Health and wellbeing: workplace health services at a glance

What health and wellbeing services do

The range is wide. Corporate fitness networks open up access to sport and exercise, and health apps support prevention, nutrition and sleep. Mental health platforms offer psychological counselling, courses and self-help programmes; employee assistance programmes provide confidential support in professional and personal crises.

There are also specialised services for life stages such as family planning, caring for relatives or bereavement. Companies use them to prevent absence, relieve managers and show in practical terms that they look after their workforce. The services are most effective when embedded in a workplace health strategy with clear goals.

What to look for in health services

Health services only work if they are used and trusted. These points matter in a comparison:

• Need: exercise, mental health, counselling or life stages – ideally derived from surveys and absence analysis.
• Professional quality: qualifications of counsellors, scientific grounding of programmes, availability in acute cases.
• Confidentiality: health data requires special protection; the employer receives anonymised reports only.
• Access: availability at all sites, in several languages and for employees without a desk job.
• Pricing: flat fee per employee, usage-based billing or employee co-payment; the tax treatment should be clarified.

Health & Wellbeing, Compensation & Benefits or Coaching?

Many health services are granted as a benefit; Compensation & Benefits, however, lists financial extras such as benefits in kind or pensions. Coaching targets professional development rather than health. Surveys on workload and mood are found under Employee Experience.