In recent years, employee wellbeing has become a major talking point in the corporate world.
Companies have been quick to adopt policies, run awareness campaigns, and even appoint chief wellness officers to showcase their commitment to employee wellbeing. But the question remains: Are these initiatives genuine efforts to support employees, or are they merely a form of corporate PR?
The rise of workplace wellbeing initiatives
With increasing awareness of employee wellbeing, many companies have introduced programmes to address workforce health. These range from Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) and mental health days to meditation apps and resilience training. On paper, these initiatives signal that businesses are taking wellbeing seriously. However, the effectiveness of these programmes often depends on company culture, leadership commitment, and whether employees feel safe using these resources.
The reality on the ground
While companies may promote wellbeing initiatives, many employees still experience burnout, high stress, and toxic work environments. 55% of respondents, in the 2022 CIPD good work index survey, who have experienced depression in the past 12 months said work had contributed, however, only 36% discussed this with their boss or employer.
Here are some common challenges:
- Overwork and unrealistic expectations – Many workplaces glorify overworking and expect employees to be constantly available. Simply offering a wellbeing day does little if employees fear repercussions for actually taking it.
- Stigma and fear of judgment – Even with wellbeing support in place, employees often hesitate to use these services due to fear of being seen as weak or unproductive.
- Lack of managerial support – A supportive workplace culture starts with leadership. If managers fail to recognize signs of burnout or dismiss wellbeing concerns, corporate initiatives become performative rather than impactful.
- Superficial solutions – Offering yoga sessions and mindfulness apps may look good in company reports, but they do not address the root causes of stress, such as excessive workloads and poor leadership.
When wellbeing becomes PR
Some organisations use employee wellbeing initiatives as a branding tool rather than a genuine support system. They launch public-facing campaigns to appear progressive while failing to address structural workplace issues. This approach can backfire if employees call out the discrepancy between public messaging and internal reality, leading to reputational damage.
An October 2023 poll highlighted by People Management revealed eight in 10 UK employees do not believe their employer when they promote their wellbeing initiatives. A classic example is companies that promote work-life balance on social media while expecting employees to work long hours behind the scenes. Such contradictions erode trust and can make employees feel even more disillusioned.
What real change looks like
For workplace wellbeing initiatives to be effective, they need to go beyond surface-level commitments. Here’s what companies should focus on:
- Leadership accountability – Executives and managers should actively support wellbeing policies and model healthy work behaviours.
- Workload management – Reducing unrealistic demands and ensuring employees have the resources to do their jobs without excessive stress.
- Psychological safety – Creating a culture where employees feel safe discussing wellbeing concerns without fear of negative consequences. P3 Business Care plays a key role here,
- Access to meaningful support – Beyond EAPs, companies should provide access to therapy, coaching, and flexible work arrangements.
The bottom line
Workplace wellbeing support should be more than a checkbox exercise. Employees can tell the difference between genuine commitment and PR-driven efforts. If companies truly want to help, they must address the root causes of workplace stress and cultivate an environment where wellbeing is a priority—not just a talking point.
The real question for businesses is: Are you willing to make meaningful changes, or is employee wellbeing just another corporate buzzword?
About P3 Business Care
P3 Business Care help save lives! Operating across the UK and other global regions. Supporting your business every week we provide personal and proactive care to your employees and immediate family working in partnership with the company. Our Business Partners visit your business to develop personal trust & relationships so we can proactively identify and address issues before they become crisis, absence, or staff turnover. Read more about our services at www.p3businesscare.com