Research & Insights for Workplace Wellbeing

Explore open-access research and evidence, expert insights, and practical frameworks, carefully curated and summarised, with clear takeaways to support confident, informed decision-making across the workplace wellbeing industry.

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Can Working Conditions and Employees’ Mental Health Be Improved via Job Stress Interventions Designed and Implemented by Line Managers and Human Resources on an Operational Level?

Magnus Akerstrom; Linda Corin; Jonathan Severin; Ingibjörg H. Jonsdottir; Lisa Björk

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

2021 February

DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18041916

MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

Licence Label: CC BY 4.0

This study explores how workplace health and wellbeing is being delivered in small and medium-sized businesses, and where the gaps still exist. It shows that while many employers recognise the importance of supporting staff wellbeing, provision is often informal, inconsistent, and shaped by limited time and resources. Smaller organisations in particular tend to rely on reactive approaches rather than structured, preventative strategies. The research also highlights the influence of leadership, workplace culture, and external support in shaping what is offered. Overall, it reinforces that good intentions alone aren’t enough, wellbeing needs clearer planning, ownership, and practical support to be effective.

This research highlights some of the key challenges and opportunities shaping how workplace wellbeing is delivered in smaller organisations.

  • Many SMEs want to support wellbeing but lack the structure to do it consistently

  • Wellbeing is still often reactive, highlighting a need for more preventative approaches

  • Leadership attitudes directly shape how seriously wellbeing is prioritised

  • Informal approaches can lead to gaps, inconsistency, and missed risks

  • Time and resource pressures remain a major barrier for smaller organisations

  • External support needs to be simple, relevant, and easy to access

  • Embedding wellbeing into everyday business practice is more effective than one-off initiatives

  • Clear ownership or responsibility helps turn intention into action

© 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The original work remains the intellectual property of the authors and publisher. Commentary by The Well Crowd. © The Well Crowd Ltd. 2026. All rights reserved. This content provides a summary and independent commentary on the original research and does not reproduce the original publication. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional or medical advice. No part of this content may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission.

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