Workplace wellness initiatives not only improve employee health – they also foster stronger connections and boost productivity. Moelven proves this with their recent successful health challenge in collaboration with We+. We interviewed Ulrika Sjöwall at Moelven to learn more about the results they achieved.
Interview with: Ulrika Sjöwall.
Reading time: 5 minutes.
Ulrika Sjöwall is a project manager for HR and business development at Moelven Byggmodul. She’s also a fitness enthusiast who makes sure to fit in a workout every day – a true wellness advocate both at work and beyond!
Strengthened Bonds and Increased Motivation
Moelven decided to launch their health challenge with We+ to engage employees in a way that promotes well-being while also strengthening the company culture. Ulrika Sjöwall shares that the initiative had an unexpectedly positive impact:
“Seeing our employees cheer each other on, share their experiences, and truly invest in this has been incredibly rewarding. It exceeded our expectations to see such tremendous engagement,” she says.
“I have type 2 diabetes, and my values have improved significantly.”
A participant’s feedback following the wellness activity.
A Step Towards Connection and Resilience
For six weeks, Moelven participated in an activity challenge that boosted both team spirit and physical activity. Using We+, employees could share their workouts through text and photos, creating a sense of connection that extended beyond just physical activity. It became a way to motivate one another and strengthen bonds within teams and across departments that normally have limited interaction.
Ulrika highlights the importance of this connection, stating:
“Of course, improving physical health in the company is very important, but the collaboration and sense of community have been the greatest benefits of this health challenge.”
“Our goal is to create a culture where health and community go hand in hand. With the help of We+, we were able to share our workouts through text and photos, and it was amazing to see how it strengthened our sense of togetherness—and, in turn, our company as a whole.”
/Ulrika Sjöwall, Moelven
Lowered Barriers and Increased Confidence to Participate
When Moelven launched their wellness challenge, one of the biggest hurdles was engaging employees who weren’t accustomed to exercising or felt uncertain about joining. Ulrika explains that the key was making it accessible for everyone:
“For someone like me, who exercises a lot, it’s easy to feel motivated to get started. But for many, it was more challenging. We needed to find a way to make it easier for everyone to participate,” she says.
To ensure the challenge was inclusive, participants were encouraged to engage in all forms of activity—from gym sessions and running to everyday movements like stroller walks, dog walks, or gardening. “The list goes on… the creativity was truly impressive,” says Ulrika.
By allowing participants to start at their own pace and take smaller steps, it became easier for those less familiar with exercise to get involved without feeling overwhelmed. To further motivate participants, everyone who joined received a MoActive t-shirt. “It was a way for us to help those taking part in the challenge feel proud of their commitment,” Ulrika explains.
An interesting outcome is that 38% of participants were previously sedentary, yet they still chose to join MoActive. This highlights how effectively Moelven communicated that the challenge was open to all, regardless of fitness level.
Employee Voices – High Engagement and Positive Change
We asked some of Moelven’s employees about the benefits they noticed from participating, and here are just a few of the positive responses we received:
- “I’ve personally needed to get more physically active, and this challenge was exactly the push I needed to get started.”
- “I think it was a great initiative. Motivating and being motivated by others, along with the fantastic team spirit.”
- “I’ve had neck and shoulder pain due to poor working posture. But since I started exercising, much of the pain has subsided.”
workout sessions
A Total of 5,347 Training Sessions Completed
In total, 5,347 training sessions were carried out, likely resulting in increased focus and productivity.
increased activity level
Participants Increased Activity Levels by 86%
On average, participants exercised 4.2 times per week, marking an 86% increase in activity levels.
Physical activity
Participants Exceeded WHO’s Recommendations
On average, participants exercised 269 minutes per week, far surpassing WHO’s ambitious recommendation of 150 minutes for a healthy life.
Community Through Simplicity and Support
As participants got started, the sense of community became one of the greatest motivators. Over the six weeks, it was clear that Moelven strengthened connections between departments, giving employees more to talk about during lunch breaks.
Another key factor in the challenge’s success was the app and technical solution being highly user-friendly. While some initially feared it would be complicated, it turned out to be easy to use.
An Inspiration for Others
When we ask Ulrika for her advice to organizations considering a similar challenge, she emphasizes the importance of presenting the initiative in a way that motivates as many employees as possible to participate.
“We chose to involve management, who introduced the wellness challenge to their team leaders, who then communicated it to their teams. We in HR received guidance from We+ to structure our approach, and with their valuable tips, we prepared a presentation that helped us deliver the message clearly,” Ulrika explains.
“It was also crucial that we had already been discussing health and well-being at Moelven through employee surveys and health days. When the wellness challenge was introduced, it wasn’t hard to get people on board. They already knew we cared about their health, and this initiative felt like a natural continuation of that commitment.”
With these insights and results, Moelven hopes to inspire other companies to create workplaces where well-being is a priority. By investing in employee health and team cohesion, organizations can achieve new successes and elevate their operations to new heights.