Workplace Wellbeing Case Study:
How Standard Chartered Achieved Stronger Workforce Engagement Than Previous Wellbeing Initiatives
A global workforce wellbeing initiative that maintained strong engagement across teams, time zones and demanding work schedules.
Maintaining engagement in workplace wellbeing initiatives is often difficult in global, high-demand environments.
Standard Chartered implemented the 15 Minute Exercise Challenge to make daily movement achievable - leading to stronger engagement and measurable wellbeing outcomes across its workforce.
Standard Chartered implemented the 15 Minute Exercise Challenge to make daily movement achievable - leading to stronger engagement and measurable wellbeing outcomes across its workforce.
75%
completed the full week 6 program
95%
met WHO physical activity guidelines
82%
continued healthy habits 3 months later
97%
would recommend the challenge
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Organisation Overview
Industry: Financial Services
Workforce: 6,600+ Employees Across Corporate & Hybrid Teams
Region: APAC
Program: 15 Minute Exercise Challenge
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The opportunity
In a large, global organisation like Standard Chartered, getting and maintaining participation in wellbeing initiatives can be difficult.
Employees operate across multiple time zones, demanding schedules, and competing priorities - making it challenging to consistently prioritise movement and wellbeing during the workday.
While previous wellbeing initiatives had been introduced, sustaining engagement over time remained a key challenge.
Standard Chartered wanted an approach that could:
Drive stronger workforce engagement than previous initiatives
Fit into busy, time-constrained workdays
Work across global teams and time zones
Support sustainable daily habits without adding pressure or complexity
The approach
Designed to make daily movement achievable within a demanding global work environment.
Standard Chartered implemented the 15 Minute Exercise Challenge as a six-week, team-based program designed to fit into busy working days and support sustained engagement over time.
Rather than focusing on intensity, the program focused on simple, achievable daily activity that employees could realistically maintain alongside work commitments.
Participants:
Committed to 15 minutes of daily activity
Chose activities that fit their schedules and locations
Participated in small teams to build accountability and support
Tracked progress through a simple online platform
Teams were ranked on consistency, not intensity
The program was supported by regular communication and engagement prompts to help maintain momentum across teams and time zones.
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Why it worked
The program succeeded because it removed the barriers that often limit ongoing engagement in workplace wellbeing initiatives.
Low daily commitment
A 15-minute daily target made participation achievable -
even within demanding schedules and long working hours.
even within demanding schedules and long working hours.
Flexible across teams and time zones
Employees could participate regardless of location, schedule, or
fitness level, making the program accessible across a global workforce.
fitness level, making the program accessible across a global workforce.
Team-based accountability
Small teams helped create shared participation, consistency,
and ongoing encouragement throughout the challenge.
and ongoing encouragement throughout the challenge.
Built around habits - not motivation
The program focused on simple, repeatable daily actions that
employees could realistically maintain over time.
employees could realistically maintain over time.
Unlike previous initiatives that relied on motivation and availability, the program made daily movement simple and achievable - leading to stronger engagement and more sustainable outcomes.
The results
Higher participation, sustained engagement, and measurable wellbeing outcomes across a global workforce.
Participation & Engagement
75% remained actively engaged through the final week
Higher sustained engagement compared to previous wellbeing initiatives
Strong engagement maintained across global teams and time zones
Health & Wellbeing Outcomes
95% met or exceeded WHO physical activity guidelines
Participants reported improvements in Sleep, Energy, Mood, Fitness Level
and Overall Health
and Overall Health
Behaviour & Engagement Outcomes
97% would recommend the challenge
94% would participate again
89% exercised more than they otherwise would have
85% intended to make long-term lifestyle changes
Long-Term Impact (3 Months Later)
82% continued the healthy habits they built during the challenge
82% reported ongoing improvements in overall health
73% experienced improved mental resilience
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What this shows
Standard Chartered’s results show that meaningful workplace wellbeing outcomes are achievable when programs are designed to fit into real working conditions.
Even in a global, high-demand environment, employees maintained strong engagement when daily movement was made simple, achievable, and easy to sustain over time.
By focusing on consistent daily action, the program helped:
Achieve stronger engagement than previous initiatives
Build sustainable habits - not just short-term motivation
Improve health and wellbeing outcomes
Support consistency across teams, schedules, and time zones
Participant experience
“The challenge made it easy to fit exercise into my day. Even on busy days, 15 minutes felt achievable, and it helped me stay consistent.”
“Being part of a team kept me accountable. It wasn’t about doing more, it was about doing something every day.”