The main challenges businesses face around wellbeing
Rising Work-Related Stress & Absence
Workplace stress continues to be a leading cause of sickness absence, reducing productivity and increasing organisational costs.
Work-related stress, depression, and anxiety accounted for 17.1 million working days lost in 2022/23.
Increasing Sickness Absence Rates
Sickness absence due to health issues, particularly mental health, is rising, placing pressure on HR, operational continuity and team morale.
Total sickness absence in the UK reached 149 million days lost in 2024, with mental health conditions accounting for over 20 million of those days.
Employee Burnout & Reduced Engagement
Burnout reduces engagement and increases turnover, with employees feeling overwhelmed by workloads and poor recovery.
Surveys indicate up to 40% of UK employees experience high levels of burnout symptoms.
Difficulty Attracting & Retaining Talent
Wellbeing expectations are increasingly linked to employee choice of employer, with wellbeing culture influencing recruitment and retention.
Around 72% of UK workers list wellbeing support as an important factor when choosing an employer.
Physical Health & Long-Term Conditions
Musculoskeletal issues and physical health problems contribute to absence, reduced performance, and increased demand on occupational health services.
Musculoskeletal conditions contribute to over 30 million lost working days in the UK workforce annually.
Social Isolation & Disconnection at Work
Remote and hybrid work have increased feelings of isolation, weakening team cohesion and informal wellbeing support systems.
Research shows that remote/hybrid workers are significantly more likely to report loneliness and weaker social connection at work.