Health and wellness workshops are short, focused sessions on topics like cooking for better energy, sleep habits, stress management or healthy aging. They sit between reading an article and committing to a months-long program. Employers include them in an LSA so employees can pick the topic they care about, in their own city or online, instead of attending whatever a single lunch-and-learn covers.
Workshops an LSA commonly covers
Employees usually choose the topic and format, in person or online. Examples plans often include:
- Nutrition and healthy cooking workshops
- Sleep improvement courses
- Stress management and resilience sessions
- Mindfulness or meditation introductions
- Healthy aging and menopause education workshops
- Posture and ergonomics sessions for desk workers
- Registration fees for wellness conferences or expos
For the wider list of categories employers tend to include, see our guide to LSA eligible expenses.
How to structure a workshops category
Keep the topic list broad
Name several example topics in the plan description and allow others that fit. A narrow list ages quickly and leaves out subjects employees care about. Review the list once a year based on what employees actually claim.
Allow virtual and local options
Cover online workshops as well as in-person ones. This gives remote employees and those outside major cities the same value. Recorded sessions help shift workers and parents who can't attend live.
Use the category to fill gaps
If your company already runs lunch-and-learns, look at which topics employees ask about that you don't cover. The LSA lets them find those on their own without adding to your event calendar.
Limits on workshop spending
- Programs that diagnose or treat a condition, like a clinical sleep study, belong in the health plan.
- Travel and lodging to attend an out-of-town workshop are often excluded or capped.
- Multi-level marketing seminars and product demos are usually excluded even when framed as wellness.
- Some plans require that the workshop be run by a credentialed instructor or recognized organization.
- Workshop materials, like cookbooks or journals, may be included only when they're part of the registration fee.
Employees who attend wellness workshops
People who are curious about a health topic but not ready for a long commitment often start with a workshop. Employees managing a new situation, like perimenopause, a recent diagnosis in the family or a new baby's effect on sleep, look for practical sessions on one issue. Others like learning with a group and find a live class easier to stick with than a book. For remote teams, virtual workshops give people across time zones equal access to something the office used to host. For related ideas, see our article on holistic employee wellbeing.
Frequently asked questions
Can an LSA cover health and wellness workshops?
Many employers include workshops on nutrition, sleep, stress and similar topics in a wellbeing category. The plan decides which topics and formats qualify. Look for a category description that lists example topics.
Can I attend a wellness conference with LSA funds?
Registration fees are often allowed. Travel and hotel costs are frequently excluded or capped. Save the registration confirmation along with your receipt.
Does a nutrition workshop count if it's run by a registered dietitian?
Group education sessions usually fit this category. One-on-one nutrition counseling for a medical condition may belong in the health plan.
Are online workshops treated the same as in-person ones?
Most plans treat them the same. Keep a receipt or confirmation that shows the workshop name and date. Recorded workshops you watch later are often accepted too.
Tax treatment depends on the plan and location; our guide explains how LSA reimbursements are taxed.
This content is general information, not medical, legal, tax, or financial advice. Employer plan terms determine eligibility, and requirements may vary by location.
