How HR leaders are making wellbeing a board-level priority

A revolution in workplace priorities is now well underway, with more and more employers placing employee mental health and wellbeing exactly where it belongs – as a permanent fixture on the boardroom agenda.

This hasn’t always been the case. For some, staff wellbeing has meant spending spare change on an office masseur or a library of sleep podcasts. For others, it’s been part of their ‘culture’ lumped in with other workplace challenges like career progression.

However, thanks to the relentless efforts of wellbeing professionals and HR leaders, mental health initiatives have evolved from a secondary concern to a permanent, board-level priority.

The Importance of Employee Wellbeing & Mental Health

Around 1 in 6 people (14.7%) experience mental health problems in the workplace, with stress, anxiety and more severe conditions like depression at the core.

Since the pandemic, 81% of workplaces agree that wellbeing is an essential component of a productive workforce and have increased their focus on employee mental health.

HR leaders have navigated the shift from wellbeing being something you just ‘feel’ you should do to be a responsible employer to a key priority that directly impacts productivity and staff attrition.

Beware Wellbeing Washing

Yet, wellbeing washing, when companies give the impression of caring about mental health but fail to implement meaningful support, still occurs.

According to a MHR poll, 79% of employees don’t believe their employer’s initiatives are genuine. 

The same report found that a fifth of FTSE 100 companies post about mental health on awareness days but continually fail to address the topic at any other time during the year.

Wellbeing Leaders as Agents for Change

In this context, new dedicated roles within Human Resources have emerged. Having an accountable leader as the custodian for such a critical issue as employee mental health has been the key to establishing it as a permanent, board-level agenda item.

These wellbeing leaders are not just passive observers but the driving force behind meaningful change. They’ve worked tirelessly, overcoming waves of challenges, to make sure that employee mental health is not just a buzzword but a real priority on the boardroom agenda.

After many years, they are finally beginning to see the fruit of their labours. According to a recent survey by Gartner, the workforce now ranks as the third-highest business priority for CEOs in 2024, demonstrating that boardrooms are finally beginning to prioritise their employees and their wellbeing.

The Critical Role of HR Technology & Boardroom Buy-In

With dedication, adoption of technology, and senior-level buy-in, these market-leading employers are:

• Forming strategies beyond their legal duty of care, in the knowledge that mental health tribunals have increased by 30% (ACAS).
• Taking a preventative approach to mental health, working to identify challenges before they escalate into bigger concerns.
• Connecting people in need with professional support at their moment in need.
• Establishing anonymous feedback loops so staff can speak up and feel heard.
• Measuring and using data to understand what really matters to their people.
• Basing the business case on the financial impacts of absenteeism and tribunal risks.

The statistics speak for themselves. 83% of HR leaders say HR tech empowers them to be more flexible and responsive to the constantly shifting world of work. This means they are always ready to adapt to workplace hurdles to better meet their employees’ needs.

However, 36% of HR professionals report that they lack adequate technology to perform their roles effectively and support their workforce. This means a significant gap exists between the potential benefits of HR technology and the resources available to HR and wellbeing leaders.

Bridging this gap is key to improving employee wellbeing and making sure their needs are met.

How Hapstar Delivers Real, Long-Lasting Results

At Hapstar, we understand how technology can transform organisations’ approaches to employee mental health and wellbeing.

Helping people who would traditionally not reach out for support, regularly checking in with people who have been through some kind of trauma and collecting large, real-time data sets have all become must-haves for our clients as we have connected people with support for people at their moments in need.

This ongoing partnership with HR and wellbeing teams allows us to monitor shifts in employee wellbeing and intervene at key moments so that actions are taken before a crisis occurs.

What makes Hapstar truly unique is our ability to customise solutions for each organisation. We recognise that no two workforces are the same, which is why we offer the only fully customisable wellbeing platform in the UK. 

Hapstar Partnering with HR Leaders to Driving Lasting Change

Employee wellbeing is evolving into a permanent, board-level priority, driven by the efforts of wellbeing leaders who leverage technology and data to foster meaningful change. 

This shift marks a significant departure from the past, where wellbeing was often sidelined in strategic discussions.

Today, mental health is front and centre of organisational priorities, thanks to dedicated professionals who view it as a strategic imperative.

At Hapstar, we are privileged to partner with these forward-thinking individuals and organisations. 

By embracing this collective mission, we are paving the way for a future where employee wellbeing is recognised as essential for success, creating healthier, more engaged workplaces for all.