Sports King of the Waters: How We Reward Fitness, Health, and Fun

Can physical activity be part of company culture? At SoftwareMill, absolutely! What started humbly with traditional sports passes has blossomed into a vibrant tradition driven by passion and a shared sense of camaraderie. Today, our internal ranking fuels friendly competition; we’ve cultivated a devoted ‘cult’ of sports watches and collectively logged countless hours cycling, running, and lifting weights.

Read the story of our Sports King of the Waters (SKW) program and discover how sports have become an integral part of our company’s DNA.

From MultiSport cards to company-wide challenge

The easiest and most popular method for promoting physical activity within companies is the introduction of sports passes. However, owning a pass doesn’t necessarily translate to engaging in sports. After all, who among us hasn’t told themselves, ‘Maybe not today, but I’m definitely starting next week!’ Or placed regular exercise firmly at the top of their New Year’s resolutions list? Sadly, these resolutions often fade away as quickly as they are made.

There has always been a group of people actively using MultiSport cards (or other benefits granting access to sports and recreational facilities), but we began to ask ourselves: how can we motivate those just considering taking their first steps into the world of sports? Over time, common challenges and competitions began to take shape. However, these activities primarily attracted the most sports-oriented individuals who hardly needed additional motivation to stay active.

To address this gap, we decided to approach the issue more comprehensively. This led to the creation of a company-wide sports challenge. Its objective was clear: to compete for the title of the most athletic person in the company inclusively and fairly while encouraging less active employees to embrace regular training. Thus, the Sports King of the Waters was born - our unique ranking system designed to determine who dedicates the most time to sports activities.

What is the Sports King of the Waters?

The concept revolves around straightforward gamification, where participants earn points and progress through various levels. The rules are clear and easy to follow.

• 1 point awarded for each hour of sports activities
• 5 additional points granted for participation in official competitions
• Financial rewards offered as incentives for reaching specific milestones
• Minimum requirement: 50 hours per year, equating to an average of 1 hour per week
• Award eligibility condition: Completion of basic preventive medical examinations (costs reimbursed by the company)

We borrowed the name from another initiative already in place at SoftwareMill, which rewards various company activities - from blog writing and public speaking to assisting with recruitment - adding 'sports' for clarity and distinction. But where did the idea to name one of our benefits this way come from? The exact origin has faded into the mists of corporate history. However, it’s likely that the inspiration came from a Polish comedy from the early 2000s titled 'Catfish, So-Called Olympian’.

There's something sporty for everyone

While establishing the program's rules, numerous discussions and doubts emerged. Questions arose, such as whether warming up before training and stretching afterward should be considered as time spent on sports or how to fairly compare running at a mild pace on a treadmill with performing intensive interval runs outdoors.

Opinions varied widely: for some, the definition of sports began with reaching a state of breathlessness and an average heart rate exceeding 160 beats per minute. In contrast, others preferred activities that were not directly aimed at improving physical fitness. Ultimately, the goal was to develop a solution that would encompass and engage the broadest possible range of program participants.

We decided to place our trust - a cornerstone of our organizational culture - in individuals' self-assessments of what constitutes sport for them. Therefore, all movement-related activities are permitted. However, to maintain a fair balance, we have implemented some restrictions for regular athletes who cannot include minimal-effort activities (such as walking) in their overall rankings. For less active people, such activities are allowed and encouraged as a practical starting point to improve overall physical fitness.

This approach proves effective.

Everyone can find a form of exercise that suits them and, with some effort, reach the milestone needed to claim a reward. The minimum requirement for financial recognition is 50 hours per year, averaging just 1 hour per week - enough to establish a degree of regularity in physical activity. The maximum point threshold is set at 300 hours annually, though participants are welcome to exceed this for their satisfaction. A special trophy is also awarded to the top three program participants who accumulate the highest number of points in a given year.

Generally, financial rewards should be used for sports-related purposes, such as purchasing equipment and clothing or enrolling in additional classes to enhance skills. However, we take a flexible approach to this guideline.

Alongside traditional items like running shoes, skis, sports watches, or swimming lessons, there have been more unconventional purchases, such as a coffee maker (to help kickstart morning workouts) or an ultralight sleeping bag for mountain trekking. Sharing our purchases on Slack adds a fun and motivating element, inspiring even more people to join the program.

Rivalry, motivation, and integration

Sports excitement accompanies us throughout the year, especially at the end of the month, when we tally up the hours and check the rankings in our spreadsheet. But just as important as the numbers themselves is the community's support.

At SoftwareMill, we believe that physical activity is a pathway to better health and improved focus and productivity. This is why we strive to inspire as many people as possible to engage in sports. Interestingly, this effort stems from grassroots initiatives rather than a carefully crafted, top-down strategy.

Our sports community thrives on a dedicated Slack channel where we share achievements, exchange knowledge, and inspire one another. There's a buzz of excitement around analyzing statistics from sports watches, including HRV, VO2max, and sleep quality assessments. The channel is also a hub for advice on handling injuries or overcoming a slump in athletic performance, with recommendations spanning nutrition, training plans, and, most importantly, physiotherapy treatments.

Our love for sports has grown so much that most of our monthly team-building meetings now revolve around physical activities. Together, we cycle, hike in the mountains, go kayaking, and even explore unique experiences like curling and horseback riding. These forms of integration are enjoyable and provide opportunities to try new activities. They help us build stronger bonds as a team while fostering the development of individual passions.

A sect of Garmin ‘devotees’

Of course, you can use any method to track your activity, but one device offers something more - a strong sense of belonging. At SoftwareMill, it's affectionately known as the ‘Garmin sect’. No workout is complete among its members without activating their watch; if it's not recorded, it simply doesn't count.

During a global outage of Garmin's systems, the group showed remarkable solidarity by collectively refusing to exercise until somebody resolved the issue. Fortunately, the problem was quickly fixed, allowing everyone to return to their usual routines and sweat it out for well-earned rewards.

Does it work?

Totally! Just look at some data:

• 2021: 5277 hours of activity
• 2024: 10452 hours 🎉
• 2024:+10 more people have reached the minimum reward level compared to previous years

Not only are more of us exercising, but we’re also exercising more frequently.

What does SKW mean to us?

First and foremost, it's a source of enjoyment and motivation to stay active. Let's be honest - many of us eagerly check the rankings at the end of each month, where competition among the top spots is intense.

But what do we truly gain?

The answer is simple: improved health, wellbeing, and physical fitness contribute to enhanced work performance. Beyond that, SKW serves as a valuable platform for team integration, sparks meaningful discussions, and cultivates a deeper interest in healthy living. And, of course, there's the bonus of a small reward for the effort invested.

SKW program in the eyes of participants

Participant feedback leaves no doubt that the program is well-received and fulfills its purpose. Everyone can discover their reasons for joining.

For some, it was a way to integrate in the new job.

Darek: Before joining the SML program, I tasted its sports-oriented side. I officially joined the company in April, but a few weeks prior, I had the chance to attend an integration event with the team. Sports played a significant role in helping me make my first connections. Shortly after arriving in Mikołajki, I ran through the woods alongside some company runners. The next day, I worked out with a slightly different group at the gym. As an introvert, this experience was invaluable in building relationships, and I’m sure I’ll be signing up for SKW.

Some, thanks to SKW, started their adventure in sports or returned to regular training.

Anka: SKW inspired me to take action and prioritize my health. I used to have plenty of excuses to avoid physical activity simply because it was more convenient to do nothing. But those excuses began to fade as I observed my colleagues and friends at SoftwareMill-people who could easily have even more reasons to stay on the couch - still finding time to stay active. They don’t let weight or metrics hold them back. By tracking the time spent on activities, I’ve introduced regularity into my weekly routine, set achievable goals, and gradually increased them.

The rewards have been incredibly motivating - every morning, I feel immense pride as I make myself coffee from my 'pre-workout machine' (purchased after accumulating over 300 hours of sports activities). The SKW community is fantastic, and what matters isn’t whether you’ve won an Olympic medal or taken your first steps in the mountains after recovering from illness—we’ll be equally proud of you.

Sergio: SKW has genuinely helped me get back into regular sports. I've stopped making excuses and found the motivation to stay active. What's great about it is that it encourages me to compete against myself, striving to be healthier and regaining the energy to enjoy activities beyond sports. The prize is also significant - it pushes me to keep going, giving me the chance to replace my aging sports watch, which has likely seen better days.

Paweł: I experienced nearly three years of setbacks in my training due to family obligations and subsequent injuries. During this time, I realized how challenging it can be to return to a routine after a long break, and I faced some struggles. However, SKW and observing the accomplishments of others motivated me and helped me stabilize the process. I won’t deny that I often look at the running achievements of my most active colleagues, and when they go for a run, I do the same without excuses.

Among others, SKW promotes regular physical activity.

Szymon: For me, SKW serves as an additional source of motivation to dedicate at least an hour each day to physical activity, even if it’s not my primary driver. The financial reward for this is a fantastic perk, unlike anything I’ve seen at other companies.

Konrad: I’ve been training for most of my life, and SKW provides me with a more holistic monthly perspective on how much I engage in sports - something I hadn’t analyzed before. It’s incredibly motivating. For instance, while I might think I exercise 4-5 times a week when I review a month where I’ve had frequent trips or been unwell, my average is closer to 2-3 times per week. This realization pushed me to be more diligent the following month. If I have another trip coming up, I make a more significant effort to carve out time for training.

There’s also a significant element of competition, not to mention the allure of the prize itself.

Mateusz: I enjoy rankings, so this aspect of gamification really appeals to me. When I first started being active, rewards were a key motivator. I decided that I would only purchase a Garmin for myself after three months of consistent training and completing my first competition. SKW also played a role in my choice to get a Fenix watch.

In conclusion: Just be active

We didn’t develop an employer branding strategy centered around sports. Instead, we provided people the freedom to act, and everything naturally fell into place. SKW exemplifies how, with minimal expense or pressure, you can foster a healthy, engaged team while having fun in the process.