How to Pitch an Activity Challenge to Your Boss (+ Email Template)
Thinking about moving together with your colleagues? Maybe you want better exercise habits, or you see your coworkers as great workout buddies. That is a great idea – but how do you convince your boss? Here are five arguments that work, answers to the most common objections and a ready-to-send email you can adapt.
Table of Contents
5 Arguments for Activity Challenges at Work
1. 1. Fewer Sick Days
Sickness absence is expensive: across the EU, paid sick leave alone cost around €138 billion in 2014, roughly 1% of EU GDP.1 And activity makes a difference. Research has found that employees who meet the recommended level of vigorous exercise take more than four fewer sick days a year than those who do not.2
A simple illustration: if 50 people in a 100-person company reached that level, that could mean around 200 fewer sick days a year. Of course, everyone still gets ill sometimes – it is about how often and for how long. See our guide on how to reduce sickness absence.
2. 2. Better Relationships Between Teams
The bigger the company, the fewer colleagues we really know – especially across departments and countries. Activity challenges connect people: on a shared leaderboard, two “strangers” discover they both cycle to work or love trail running, and suddenly they have something to talk about – maybe even a workout to do together. Closer relationships mean happier, more cooperative teams. Our case studies are full of examples.
3. 3. A Stronger Employer Brand
Companies that share their challenges internally and on social media show they genuinely care about their people. That matters to current employees and helps with recruitment, because candidates see that the company supports their wellbeing – not by force, but by making it easy and fun to move in whatever way they like.
4. 4. Better Wellbeing and Engagement
Physical activity supports mental health and energy, and shared challenges build engagement. Read how challenges improve team mental health and how to increase employee engagement.
5. 5. Low Effort, Measurable Results
A modern challenge platform runs almost by itself: activity syncs automatically, and you can track participation and results. See which wellness KPIs to report.
Answers to Common Objections
- “We do not have time to organize it.” Setup takes very little time, and a good platform handles tracking and participant support.
- “Not everyone is sporty.” Use inclusive formats – steps, consistency or team goals – where everyone can succeed. See challenges for non-competitive employees.
- “What about privacy?” Participation is voluntary, and people choose what to connect.
- “Is it worth the money?” Start with one challenge and measure participation and feedback. Here is an honest guide to wellness ROI.
Email Template: Pitching a Challenge to Your Boss
Subject: Idea: a company step challenge in [month]
Hi [name],
I have an idea that could boost team spirit and wellbeing at a low cost: a [4-week] company step challenge. Everyone joins with their own phone or watch, steps sync automatically, and teams compete on a shared leaderboard.
Why I think it is worth trying:
– It connects people across teams who rarely work together.
– Regular activity is linked to fewer sick days and better wellbeing.
– It is inclusive – anyone who can walk can take part, and other activities can count too.
– It takes very little admin, and we can measure participation and feedback.I would be happy to help organize it. Could we discuss it for 15 minutes this week?
Thanks,
[Your name]
Once you get the green light, follow our guide on how to create a step challenge.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I convince my company to start a wellness challenge?
Focus on business benefits – fewer sick days, stronger teams, a better employer brand – propose a small, low-cost pilot and offer to help organize it.
2. Who should organize the challenge?
Often HR, but enthusiastic employees make great organizers or ambassadors. With the right platform, it takes only a little time.
Why YuMuuv?
YuMuuv makes challenges simple: admin and user guides, communication templates and a support team that answers participants' technical questions. Share this article with your boss – or book a demo together.
