Guide

Wellness Spending Account (WSA) Categories

While Health Spending Accounts are strictly for eligible medical expenses, a WSA is designed to be flexible, allowing you to fund the lifestyle and wellness perks that actually matter to your team.

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Below is the master list of eligible categories available on Hiveworks.

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As an employer, you have total control: you can offer the full suite to give your team maximum choice, or toggle off specific categories to match your company culture and budget.

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Part 1: Popular Categories

(The core essentials)

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1. Fitness & Memberships

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Ongoing access to gyms and instructor-led training that builds consistent activity.

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  • Gym or health-related memberships
  • Yoga, Pilates, spin, rowing, CrossFit, and related class packs
  • Monthly or annual studio subscriptions
  • Race entries and event-day fees

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2. Health Wearables

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Devices that measure activity, recovery, sleep, or training quality.

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  • Fitness trackers, GPS watches, smart rings
  • Heart rate straps and cycling power meters
  • Smart scales
  • Replacement straps and charging docks

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3. Sports & Recreation

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Costs for equipment and fees for organized or individual sports where movement is the goal.

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  • Adult league fees, court, ice, field, or lane rentals, and green fees
  • Bicycles and core cycling gear (helmets, lights, locks)
  • Golf, ski, and racquet gear (clubs, bags, skis, snowboards, racquets)

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4. Recovery & Mobility

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Options that keep your team training consistently by improving recovery and range of motion.

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  • Massage therapy and spa visits
  • Assisted stretch sessions and mobility classes
  • Sauna and cold plunge sessions
  • Compression therapy lounges

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5. Health Subscriptions

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Ongoing memberships and digital programs that help your team build healthier routines and stay consistent over time.

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  • Fitness, mobility, or training app subscriptions
  • Meditation, mindfulness, and breathwork memberships
  • Sleep tracking or coaching platforms
  • Nutrition, hydration, or habit-tracking programs
  • Multi-platform wellness subscriptions

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6. Nutrition & Weight Management

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Guided support for eating habits and body composition built on education and practice.

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  • Nutrition coaching and meal planning
  • Sports nutrition consults
  • Group education on shopping, prep, and portions
  • Evidence-based weight management programs

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7. Home Gym Equipment

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Equipment that directly enables strength, conditioning, or mobility training at home.

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  • Dumbbells, kettlebells, barbells, and plates
  • Power racks, benches, and pull-up bars
  • Rowers, exercise bikes, and treadmills
  • Resistance bands, suspension trainers, and yoga mats

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8. Home Office Wellness

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Gear that improves posture, reduces strain, and supports movement while working.

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  • Ergonomic chairs and sit-stand desks
  • Desk converters, monitor arms, and laptop stands
  • Split or vertical keyboards and ergonomic mice
  • Footrests and task lighting for visual comfort

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9. Mental Wellbeing

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Access to mental health support and performance coaching outside of traditional health plans.

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  • Counselling or therapy not claimed under HSA
  • Life, performance, or resilience coaching
  • Mindfulness and meditation courses
  • Stress management workshops

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10. Financial Contributions

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Supports long-term financial wellbeing through personal savings and investment programs that build security.

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  • Employee contributions to Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) or Spousal RRSPs
  • Contributions to Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs)
  • Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) contributions for dependants
  • Service fees for registered accounts (when tied to an eligible contribution)

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11. Additional Health & Dental (Top-Up)

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A simple top-up for all health and dental costs that would have been submitted to HSA. To be used when the HSA limit has been maxed.

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  • Any CRA-eligible medical expense (Dental, Vision, Drugs, Paramedical) incurred after the HSA limit is reached.

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Part 2: Additional Categories

(Niche perks to customize your plan)

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12. Commuting & Transit

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Transport choices that build daily activity and reduce commuting stress.

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  • Public transit passes and commuter rail cards
  • Bike share memberships and bicycle maintenance
  • Essential lights, locks, helmets, and reflective gear

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13. Family Wellness

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Services that support a healthy family environment and the transition into parenthood.

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  • Prenatal and postnatal classes
  • Childbirth education and lactation consulting
  • Infant and child safety classes
  • Family activity programs

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14. Travel & Wellness Retreats

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Trips where physical activity or structured wellbeing is the primary purpose.

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  • Flights or transportation to a booked race, fitness camp, or active retreat
  • Hotel or short-term lodging for event or retreat dates
  • Guided hiking, trekking, cycling, paddle, or ski weekends
  • Yoga, meditation, or fitness retreat fees

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15. Outdoor & Adventure

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Access to the outdoors where movement is the focus.

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  • National or provincial park passes
  • Guided hikes and outdoor skills courses
  • Day rentals for canoes, kayaks, or paddleboards
  • Climbing or bouldering day entries

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16. Recreation & Culture

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Recreation programs that support mental and social wellbeing through active participation.

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  • Dance, swimming, art, or pottery classes
  • Museum memberships tied to workshops or programs
  • Youth or adult community rec programs
  • Community centre passes and lessons

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17. Professional Development

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Education that improves wellbeing skills employees can use for life.

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  • Courses and workshops on sleep, stress, or habit formation
  • Conferences on wellbeing and psychological safety
  • Books and materials for health and wellbeing skills

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18. First Aid & Safety

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Readiness for emergencies.

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  • Standard First Aid and CPR course fees
  • AED awareness or workplace readiness courses
  • Personal first aid kits and replenishment supplies

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19. Pet Wellness

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Preventive and routine care that helps pets stay healthy and supports overall household wellbeing.

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  • Annual veterinary exams and core vaccinations
  • Dental cleanings and grooming for health/hygiene
  • Nutritional consultations or weight management plans
  • Pet insurance premiums or wellness plan fees

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20. Financial Wellness (Coaching)

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Coaching that supports better financial decisions.

  • Sessions with accredited financial coaches
  • Budgeting or debt reduction courses
  • Workshops on saving and financial planning

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21. Culinary Skills

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Practical skills that make healthy eating easier and more affordable.

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  • Healthy cooking classes and meal-prep workshops
  • Grocery shopping and label-reading sessions
  • Knife skills and kitchen safety courses

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22. Sleep Hardware

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Simple environment upgrades that lead to better sleep quality.

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  • Blackout curtains and basic sleep masks
  • White-noise machines
  • Ergonomic pillows and mattress toppers
  • Bedside amber lighting for sleep routines

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