Physical Wellbeing & Lifestyle

Feature: Why workplace wellbeing must move from access to targeted support.

New research from Total Fitness suggests that many women move in and out of gym participation over time, rather than following a steady, uninterrupted journey. While the sector itself is not workplace-focused, the broader insight still applies. Engagement is not linear. It shifts with life. And that matters far beyond the gym floor.  

The average working-age adult now sits for roughly 9.5 hours a day, according to The British Heart Foundation, and that is before accounting for the commute. For employers, this is not a peripheral wellbeing concern.

Perimenopause is often simply described as a hormonal transition. In reality, it represents a complex neuroendocrine shift that affects the brain, sleep, emotional regulation and cognitive performance. For many women, these changes begin in their early-to-mid 40s, a stage when they may be at the peak of their careers and/or bearing responsibility for small children or ageing parents. 

Each year, cancer quietly enters UK workplaces, with more than 1,000 people receiving a diagnosis every single day. When it happens, employers are often quick to focus on the visible, physical impact of treatment. But in my experience, it’s the psychological impact that is most often underestimated – and most keenly felt. 

Many in today’s workforces crave more than a filling meal – they want to understand how food choices impact their health, productivity and overall sense of wellbeing.  nce little more than a necessity, catering has become a strategic asset for supporting employee health, wellbeing and engagement. And that’s because food does far more than satisfy hunger – it can shape workplace culture, boost performance, influence health outcomes and demonstrate genuine care for people.  

Workplace wellbeing has come a long way in recent years. Most of us can feel a shift in how organisations speak to their people, whether it is the fact that mental health is no longer treated as a taboo topic, or the way flexible working and everyday wellbeing habits have become part of normal working life rather than a rare perk. Many employers are taking a broader, more human view of what it means to support staff – progress that is worth recognising, because it has changed the tone of the workplace for the better.