Coverage of wellbeing strategies is widening – and becoming more ingrained into workplace culture

Wellbeing strategies have become a familiar and commonplace feature of employee benefits, with 92% of employers saying they have a plan in place.

However, even more positive is the fact that they are becoming more integrated into company culture and emerging as drivers of business goals and strategy, according to the Employee Wellbeing Research 2021 report, published by REBA in association with AXA Health.

A fifth (20%) of employers closely integrate the four pillars of wellbeing – physical, mental, social and financial – and make a clear link between their wellbeing plan and business strategy.

“Applying a cohesive approach that manages key aspects of wellbeing in a more powerful, holistic way is gaining traction,” says the report.

“The growing focus is on programmes that interlock the areas of mental, physical, social and financial health and tie into company culture, supporting performance and delivering on business strategy.”

Respondents to the research explain that the key benefits to having a more consolidated plan include being able to offer wellbeing support that is more effective, consistent and fair. However, it can also mean it’s easier to pinpoint the root of health and wellbeing issues, helping organisations to manage them better.

“The demanding challenges businesses face mean strategies consisting of a disparate hotchpotch of [wellbeing] initiatives aren’t going to be fit for purpose,” warns the report.

A quarter admit their wellbeing benefits are not joined up in any way.

Download a copy of the 72-page Employee Wellbeing Research 2021 (free to REBA Professional Members).