Research: Sustaining Employee Wellbeing

Employee wellbeing has emerged as a critical priority for organisations, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite increased investment and expanded programmes, employee wellbeing is still declining globally, highlighting the need for organisations to reassess and refine their approaches. This research underscores that effective wellbeing strategies are not simply about offering isolated benefits or reactive support. Instead, they must be driven from the business and people strategy, integrated, data-driven and closely aligned with organisational purpose and culture to yield meaningful, lasting impact.

Key to success is adopting a holistic and systemic approach that addresses the root causes of stress and ill health, such as job design, organisational culture and leadership behaviours. Creating a supportive culture and ensuring that wellbeing considerations are embedded in business decisions are foundational elements. Leadership commitment is crucial, as visible support and role-modelling from senior leaders can shift attitudes and normalise open conversations around wellbeing, which are essential for a culture of psychological safety. Line managers also play a pivotal role and need to be trained to recognise and support their teams’ wellbeing, as they are often the closest to the day-to-day challenges employees face.

Data and evidence-based decision-making are critical for designing effective, targeted interventions and ensuring resources are allocated where they will have the most impact. A robust communication strategy is also essential, as even the best-designed programmes can fail if employees are unaware of or don’t engage with the services on offer.

Ultimately, sustaining employee wellbeing is about creating an environment where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to thrive. As work evolves and technology changes the nature of jobs, organisations must continue adapting their wellbeing strategies, ensuring they remain relevant, effective and integral to both business and employee success. By doing so, companies not only support their people but also strengthen their overall organisational resilience and performance.

The research is authored by CRF’s Gillian Pillans and Jo Nayler, alongside Mercer’s Dr. Wolfgang Seidl.