Across the past year, our articles on www.makeadifference.media have reflected the topics shaping today’s workplace – and a growing recognition that employee health and sustainable performance are inseparable.
From the evolving challenges of hybrid working and neuroinclusion, to financial wellbeing, alternative career paths, the role of managers in creating psychologically safe cultures, and what employers can do to tackle the obesity crisis. These issues have clearly struck a chord with our audience.
Which articles have you found most inspiring and useful – and what topics would you like us to explore next? Share your ideas in our survey (and you could win one of two £100 John Lewis vouchers).
Here are the 10 articles that resonated most with readers in 2025.
1. The 2025 Challenges that need to be on your radar
This forward-looking piece offered clarity on the challenges likely to shape the wellbeing agenda in 2025.
“Organisational wellbeing looks at changing the way we set ourselves up to work, and this is not what a lot of C-Suite want to accept.”
Make A Difference editor Suzy Bashford spoke to leading health and wellbeing experts for this article, which explored issues influencing workplace wellbeing and highlighted why organisations needed to be proactive, rather than reactive, in the year ahead.
2. What are Health & Wellbeing Leads prioritising in 2025?
This article brought together insights from leading industry professionals, capturing the priorities shaping wellbeing strategies for the year ahead.
“Rather than waiting for problems to arise…employers should proactively identify and mitigate risks.”
It showed how health and wellbeing leads were increasingly prioritising prevention and early intervention, alongside listening to employees and focusing on learning and measurement.
3. Case Study on future-proofing career paths: AtkinsRéalis
For this case study, we spoke to Jo Rigby, Senior Director, Global Lead Performance, Talent and Careers, Human Resources at engineering firm AtkinsRéalis. It struck a chord with readers interested in how career development can play a meaningful role in supporting long-term wellbeing.
“We’re freeing people from being defined by their jobs. Instead employees are seen as whole individuals.”
It demonstrated how reframing careers in this way can help reduce pressure, support long-term wellbeing and create working environments where people feel valued beyond their job title.
4. Supporting the health and wellbeing of non-desk-based workers
This article reflected growing interest in the health and wellbeing of non-desk-based workers, a group that continues to be underserved by many traditional workplace wellbeing strategies.
It highlighted the unique challenges faced by employees who are not office-based, and explained why organisations need to think differently about access, communication and support if wellbeing initiatives are to be truly inclusive.
5. Neuro-inclusive workplaces: Creating spaces where everyone thrives
Neuroinclusion was a hot topic this year, and this article resonated with those looking to move beyond individual adjustments and think more holistically about how work is designed.
“For organisations to thrive, they must embrace inclusivity at every level, and neuro-inclusive design is central to this transformation.”
It explored why neuroinclusion should be seen as a core element of thoughtful workplace design, which benefits not only neurodivergent employees, but also the wider workforce.
6. Why managers should listen
The role managers play in shaping workplace culture and day-to-day employee experience also came into focus this year.
“Listening goes beyond individual interactions. It contributes to creating a workplace culture of trust, collaboration, and psychological safety.”
Written by Carole Spiers, Chair at ISMA UK, it reinforced why listening should be seen as a core leadership behaviour rather than a soft skill, and how feeling heard can directly influence wellbeing, engagement and team dynamics.
7. How three employers are addressing the challenges of hybrid working
As hybrid working became more established, organisations began to confront the day-to-day realities of how it affects employee wellbeing.
67% of workers who felt isolated in their remote work environment reported higher stress levels and decreased job satisfaction.
This article looked at how three employers are responding to these challenges in practice, focusing on connection, communication and fairness to make sure hybrid working supports, rather than undermines, wellbeing.
8. Resilience is like Marmite: are you a lover or a hater?
Debate around resilience continued to divide opinion in 2025, particularly when it comes to how responsibility is framed at work.
Resilience has largely got to this point, where “we’re praising individuals for sucking it up, being ‘thick skinned’ and being brave about things being a bit rubbish”.
Pulling in varied experiences and opinions, the article questioned whether resilience has become a convenient catch-all, and explored the risk of placing too much responsibility on individuals instead of addressing the underlying causes of pressure at work.
9. First Bus and Money First Aid strengthen partnership to support employee financial wellbeing
Financial wellbeing continued to rise up the agenda in 2025, as the cost-of-living crisis remained a significant source of pressure for many employees.
57% name finances as the top cause of stress in their lives.
This article highlighted how partnerships like those between First Bus and Money First Aid can play a practical role in supporting employees, showing how targeted financial education and guidance can help reduce stress and improve overall wellbeing.
10. Why employers need to take action on the obesity crisis
Broader health challenges affecting the workforce also came into sharper focus in 2025, raising questions about what role – if any – employers should play.
“It’s becoming clear that the economy is more at risk from an obese, unhealthy population than from conflicting with food companies.”
In this article, Make A Difference editor Suzy Bashford spoke to obesity policy specialist Dr Dolly van Tulleken, about why employers need to take a more proactive stance on obesity and health, arguing that inaction carries long-term risks not just for individuals, but for organisations and the wider economy.
A huge thank you to all our readers, and to everyone who contributed to these stories and helped us continue the workplace wellbeing conversation.
Which articles did you find most useful or inspiring this year? And what topics would you like us to cover in 2026? Send your ideas to claire@makeadifference.media or suzy@makeadifference.media.
