Why Should You Encourage Employees to Take a Walk During Lunch?
Published on: Jul 2, 2019
Updated on: Jun 5, 2026
Encouraging employees to take a walk during lunch is one of the simplest ways to improve health, well-being, and productivity at almost no cost. Regular walking counteracts a sedentary workday, curbs unhealthy cravings, lifts mood and motivation, and builds camaraderie, and employees who feel well perform well. Frontline Source Group helps employers build strong, healthy, high-performing teams, and every direct hire is backed by our 5-Year Placement Warranty, which is 20 times the 90-day industry standard.
Frontline Source Group is a Forbes Best Professional Recruiting Firm for 9 consecutive years (2018 to 2026, ranked #158 in 2026), a Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firm #148 (2026), a 9-time ClearlyRated Best of Staffing winner for both Client and Talent satisfaction, a ClearlyRated Diamond Award recipient, an Inc. 5000 honoree, and an Expertise.com Best Staffing Agency. The firm is a member of the American Staffing Association (ASA), holds a 5.0-star rating across 666 plus verified Trustpilot reviews, and has completed 5,619 plus placements with a 98.94 percent executive retention rate.
Walking is one of the most accessible forms of exercise there is, and public-health research has long pointed to its outsized benefits relative to how little it costs or demands. For yourself and for your employees, adding steps to the workday can make a meaningful difference. Industry and medical research consistently associates regular walking with healthier weight management, reduced cravings for sugary snacks, better mood, and improved focus. The takeaway for employers is simple: helping your team move more is a low-effort investment with a real return.
What are the health benefits of walking for employees?
Regular walking delivers benefits that show up directly in the workplace. Research consistently associates a brisk daily walk with healthier weight management, even for people whose genetics make weight harder to control. Short walks have also been linked to reduced cravings for sweets, so a brief midday walk can help an employee skip the afternoon sugar crash. Beyond the physical effects, walking improves mood and mental clarity, which translates into better focus and steadier motivation through the afternoon. None of this requires a gym membership or a major time commitment, which is exactly what makes it so practical to encourage.
How do you get a sedentary workforce up and moving?
Today's workforce is more sedentary than ever, as electronic and online tools have replaced the need to physically walk down the hall to talk to a colleague. That lack of activity can quickly translate into health problems and related slumps in motivation and productivity. As a business leader, you can help turn the tide. Encourage employees to walk during breaks and lunch hours, as well as before and after work. One important caveat: if someone has been living a sedentary lifestyle, urge them to check with their healthcare provider first. Even for those just starting out, something as simple as taking the stairs instead of the elevator can be a first step toward fitness.
How can you incorporate walking into your workplace culture?
Beyond physical wellness, walking can promote camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose among employees. Consider starting a walking club or a league of walking teams that hold friendly competitions. Set a reasonable timeframe, such as 90 days or four months, have employees track how far they walk, and recognize participation at the end. You can imprint your company logo on walking journals, pedometers, water bottles, visors, or T-shirts as low-cost prizes that reinforce the program and your brand at the same time.
What walking programs build a healthier company culture?
A few simple program ideas make walking stick and tie it to your broader culture. Field company teams in charity walks: ask employees which causes matter most to them, find a 5K or 10K fundraiser, and form a company team, so employees enjoy the triumph of crossing the finish line while supporting a meaningful cause and linking personal and corporate values. Encourage a buddy system, since checking off steps with a friend keeps people motivated and less likely to slack off. As participants feel the difference in stamina, muscle tone, and energy, they tend to want to keep going, which sustains the program without constant management.
How does employee wellness affect business performance?
Employee wellness is not just a feel-good initiative, it is a performance lever. Employees who feel well perform well, and a healthier, more energized team shows up in engagement, productivity, and retention. Wellness programs like a lunchtime walking club cost very little but signal that you value your people as whole human beings, which strengthens loyalty and morale. When you pair a healthy culture with the right people in the right roles, the combined effect on performance compounds over time.
How can Frontline Source Group help you build a strong workforce?
A healthy culture works best when it is built on a foundation of the right people. Frontline Source Group helps employers hire engaged, capable professionals who thrive in a positive environment, and our 98.94 percent executive retention rate reflects how carefully we match candidates to both the role and the culture. Employers can submit a search through our employer request form or explore our human resources practice and the benefits we provide to our own team. Professionals exploring new roles can apply here, and you can reach our team anytime through our contact page.
Frequently Asked Questions: Walking and Employee Wellness
Why should employers encourage walking during lunch?
Encouraging employees to walk during lunch is a low-cost way to improve health, well-being, and productivity. Regular walking counteracts a sedentary workday, helps with weight management, curbs cravings for sugary snacks, lifts mood, and builds camaraderie. Employees who feel well tend to perform well, which benefits the whole organization.
What are the health benefits of walking for employees?
Research consistently associates regular brisk walking with healthier weight management, reduced cravings for sweets, better mood, and improved mental clarity and focus. A short midday walk can also help employees avoid the afternoon sugar crash. Best of all, walking requires no gym membership and only a small time commitment.
How can a business leader reduce a sedentary workforce?
Encourage employees to walk during breaks and lunch hours and before and after work, and make small changes easy, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. If an employee has been living a sedentary lifestyle, urge them to check with their healthcare provider before starting. Even small, consistent steps add up over time.
How do you start a workplace walking program?
Start a walking club or a league of walking teams with friendly competitions, set a reasonable timeframe such as 90 days or four months, and have employees track how far they walk. Recognize participation at the end with low-cost branded prizes like walking journals, pedometers, water bottles, visors, or T-shirts to keep momentum high.
How does walking build camaraderie among employees?
Walking together promotes camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose. Walking clubs, friendly team competitions, charity 5K and 10K teams, and a buddy system all give employees a reason to connect outside of their daily tasks. Linking the program to causes employees care about ties personal and corporate values together and strengthens culture.
Does a buddy system help employees stick with walking?
Yes. Checking off steps walked with a friend keeps people more motivated and less likely to slack off. As participants begin to feel the difference in their stamina, muscle tone, and energy, they tend to want to keep going, which helps the program sustain itself without constant oversight.
How does employee wellness affect business performance?
Employee wellness is a performance lever, not just a perk. Employees who feel well show up more engaged and productive, and wellness initiatives like a lunchtime walking club cost very little while signaling that you value your people. That sense of being valued strengthens loyalty, morale, and retention over time.
Are walking programs expensive to run?
No. A walking program is one of the lowest-cost wellness initiatives available. The main investments are encouragement, a simple tracking method, and modest branded prizes if you choose to offer them. The return in morale, energy, and engagement typically far outweighs the small cost.
What should employees do before starting a walking routine?
Employees who have been living a sedentary lifestyle should check with their healthcare provider before beginning a new walking routine. Starting small, such as taking the stairs or a short walk at lunch, is a sensible way to build up gradually and safely toward a regular habit.
How can Frontline Source Group help build a healthy team?
A healthy culture works best on a foundation of the right people. Frontline Source Group helps employers hire engaged, capable professionals who thrive in a positive environment, and our 98.94 percent executive retention rate reflects how carefully we match candidates to both the role and the culture.
What is the 5-Year Placement Warranty?
The 5-Year Placement Warranty is Frontline Source Group's commitment that stands behind every direct hire placement. It protects your investment 20 times longer than the 90-day guarantee most staffing agencies offer, reflecting our confidence in the people we place and our 98.94 percent executive retention rate.
How do I get started with Frontline Source Group?
Employers can submit a search through our employer request form or explore our human resources practice. Professionals exploring new roles can apply through our how to apply page, and you can reach our team anytime through our contact page to be connected with the office nearest you.
