Walking at Work: A Simple Habit to Boost Employee Productivity and Wellness

Employees who walk at least 20 minutes a day, five days a week take 43% fewer sick days than those who exercise once a week or less. That’s a huge return from such a small habit—boosting productivity, engagement, and overall team performance.

And the benefits don’t stop at physical health. Walking sharpens focus, sparks creativity, lowers stress, and even strengthens workplace culture. In short: it’s one of the simplest ways to unlock big results.

Top Benefits of Walking in the Workplace

Even modest walking routines produce tangible benefits for employees and the organization. Here are some of the biggest advantages worth noting.

Improves Cardiovascular Health

Employees with higher cardiovascular risk are more likely to miss work and drive up healthcare costs. Walking helps counter that. Just a short daily walk can lower blood pressure, improve circulation, and reduce cholesterol—small steps that protect both your people and your bottom line.

Enhances Mental Clarity

Even short mid-day walks improve mood and boost creativity by 60%. Step outside, leave your phone behind, and you’ll get the biggest payoff: faster problem-solving and sharper decisions.

Reduces Stress

Walking releases endorphins and serotonin, which boost mood, while increased blood and oxygen flow lower stress hormones like cortisol. This physiological boost improves focus, reduces exhaustion, and supports workplace performance.

Enhances Team Collaboration

Lastly, walking as a group allows teams to enjoy these benefits together, fostering communication, creativity, and stronger workplace relationships. Now that you know why walking matters, let’s look at how to make it happen.

3 Ways to Integrate Walking into the Workplace

Getting your team moving doesn’t have to be complicated or feel like another task on your overflowing to-do list. Small, intentional walking routines can make a huge difference.

Here are three easy ways to weave walking into the workday, so your team feels healthier, sharper, and more connected, without sacrificing productivity.

1. Take Walking Meetings

Swap out a couple of your short weekly meetings for walking ones. If your team’s remote, encourage everyone to take the call while walking around their neighborhoods. Just a few walking meetings each week can spark fresh ideas and bring a noticeable boost of energy.

2. Designate Walking Breaks

Encourage your team to step away for quick walking breaks throughout the day. Studies show that just 20 minutes of movement can lower stress, boost energy, and sharpen focus, which all pay off in big ways.

3. Implement Step Challenges

Try friendly step challenges to tap into your team’s competitive spirit while building camaraderie. Keep the goals realistic, celebrate small wins, and make progress easy to track with tools like the Habit Manager app.

The Bottom Line

Walking is simple but powerful. It improves productivity, creativity, mental health, team engagement, and reduces absenteeism, all while lowering organizational costs.

Incorporate walking into your workplace culture for healthier, more engaged teams. Need help getting started? Explore our Corporate Wellness programs to see how we can support your initiative!