out. They can take it too far/force it onto everyone and end up traumatising people. Its based on whatever their perspective is/perimeters are, they set the narrative
2
PrincessBella1Mar 28, 2026
+1
The problem is that wellness only works if it is beneficial to the person. Forced wellness just makes the bosses look better. Where I work can be toxic. Every year we need to see the boss for a wellness meeting. We complain about the same things but the only reason for the meeting is to tick a box so the boss can get their incentive.
1
CindersMom_515Mar 28, 2026
+1
We get a pretty substantial (about 15%) d******* on health insurance premiums for doing activities over the course of the year. Most of it is stuff I’d do anyway (annual check up, eye doctor and dentist).
But it’s not super annoying with reminders.
1
Particular_Way8415Mar 28, 2026
+1
A large company I worked for several years ago had a similar program which incentivized employees to complete certain health challenges. By achieving the goals set up by the company we could get a nice d******* on health insurance.
They arranged for local weight watchers to come in once a week and we paid our $15 for the coaching and materials (I lost 85#) which helped a lot of employees start a healthy lifestyle. We could join after work Zumba, Yoga, and exercise boot camps. It was pretty successful overall and lasted a couple of years. Then premiums went way too high and the company couldn't/wouldn't subsidize any longer and participation dropped dramatically. They laid off the health team and we lost instructors. They sent out blast emails to encourage staff to continue by signing up and paying out of pocket; had walk-a-thons at lunchtime for silly tchotchkes; and so on but most people could find classes off campus at times more convenient for them and the numbers dwindled so dramatically they pulled the programs.
1
Defiant_Spring_6250Mar 28, 2026
+1
Very odd and comical. What is your line of work?
The best thing your boss can do is model healthy wellness practices and give discounts on gyms and healthy services. Challenges might be used to build teamwork/ etc but this is odd and seems to be backfiring and causing undue stress, which is the opposite of what your company’s goals are.
It seems that you need the breathing techniques for the wellness challenge that you’re forced to do!
It’s also impossible to kill a succulent in 3 days. Lol
1
possiblecurbMar 28, 2026
+1
This is way cheaper though, saves the company some hard earned revenue.
1
possiblecurbMar 28, 2026
+1
Any time companies I'm with have gone through that, it's usually the first of the year, and they are reminding us that they care about our health and well being.
Enough so, they'd like a lil health check of us, for funsies.
1
FloweryWagramMar 28, 2026
+1
Dude, that's wild! Your boss sounds like they're trying to run a wellness retreat instead of an office. And the succulent thing? Classic! Some people just aren't cut out for plant parenthood, I guess.
1
Active_Recording_789Mar 28, 2026
+1
I must be in the minority—I love all that stuff! Whenever the organization asks for employee surveys or innovation ideas, I jump on it. I am the captain of our bike to work team and I joined the work run club. I joined the community summer reading challenge and the cross organizational healthy eating challenge. Idk, it’s just fun! Oh and I won the safety month prize (cuz only one other person joined so we split the prize).
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