The ultimate employee wellbeing guide 2025

We’ll spend almost 90,000 hours at work in our lifetime. In fact, we spend more time at work than we do at home. With this in mind, it is entirely unsurprising that our place of work, its culture, ethos and environment, plays a huge role when it comes to our wellbeing.It would make sense for employees to select, and remain, at organisations that support and actively promote optimal wellbeing. After all, when we’re happy and healthy, we’re more productive and we feel more energised.

We spend a lot of time discussing the employee experience — its importance and value. Employee wellbeing is hugely influencial aspect of the employee experience that simply can’t be ignored. Employee wellbeing affects everything from employee engagement, retention and performance. 

Promoting a positive wellbeing should be a priority for everyone, yet many organisations are missing out on an employee wellbeing strategy that meets the challenges and needs of a modern, hybrid workforce.

Below we share advice, statistics, insights and initiatives to inform your employee wellbeing strategy and create a more positive workplace for everyone. 

Read Further: Current trends in employee wellbeing

What is employee wellbeing?

Employee wellbeing refers to the holistic health of employees across physical, mental, emotional and financial dimensions. It’s not limited to perks like gym memberships or free snacks — it involves creating a work environment that supports the overall happiness and health of employees. A focus on wellbeing often includes initiatives like mental health support, work-life balance policies and fair compensation.

Why is employee wellbeing important?

When organisations prioritise employee wellbeing, the benefits ripple across the company.

Research consistently shows that a healthy and supported workforce is more productive, engaged and innovative. 

Poor wellbeing, on the other hand, costs businesses heavily. Deloitte estimates that mental ill-health costs UK employers £51 billion annually. With rising awareness of such impacts, focusing on wellbeing isn’t just a moral choice — it’s a financial one too.

Related: Recognising signs of stress at work: Help for managers

How does employee wellbeing influence employee engagement?

Employee engagement is often directly tied to wellbeing. Engaged employees are more likely to feel motivated, satisfied and connected to their workplace. Conversely, poor wellbeing can lead to disengagement, burnout and absenteeism.

This link between wellbeing and engagement highlights why investing in employees’ welfare is one of the smartest strategies for long-term success.

Employee wellbeing statistics for 2025

• Our own benchmark data shows that across sectors, only 65% of employees feel their company does enough to support their health and wellbeing at work
• Despite this, a remarkable 96% of CEOs believe they are doing enough for employee wellbeing — so clearly there is a disconnect
• 68% of employees say that they are able to strike the right balance between work and home life, indicating an inherent struggle
• Our data shows 36% of employees are not able to comfortably cope with their workload
• Burnout remains a top concern, with work-related stress accounting for over 50% of sick leave cases reported in 2024
• Only 25% of HR professionals believe that managers in their organisations are adequately equipped to spot early signs of mental ill-health
• As we mentioned above, mental ill-health costs UK businesses £51 billion each year

Related: Trends in employee wellbeing for 2025

How to improve employee wellbeing

The good news is, improving employee wellbeing doesn’t have to involve extravagant spending. 

Practical steps can make a significant difference.

1. Promote work-life balance

Provide flexible work hours and discourage overworking to give employees time to recharge. We’re not machines — we all need time to rest and recuperate. When employees get the chance to go home, unwind and take their mind off work for a stretch of time, they’re much more positive and productive on their return. Stop celebrating employees who are the ‘first in and last out’. Time at their desk isn’t indicative of a productive employee, nor a healthy one. And affirming mindsets and behaviour like this can really undermine any and all employee wellbeing efforts you have in place.

2. Offer mental health support

Providing access to counselling services, stress management workshops and mental health awareness training can address common employee challenges. It can also help to take the stigma out of seeking support. Build this into your culture starting today and it might encourage employees to seek help and speak up at a time when they really need to.

3. Invest in training for managers

Managers play a key role in supporting their teams. Training them to identify burnout, listen actively and provide constructive feedback fosters a positive work environment. It’s worth noting that often, managers are promoted into their positions because they are good at what they do — not because they are good managers. It’s unfair to expect them to have these skills the moment they’re advanced. Nobody is born a manager. They need to be trained. They need the support in place to pick up on warning signs of burnout and disengagement.

4. Create opportunities for physical activity

Simple initiatives like walking meetings, standing desks and subsidised gym memberships can enhance employees’ physical health. Physical health has a direct tie to mental wellbeing, and physical activity out in nature is all the more effective. Get creative and see what works for your company — it will depend on the nature of your business, your location and your budget.

5. Focus on financial education

Offer resources that teach employees about budgeting, saving and debt management. Money worries can severely impact our mental health and our performance at work. We have a useful guide on ways to support employee financial wellbeing.

Prioritising employee wellbeing is no longer optional for organisations aiming for success. A focus on holistic health — mental, physical, emotional and financial — can transform workplaces into spaces where employees and businesses thrive together.

The future of work is about creating environments where employees feel valued, supported and motivated to achieve their best. With the right strategies in place, organisations can lead the way in building a culture of wellbeing.

Are you looking to measure and monitor levels of employee wellbeing at your organisation? Establishing a baseline is often the first step to improving what matters. Get in touch today for a staff wellbeing survey — we’ll help you establish meaningful steps to a healthier, happier workplace.