During open enrollment season, HR teams put in a lot of effort to showcase all the benefits employees can access, from health insurance and health savings accounts to gym discounts and wellness apps. Engagement often peaks during this period as employees review their options and set new wellness goals for the year ahead.
However, once open enrollment ends, that initial enthusiasm often fades. Without ongoing reminders or new ways to engage with their benefits, participation tends to drop by spring. Discover why that happens, and how you can help employees keep their health and fitness momentum going all year long.
Why Engagement Drops and How to Fix It
After open enrollment, three main factors tend to cause engagement to dip:
Out of sight, out of mind. Once enrolled, employees often forget about the benefits they signed up for. If they’re not reminded or inspired to use them, they won’t.
One-size-fits-all programs. Wellness isn’t the same for everyone. When programs don’t feel personal or relevant, it’s hard for employees to stay interested.
Lack of visible support. If leadership doesn’t actively promote or participate in wellness initiatives, employees may see them as optional instead of essential.
The solution is to create a year-round wellness plan that keeps employees engaged, motivated, and supported. The most effective programs make wellness easy to access, enjoyable, and something they can easily fit into their daily routines.
Make Employee Wellness an Everyday Habit: 4 Ways to Keep Engagement Alive
- Start with a yearlong roadmap: Treat wellness like any other strategic initiative with a clear plan and regular checkpoints. Map out monthly or quarterly themes (like “Move More March” or “Mindful May”) to keep the program fresh and seasonal. Use company newsletters, intranet updates, and periodic corporate wellness challenges to keep fitness visible and top of mind throughout the year.
- Leverage the power of technology: A wellness app like Aaptiv gives employees consistent, motivating fitness experiences on their own schedules, making it easier to focus on health anytime, anywhere. Plus, data insights from corporate wellness apps help HR teams see what’s working and identify areas for improvement.
- Make it personal: Wellness means something different to everyone. Offer options that meet employees where they are through on-demand fitness options, whether that’s guided runs for fitness enthusiasts, mobility sessions for desk workers, or stress-reduction programs for busy parents. Personalized programs are more likely to keep people engaged because they align with employees’ interests, needs, and schedules, making it easier to fit naturally into daily life.
- Build a culture that models wellness: Engagement increases when leaders walk the talk and actively participate in wellness initiatives. Encourage managers to share how they use wellness benefits, spotlight success stories, and celebrate participation. When wellness is modeled from the top down, it becomes part of the company culture, rather than a once-a-year focus.
Keep the Momentum Going, Not Just the Message
Open enrollment is a great time to introduce or refresh your wellness benefits, but it shouldn’t be the only time employees think about their well-being. The best programs make wellness feel like an everyday opportunity, something employees can easily access, enjoy, and benefit from year-round.
Keep the conversation going long after open enrollment ends. Share quick reminders, success stories, and small challenges that bring wellness back into focus. When employees feel supported and know their company genuinely cares about their health, they’re much more likely to maintain those healthy habits.
Aaptiv: Powering Everyday Employee Wellness, 365 Days a Year
Aaptiv makes it easy for employers to support employee health well beyond open enrollment. With personalized, on-demand fitness and wellness programs for every level, Aaptiv helps turn wellness benefits into long-term, sustainable habits. From guided workouts to stress-relief sessions, employees have everything they need to stay active, engaged, and healthy all year long.
Learn more about Aaptiv employee wellness and fitness benefits solutions.
