UK’s best workplaces put wellbeing at the heart of success 

This year’s The Times and The Sunday Times Best Places to Work list highlights organisations that have embedded mental health, flexibility and inclusive support into the everyday experience of work. The 2025 survey, which captured responses from thousands of employees across all sectors, shows that wellbeing is no longer a side benefit but a measure of business health and culture. 

Companies were assessed on reward, recognition, empowerment, pride and job satisfaction, with wellbeing given equal weight. Employee statements such as “My employer cares for my wellbeing” and “I rarely feel anxious or depressed about work” helped determine the rankings, underscoring that the best workplaces are those where staff feel both valued and supported. 

Many of this year’s recognised organisations stand out for introducing benefits tailored to life outside work. Examples include neonatal leave, paid driving lessons, pet bereavement leave and company credit cards for everyday expenses. Several have also adopted four-day working weeks with full pay, or formalised flexible working policies designed to improve balance and reduce stress. 

Large employers are increasingly embracing these approaches. Despite ongoing economic uncertainty and continued debate over remote and hybrid models, the survey saw higher participation from major organisations, a positive sign that wellbeing is being scaled beyond start-ups and boutique firms. To qualify, each company needed a strong employee response rate and an engagement score of at least 70 per cent. 

The findings point to a clear pattern: employers that prioritise wellbeing tend to report lower staff turnover, fewer sick days and stronger recruitment appeal. By centring care, trust and flexibility, they create workplaces where people can thrive, and where performance follows. 

The results come as wider research, including the CIPD’s Health and Wellbeing at Work 2025 report, urges businesses to shift from reactive mental health support to preventative strategies that protect employees before problems arise. The growing focus on wellbeing as a measurable standard suggests that employers ignoring this agenda risk being left behind. 

Jonathan Williams – Founder of MindWork and Wellbeing Strategist said: 

“In competitive employment markets, wellbeing will no doubt become a true differentiator in attracting and retaining talent. Forward-thinking leaders should absolutely view it as a strategic lever for resilience and long-term success, not a box to tick or indeed an annual calendar of events ran by the office manager. The real challenge for employers isn’t launching new initiatives; it’s embedding them as a true part of an evolving culture. Policies such as four-day weeks, flexible working/role design or personalised benefits only work when culture and leadership genuinely support them– not when people scowl across the office when a colleague leaves at 4pm. This means equipping managers to lead differently, building trust and aligning wellbeing with performance expectations. Too often, wellbeing is discussed at board level but conveniently forgotten in day-to-day behaviours. The organisations getting it right are those where wellbeing shapes leadership, decision-making and how success is defined. When that happens, it stops being a ‘programme’ and becomes part of how a business thrives.” 

For HR and wellbeing leaders, the message is simple: success now depends not just on what people do at work – but on how well they feel while doing it.