Beyond Burnout: The Real Benefits of Workplace Wellbeing

You’ve probably heard it before: happier workplaces are more productive and experience significantly less burnout. But beyond the obvious, why exactly is health and wellbeing important in the workplace?

Without the right tools, resources, and support, workplaces can become hubs for rising stress, burnout, and pressure. In fact, 34% of UK adults ‘always’ or ‘often’ experience high levels of pressure and stress.

Therefore, the right wellbeing support doesn’t just boost morale and build resilience; it also helps to prevent issues before they grow, free up leaders’ time, and strengthen work culture. This means workplace wellbeing can have big, positive impacts that go beyond typical mindfulness sessions.

In this blog, I’ll explore the lesser-known benefits of workplace wellbeing and how small, practical changes, like hiring or training a health coach, can make a big difference to your team and business.

Why Invest in Workplace Wellbeing?

The NHS describes stress as a response to ‘mental or emotional pressure. It’s often related to feeling like you’re losing control over something’. In high-intensity workplaces, it’s easy to feel as though everything is spiralling, resulting in 21.6 days being lost on average per case of work-related stress.

Across the UK, stress-related absences cost businesses £5.2 billion annually; a clear reminder that poor mental health impacts people, performance, and profit.

That’s why it’s incredibly beneficial to look past basic workplace wellbeing, as the biggest returns come from the less obvious benefits, making workplace wellbeing a powerful investment.

Surprising Benefits of Workplace Wellbeing

Let’s dig a little deeper and uncover three surprising ways a focus on wellbeing can transform your workplace, plus some practical tips you can put into action right away.

1. Prevention: Nipping Issues in the Bud

Workplace wellbeing isn’t just about fixing problems once they arise; it’s about stopping them before they start. Proactive support can help people manage stress, spot early warning signs, and build resilience. That means fewer sick days, less burnout, and a team that feels supported when it matters most.

TOP TIP!

Encourage regular check-ins that focus on how team members are really feeling, not just their workload. Sometimes, a five-minute conversation can prevent a much bigger issue down the line.

2. Time-Saving: Free Up Your Leaders’ Headspace

Worried that focusing on wellbeing will create more work for managers and HR? The reality is that simple strategies, like having a workplace coach or upskilling managers in basic coaching techniques, can actually save time. When teams have the tools to support their own wellbeing, managers spend less time firefighting and more time leading.

TOP TIP!

Train managers and HR professionals in motivational interviewing techniques. Skills like active listening and asking open-ended questions can make wellbeing conversations quicker and more effective.

3. Cost-Saving: A Smarter Investment Than You Think

While some worry that workplace wellbeing is just another cost, the truth is, it often pays for itself. Fewer absences, higher engagement, and lower turnover all add up to significant savings.

Plus, wellbeing programmes don’t have to break the bank; many organisations opt for in-house approaches or upskill their own teams, which is a great way to offer progression opportunities. Or, an external health coach can provide a flexible plan that suits your teams’ needs and your budget.

TOP TIP!

Start with the basics, encourage leaders to listen more than they talk, ask “what” and “how” questions, and help team members set SMART goals. These simple steps can have a huge impact.

How to Improve Health & Wellbeing in the Workplace

So, how can you turn these practical tips into everyday actions?

Alongside actively creating a culture of open, supportive communication, introducing a health coach is an effective option.

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, so when it comes to utilising a workplace health coach, there are two options for employers to consider:

1. Employ a Workplace Health & Wellbeing Coach

As a workplace health coach, I’ve helped many employees discover practical and effective ways to boost their wellbeing, from healthier habits and coping strategies to establishing realistic, meaningful goals.

Hiring a private health coach gives both employers and employees the flexibility to access support when it’s needed most. Simply knowing that a workplace health coach is available as part of your resources can put employees at ease and reassure them that their wellbeing truly matters to you.

Whether it’s helping leaders with the transition into manager roles, offering one-to-one or group sessions, or running drop-in clinics, my workplace coaching service can be tailored to meet your unique business and employees’ needs.

2. Train Your Managers/HR in Health & Wellbeing Coaching

Alternatively, if you’d like the opportunity to build internal capabilities and offer your employees access to an in-house health coach, I also offer health and wellbeing coach training.

Through my accredited RSPH Level 3 Certificate in Health Coaching qualification, your managers or HR representatives will gain the skills and confidence to support employees through challenges and change.

The course can be delivered online, in-person, or as part of a wider career development strategy, offering flexibility to suit your business. Investing in this training brings long-term value, empowering your team to prioritise wellbeing in order to perform better.

The Benefits of a Workplace Health Coach

There are so many valuable benefits to introducing a workplace health coach. Here are some of the key positives for both employees and employers:

For Employees

A health coach can help employees build resilience and confidence at work by encouraging them to adopt healthy and realistic daily habits to improve their physical and mental health. This is all carried out with confidential, one-to-one support in a safe, welcoming space.

For Employers

Working with a health coach is an effective way to reduce stress, absences, and burnout across teams, helping to improve employee engagement and morale in the long term. As a result, this removes pressure from managers so they can focus on leadership and also enhances retention and recruitment, strengthening brand reputation, loyalty, and culture.

The Simple Approach to a Healthier, Happier Workplace

As we’ve seen, workplace coaching has many benefits, from reduced stress and burnout to improved engagement and productivity. Whether you’d like the support of a dedicated workplace health coach or want to develop your own team’s skills, I can help.

To find out more about my services, you can book a consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. Or you can come along to one of my free taster sessions of the RSPH Level 3 course to see the power of this training programme for yourself.