What tennis can teach employers about building a healthier, more engaged workforce

Tennis is often viewed primarily as an individual sport, but the lessons it offers extend well beyond the court.

Discipline, consistency, preparation, recovery and mental resilience are all essential to performing well in tennis. They are also qualities that increasingly matter in the modern workplace.

As employers look for ways to improve employee engagement, productivity and retention, workplace wellness is becoming a more strategic part of the conversation.

The question is no longer simply whether an employer offers health insurance. It is whether the organization is creating an environment that helps employees stay healthy, engaged and productive.

Wellness Is Becoming a Business Strategy

Employee wellness programs were once viewed primarily as an employee perk.

Today, employers are increasingly looking at wellness through a broader business lens.

Healthcare expenses represent a significant investment for employers, while absenteeism, disengagement and employee turnover can create additional costs.

A well-designed wellness strategy can support employees while becoming part of a broader effort to manage healthcare costs and improve the employee experience.

That means employers should look beyond simply offering a gym membership or occasional wellness event.

The most effective programs are connected to the organization’s overall benefits strategy.

What Tennis Teaches Us About Consistency

Anyone who has played competitive tennis understands that improvement rarely comes from one great practice session.

It comes from consistency.

The same principle applies to workplace wellness.

A single wellness seminar is unlikely to transform an organization’s workforce. Long-term engagement requires consistent communication, accessible resources and programs employees can realistically incorporate into their lives.

Employers can provide opportunities for employees to participate in fitness challenges, health education, preventive screenings, stress-management programs and other activities that encourage healthier habits.

The objective isn’t perfection.

It is creating an environment where healthier choices are easier to make.

Recovery Matters in Business Too

Tennis players understand the importance of recovery.

Training without adequate rest can eventually affect performance.

Employees face a similar challenge.

Today’s workforce is dealing with demanding schedules, constant connectivity and increasingly complex responsibilities. Employers that ignore employee well-being can eventually see the consequences through burnout, absenteeism and declining engagement.

Workplace wellness can help address some of these challenges by providing employees with resources that support physical health, stress management and overall well-being.

This doesn’t mean employers need to eliminate workplace pressure.

Instead, businesses can create systems that help employees manage the demands of their work more effectively.

Healthy Employees Can Support a Stronger Workplace

Employee wellness should not be separated from the broader benefits strategy.

Employers should consider how health, benefits education and employee engagement work together.

For example, a benefits program can provide access to healthcare coverage while a wellness strategy encourages employees to take advantage of preventive care and other available resources.

Employers looking to build a more comprehensive approach can explore corporate wellness programs designed around the needs of their workforce.

The most effective approach will vary depending on company size, employee demographics, workplace culture and business objectives.

Technology Is Changing Workplace Wellness

Technology has also changed how employees engage with wellness.

Mobile applications, digital health resources, virtual coaching and online challenges can make it easier for employees to participate regardless of where they work.

This is particularly important as hybrid and remote work continue to influence how organizations operate.

The same technology that makes it easier for a tennis player to find a court, schedule a lesson or track performance can also make workplace wellness more accessible.

The goal is to reduce friction.

If employees can access resources easily, participation becomes more realistic.

Wellness Can Also Strengthen Company Culture

There is another benefit to wellness that is sometimes overlooked: culture.

When employees see their employer investing in their well-being, it can reinforce the idea that they are valued as people rather than simply as workers.

Group fitness challenges, wellness education and team activities can also create opportunities for employees to interact outside their normal responsibilities.

That can be particularly valuable in organizations where employees work across different departments or locations.

Wellness therefore has the potential to support both individual health and stronger workplace connections.

Benefits and Wellness Should Work Together

The strongest employee benefits strategies don’t treat healthcare coverage and wellness as completely separate programs.

Instead, they look at the employee experience as a whole.

Employers can evaluate their health plans, employee communication, wellness initiatives and benefits technology together to determine whether the overall strategy is meeting both employee and business needs.

A comprehensive employee benefits strategy can help employers evaluate these areas and determine where improvements may be possible.

The Bigger Lesson From Tennis

Tennis teaches an important lesson about performance: success isn’t usually determined by one point.

It is the result of preparation, consistency, adaptability and the ability to recover when things don’t go according to plan.

Businesses face a similar reality.

Building a healthy and engaged workforce isn’t accomplished through one benefit or one annual wellness event.

It requires an ongoing strategy.

Employers that make employee well-being part of that strategy may be better positioned to create workplaces where people can perform at their best while supporting the organization’s long-term goals.

In that sense, some of the most valuable lessons from the tennis court may have very little to do with tennis—and everything to do with how businesses support their people.

About the Author

Jennifer Schaefer, MBA, ChFC, CLU, RHU, REBC, SHRM-SCP is Founder & CEO of JS Benefits Group, an employee benefits consulting firm serving employers withx health insurance, benefits strategy, cost containment, plan design and employee wellness solutions. She is also a Forbes Business Council Contributor and Co-Host of Executive Leaders Radio.