Workplace Wellbeing FAQs

The term “workplace wellbeing” describes people’s day-to-day experience of work – i.e. how they feel about their job and when they’re at work. Organisations that actively support employee wellbeing through programmes and initiatives create the conditions where people thrive.

Workplace wellbeing is influenced most by organisational choices around:

• Leadership: culture, behaviours and management practices
• Job design: the structure, responsibilities and flexibility of roles
• Support: resources, policies and systems that help people succeed

Strong workplace wellbeing means:

• Employees are more engaged, motivated and able to thrive
• Organisations can benefit from improved productivity, retention and long-term performance
• Easier compliance with workforce related reported requirements (the 'S' of ESG)

Poor wellbeing can lead to higher turnover, lower productivity, disengagement, and strained workplace relationships. By contrast, a proactive approach strengthens employee energy, resilience, and performance.

Prioritising wellbeing improves employee motivation, reduces absenteeism, enhances performance, and helps attract and retain top talent. Organisations that invest in wellbeing also benefit from stronger culture and improved business outcomes.

Research shows that workplace wellbeing delivers both financial and social returns. Independent studies underline the business case: For every £1 spent on supporting the mental health and wellbeing of their workforce, employers get (on average) about £4.70 back in increased productivity. (Source)

Aside from the hard data, investing in workplace wellbeing builds trust, resilience and inclusion, creating long-term value for both people and business.

Impact can be measured through employee surveys, absence and turnover data, engagement scores, productivity measures, and health-related metrics. Accreditation with the KeepWell Mark also provides structured benchmarking and an external evaluation of progress.

To create a healthy workplace, an employer needs to ensure that its culture, leadership and people management are the bedrock on which to build a fully integrated wellbeing approach. Sustainability comes from embedding wellbeing into organisational culture. This requires leadership commitment, manager capability, ongoing measurement, and alignment with business strategy, all areas that Ibec can help you with.

Ibec offers a tailored consulting service, an evidence-based wellbeing accreditation (the KeepWell Mark), and leadership and manager training through the Ibec Academy — providing an end-to-end solution to embed wellbeing into your organisation.

Our expert consultants can help you design wellbeing strategies and programmes aligned with your business goals and workforce needs. All our solutions can be tailored to suit your requirements. Areas we help customers with include:

• Strategy Development Workshop
• Embedding Organisational Resilience: Systems, Culture & Strategy
• Equipping Managers to Support Team Wellbeing
• Creating a culture of belonging, psychosocial safety & mental health support
• Tackling hidden costs: presenteeism, absenteeism & substance misuse

The KeepWell Mark is Ibec’s evidence-based accreditation that benchmarks your organisation’s wellbeing strategy against recognised best practice. It provides a structured framework for aligning an organisation-wide strategy and approach to workplace wellbeing. Achieving the mark demonstrates your commitment to employee wellbeing and enhances your employer brand.

The Ibec Academy delivers leadership and line manager training to help embed wellbeing across all levels of your organisation. Our programmes build capability in managing people, supporting mental health, and creating a culture where wellbeing is prioritised.

Yes. Through tailored L&D programmes, workshops, and coaching, the Ibec Academy equips managers with the skills and confidence to support employee wellbeing, handle sensitive issues, and integrate wellbeing into everyday management practices.

Ibec is the trusted partner of many of Ireland’s top employers, helping organisations of all sizes put wellbeing at the heart of their culture. What sets us apart is our combination of expertise, credibility, and impact:

• Business-led and grounded in real workplace insight.
• Access to leading experts in HR, health & safety, public policy and workplace wellbeing.
• Tools and resources based on global best practice.
• National recognition through our evidence-based workplace wellbeing accreditation: The KeepWell Mark.
• Tailored consultancy and learning & development programmes to support the workplace wellbeing strategy of organisations of all sizes.
• We combine expert consulting, independent benchmarking and wellbeing frameworks through the KeepWell Mark, and leadership and management training via the Ibec Academy — giving organisations the tools and expertise to embed workplace wellbeing at every level.