Leadership mindsets are shifting for the better towards Health and Wellbeing, according to Wellhub’s freshly published ‘Return on Wellbeing 2025’ report. The study also reflects a move towards proactive, preventative management, as well as an acknowledgement that, to be successful, there must be senior management engagement.
Qualitative feedback directly from CEOs shows:
- 76% believe wellness programmes significantly impact brand perception and reputation
- 47% link wellness programmes to workforce productivity gains
- 58% agree that wellbeing is critical to financial success
- 97% now have final sign-off on wellness budgets, making them the key decision makers
- 82% report positive ROI from wellness programmes
- 67% report significant drops in absenteeism due to their wellbeing efforts
These findings reflect the progress the Health and Wellbeing function has made with regard to changing perceptions of this work which has, historically by some, been seen as peripheral rather than business critical.
Wellbeing is ‘strategic driver’
Cesar Carvalho, CEO and Co-Founder of the wellness platform behind the study, Wellhub, said:
“Our research clearly shows that CEOs aren’t hesitant about the financial commitment to wellness; they’re driven by the desire to see real, tangible impact through employee participation. They see Wellbeing isn’t just a benefit, it’s a strategic driver for heightened productivity, stronger talent retention, and a leaner bottom line through reduced healthcare costs.”
The findings also show that once senior management is engaged, Health and Wellbeing strategies gain more traction, tangible results and future funding: personal experience of wellbeing motivates investment.
CEO engagement is powerful
Carvalho added:
“CEOs who personally experience the benefits become the most powerful advocates for company-wide wellbeing. When leaders visibly prioritise their own wellbeing, it transforms from corporate policy into cultural permission.”
For instance:
- 63% of CEOs who engage daily in wellness programmes significantly increased funding last year
- CEOs who actively participate in wellness programs are twice as likely to increase funding
- Companies with strong leadership participation see employee engagement rates climb from 44% to 80%
Widening wellbeing gap
However, the report flags a widening wellbeing gap between employees and senior executives, revealing that employers are also grappling with how to extend executive-level wellness to their entire workforce.
For example, 98% of CEOs say they feel better than they did a year ago, while only 50% of employees report the same improvement. Additionally, 78% of CEOs say their role motivates them to invest in wellbeing, while 47% of employees say work stress negatively impacts their mental health.
Time constraints are the biggest challenge for CEOs accessing wellness support (29%), while cost is the primary barrier for employees (e.g. 36% can’t afford therapy)
Access for all
Carvalho said:
“It’s crucial for us to recognise that while we [senior management] may have unique access to resources and the flexibility to prioritise our health, many employees do not. Providing accessible, impactful wellbeing programmes for all employees isn’t just a moral imperative; it’s a strategic investment that yields profound returns across the entire organisation.”
Wellhub’s insights come from online surveys with over 1,500 international CEOs and business leaders globally, and underscore that while cost is a factor, the primary hurdle for leaders is ensuring employees actually use the wellness benefits provided. The report also includes an Actionable Roadmap for HR Leaders to Drive Investment. The full report can be accessed here.
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