Health and Wellbeing - Business in the Community

Health and Wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

Explore how work, health, and wellbeing intersect, and discover how organisations can take a strategic approach, engaging leaders, managers, and employees alike, to create a thriving, resilient workforce.

Take the Workwell Self-Assessment
Our health and wellbeing resources

Empowering organisations to embed wellbeing at work

Taking a whole organisation approach to embedding wellbeing into an organisational culture is key to achieving maximum impact. Wellbeing should be positioned as a strategic boardroom issue supporting thriving people, thriving businesses and thriving communities. Business in the Community (BITC) is ready to support your organisational wellbeing strategy with a self-assessment tool, guidelines for workplace wellbeing, and research-backed resources. We also offer a way for leaders to serve as wellbeing champions, impacting policy and responsible business wellbeing strategy across the United Kingdom.

The impact of health and wellbeing in the workplace

in the United Kingdom economy is lost due do presenteeism from mental ill-health, almost twice the cost of absence.

Four in five employees have reported that an inclusive leader has improved their performance and productivity.

still feel unempowered in their roles and would welcome any move to increase their independent authority.

  • Leadership

    Own wellbeing by modelling healthy behaviours, embedding it into culture and accountability, and reporting progress to tackle poor mental health and boost productivity.

  • Inclusive culture

    Adopt a tailored employee-led approach to address workplace culture that recognises the complex needs of different groups.

  • Support the four pillars of wellbeing

    Take a whole-person approach to wellbeing. The four pillars of wellbeing are physical, mental, financial and social health and wellbeing, all of which are inextricably linked.

  • Foster a supportive work environment

    Create good work and working conditions that enhance employee wellbeing and support employee mental health in particular.

  • Better management

    Embed wellbeing as a core leadership competency, recognising and rewarding empathy, and ensuring all managers are trained to understand the impact of work and prioritise wellbeing.

  • Better specialist support

    Organisations need better specialist support within wellbeing frameworks by taking an inclusive, employee-led approach that builds skills, tailors adjustments, and provides access to diverse health and wellbeing services.

  • Collaboration with stakeholders

    Look externally for the best support or services and promote wellbeing among stakeholders. This network helps improve both your organisation and build a movement towards achieving improved health and wellbeing.

Our wellbeing framework

The Workwell model is our framework for unlocking the full value of employee wellbeing.

It is supported by two key tools: the Workwell Self-Assessment Tool, which helps organisations evaluate their current wellbeing strategies and plan future improvements, and the Workwell Commitment, a public pledge for businesses to prioritise employee wellbeing and follow a clear roadmap for action.

Evidence-based and widely endorsed, the Workwell model places people at the core of organisational purpose, culture, and strategy, driving sustainable health and wellbeing. It offers a unique “gold standard” framework for an inclusive, intersectional approach that empowers individuals, teams, and organisations to thrive

Get started

Take action on workplace wellbeing

The Workwell Self-Assessment Tool: measure wellness at work

Join 200+ organisations using the free Workwell Self-Assessment tool to measure your workplace wellbeing, spot areas for improvement, and track progress. Suitable for all sectors and sizes, it’s the first step to building a healthier, more engaged, and thriving workforce.

The Workwell Commitment:
champion wellness at work

Join a community of organisations committed to putting wellbeing at the heart of work. With practical tools, clear guidance, and measurable outcomes, the Workwell Commitment helps turn employee wellbeing into lasting business impact.

Explore our wellbeing at work resources and tools

Discover our practical guidance, tools, and case studies to create healthier, happier, and more productive workplaces. Learn more about the challenges of wellbeing in the workplace and how to embed wellbeing into your organisational strategy today.

Prioritise People: The Next Step Report

This report, Prioritise People: The Next Step by Business in the Community (BITC) with research from McKinsey Health Institute (MHI), is a practical guide offering science-based measures and interventions that organisations, from large corporations to start-ups, can use to measure health and wellbeing initiatives. 

Download the report

Wellbeing Leadership Team

We work with a network of senior business leaders who champion and provide strategic guidance to shape the areas of action for BITC’s network, building a movement that is committed to positioning health and wellbeing as strategic boardroom issues. Currently, our Wellbeing Leadership Team has a particular focus on mental health. Across wellbeing at work, as a team, our leaders drive collective action on workplace wellness through evidence-based, practical solutions. 

Meet our Wellbeing Leadership Team

Wellbeing at work frequently asked questions (FAQs)

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What are the three steps of the Workwell Commitment?

  1. Establish a benchmark against the Business in the Community (BITC) Workwell Model
  2. Act to improve the wellbeing of your people
  3. Measure and report your progress
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How does BITC measure the impact of the Commitment?

We ask organisations to establish a baseline by completing the Workwell Self-Assessment and revisiting it annually. Following the first year, your organisation can track the progress of your wellbeing performance through this self-assessment annually. Notification will be sent around the one-year mark, reminding you to resubmit the self-assessment to maintain your signatory status. The Workwell Self-Assessment results from our signatories will be able to offer insights into improvement areas and identify opportunities. We are also considering sharing the aggregated and segmented benchmarking data next year.

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What are the costs associated with the Workwell Commitment and what support does BITC provide?

It is completely free to sign up for the Commitment.

BITC will:

  • Offer the Workwell Self-Assessment Tool to evaluate your wellbeing performance annually, helping you track improvement and identify opportunities.
  • Provide access to materials to support your organisation in fulfilling the commitment actions.
  • Host online drop-in sessions for sharing knowledge.
  • Share newsletters and evidence-based insights.
  • Invite your organisation to our annual recognition event, where best practices are showcased.
  • Offer advisory services for reviewing your wellbeing performance and strategies (available at an additional cost).
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What is required of my organisation to sign up to the Workwell Commitment?

To make the Commitment, your organisation needs to complete the Workwell Self-Assessment Tool. Additionally, we will need secondary contact details and executive approval to complete your sign-up and list your organisation’s name on our website. No other reporting requirements are needed. Maintaining your signatory status requires you to resubmit your self-assessment on an annual basis. A reminder will be sent to you as the one-year mark approaches.

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How do I sign up for the Commitment?

To sign up, complete the sign-up form on our website. Once done, you will receive the survey link for the Workwell Self-Assessment, which you will have to complete if you haven’t already. After completing the survey, you will receive another email asking for secondary contact details and executive authorisation to complete the sign-up process. If you are unable to complete the self-assessment or to provide this additional information within one month after you receive the request, your application will be cancelled and you will need to restart the application process.