In an era of sedentary desk jobs and remote work, getting employees moving has never been more important—or more challenging. Office workers spend 65-75% of their workday sitting, which impacts health, productivity, and morale.
Workplace step challenges are one of the most effective and accessible solutions. Walking is free, requires no equipment, and almost everyone can participate. When you add friendly competition and team camaraderie, you create a wellness initiative that people actually enjoy.
This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about running successful step challenges at work—from choosing the right format to keeping momentum going. Whether you're an HR leader at a Fortune 500 company or a manager at a startup, you'll find actionable strategies here.
Why Run a Workplace Step Challenge?
Step challenges deliver measurable benefits for both employees and organizations. A University of Edinburgh study found that 93% of step challenge participants reported positive outcomes.
Improved Health
93%93% of participants report better physical and mental wellbeing
Team Building
2xStrengthens connections across departments and remote teams
Higher Engagement
54%Employees feel valued when companies invest in their health
Increased Productivity
25%Active employees are more focused and have fewer sick days
The Business Case
Companies investing in wellness programs see a $3.27 return for every $1 spent through reduced healthcare costs and absenteeism. Step challenges are among the lowest-cost, highest-impact wellness initiatives you can run.
Types of Step Challenges
The format you choose should match your company culture, team size, and goals. Here are the four main types:
Individual Competitions
Each person competes for the highest step count. Best for competitive cultures and smaller teams.
- Simple to run
- Clear winner
- Personal accountability
- •Can discourage less active people
- •Top performers dominate
Small teams, sales teams, competitive cultures
Team Challenges
Groups compete based on average or total team steps. Encourages collaboration and peer motivation.
- Inclusive
- Builds camaraderie
- Peer motivation
- •Requires balanced teams
- •Some may feel carried
Large organizations, cross-departmental bonding, remote teams
Goal-Based Challenges
Everyone tries to hit a personal or collective goal (e.g., 10,000 steps/day). Non-competitive approach.
- Inclusive for all fitness levels
- No losers
- Sustainable habits
- •Less exciting for competitive types
- •Harder to gamify
Wellness-focused cultures, diverse fitness levels
Virtual Races
Collective steps are mapped to a virtual journey (e.g., walk across Japan). Gamified and visual.
- Highly engaging
- Great for marketing
- Unifying goal
- •Requires platform support
- •More setup
Large organizations, global teams, company-wide initiatives
How to Run a Step Challenge: 8 Steps
Define Your Goals
Decide what you want to achieve: team bonding, health improvement, engagement boost, or all three.
Choose Challenge Type
Individual, team-based, or goal-based? Match the format to your culture and team size.
Set Duration & Rules
Most challenges run 2-8 weeks. Define clear rules about tracking, teams, and what counts.
Select Tracking Method
Use an app like WeMove, fitness trackers, or phones. Ensure everyone can participate.
Plan Prizes & Recognition
Rewards don't have to be expensive. Recognition, extra PTO, or small gifts work great.
Communicate & Launch
Build excitement with kickoff emails, Slack announcements, and manager buy-in.
Keep Momentum Going
Weekly updates, leaderboards, mid-challenge prizes, and team encouragement.
Celebrate & Measure
Host a closing celebration, share results, gather feedback for next time.
Pro Tip: Start Small
If this is your first challenge, start with a 2-week pilot with one department. Learn what works, gather feedback, then scale to the whole company. It's much easier to fix issues with 20 people than 2,000.
Tracking Steps: Apps & Methods
You have several options for tracking steps. The right choice depends on your budget, team size, and technical comfort.
Dedicated Apps
Apps like WeMove are built for workplace challenges with leaderboards, teams, and automatic syncing.
Best for most companiesSpreadsheets
Manual entry into shared Google Sheets. Free but requires more admin work.
Budget option for small teamsHonor System
Trust participants to report honestly. Simple but less engaging and harder to verify.
Only for high-trust teamsWeMove Works with Everything
Our app syncs steps automatically from Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, Garmin, Samsung, Xiaomi, and more. Participants just walk—the app handles the rest.
Try WeMove FreeKeeping People Engaged
The biggest challenge isn't starting a step challenge—it's maintaining momentum. Here's how to keep participation high:
Weekly Updates
Send progress emails every Monday with leaderboard standings and encouragement
Mid-Challenge Prizes
Award small prizes at the halfway point to re-energize participants
Team Captains
Appoint enthusiastic team leads to motivate their groups
Daily Goals
Break the challenge into daily targets that feel achievable
Random Rewards
Surprise drawings for active participants boost engagement
Recognition
Highlight most improved, consistent walkers, and team spirit
Step Challenge Resources
Dive deeper into specific topics with our detailed guides and templates:
Virtual Step Challenges for Remote Teams
PopularHow to engage distributed teams with walking competitions
Step Challenge Ideas for Small Teams
Creative approaches for teams of 5-20 people
Enterprise Step Challenge Guide
Running challenges for 500+ employees
30-Day Step Challenge Template
TemplateDownloadable template with daily goals and communications
Step Challenge Rules Template
TemplateReady-to-use rules and guidelines document
How to Make Step Challenges Inclusive
Ensuring everyone can participate regardless of ability
Step Challenge Prize Ideas
PopularRewards that actually motivate participation
Best Step Challenge Apps for Work
Comparison of workplace walking challenge platforms
Step Challenge Communication Templates
TemplateEmail and Slack templates for every stage
Monthly Step Challenge Themes
Creative themes for January through December
Step Challenge Leaderboard Best Practices
How to use competition without discouraging people
Complete Step-by-Step Guide
GuideOur comprehensive guide to planning and executing challenges
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should a step challenge last?
Most successful challenges run 4-6 weeks. This is long enough to build habits but short enough to maintain excitement. For ongoing engagement, consider monthly challenges with varying themes.
What's a good daily step goal for a workplace challenge?
The average American walks 3,000-4,000 steps daily. A challenge goal of 7,000-10,000 steps is achievable for most people. Consider tiered goals (bronze/silver/gold) to include all fitness levels.
Do we need fitness trackers for everyone?
No! Smartphones have built-in step counters. Apps like WeMove work with Apple Health, Google Fit, and all major fitness trackers. Most employees can participate with just their phone.
How do we handle different fitness levels?
Use percentage-based improvements instead of absolute numbers, create tiered goals, offer activity conversions (swimming, cycling = steps), and emphasize participation over winning.
What prizes work best for step challenges?
Top motivators: extra PTO days, wellness stipends, gift cards, team lunches, and public recognition. Prizes don't need to be expensive—recognition often matters more than monetary value.
Can remote employees participate fairly?
Absolutely! Virtual challenges actually level the playing field since everyone uses the same tracking method. Apps sync steps from anywhere, and remote workers often walk more without commutes to occupy time.