How Employee Wellbeing Doesn’t Have to Cost a Fortune
09 Jul 2025
Published in: Member News
Employee wellbeing doesn’t have to be expensive. Small actions like regular check-ins, flexible working, encouraging breaks, and open conversations can make a big impact. The HR Chest Mental Health Hub offers free tools to help you support your team without spending a fortune.
When we talk about employee wellbeing, it’s easy to picture expensive benefits. Things like onsite gyms, monthly wellness allowances, yoga classes, or big-budget away days. But in reality, creating a positive working environment doesn’t need to break the bank. In fact, some of the most meaningful things employers can do to support their team cost very little, or nothing at all.
As summer arrives and temperatures rise, wellbeing often comes into sharper focus. People feel the strain of heat, school holidays bring added juggling at home, and the pace of work rarely slows down to match. It’s in these moments that small, thoughtful gestures from employers really matter.
Start with Conversations
One of the most powerful wellbeing tools available is also one of the simplest: talking and listening. When people feel heard and seen at work, their stress levels reduce, and trust builds naturally. Creating space for regular check-ins, whether one to one or as a team, can go a long way towards helping employees feel supported.
This doesn’t require any software or new policies. It just requires time and genuine interest in how your people are doing. Sometimes the most effective wellbeing strategy is simply to ask, “How are you, really?” and then take the time to listen to the answer.
Be Open to Flexibility
We all have lives outside of work, and during the summer holidays especially, those outside responsibilities can feel heavy. Children are off school, routines are disrupted, and the usual work schedule might not be realistic for everyone. Offering flexibility shows your team that you understand and respect their whole lives, not just their working selves.
That might mean allowing early starts during hot weather, offering remote work when needed, or making it easy to request time off. Flexibility doesn’t have to be formalised or complicated. Sometimes it’s just a conversation and a willingness to make something work for both sides.
Breaks Are Not Optional
In too many workplaces, there’s an unspoken rule that being constantly available equals dedication. But being glued to a screen all day without a proper break isn’t just bad for health, it actually reduces productivity. Encouraging your team to take lunch breaks, step away for fresh air, or pause between meetings can make a real difference to energy levels and morale.
Better still, lead by example. Take a proper break yourself. People are far more likely to follow suit if they see that it’s acceptable and encouraged from the top.
Build a Culture Where People Can Speak Up
Wellbeing is not just about how people feel physically. Mental health, stress, and burnout are equally important. Yet these issues are often the ones people feel most uncomfortable talking about. Creating a culture where it’s safe to say, “I’m struggling,” takes intention and consistency.
You don’t need to invest in expensive programmes to get started. Simply sharing resources and encouraging open conversations about mental health can have a huge impact. If you’re not sure where to begin, the HR Chest Mental Health Hub offers free tools, guidance, and support ideas to help you create a healthier workplace culture. You can explore it here.
And Yes, Even Music Helps
Sometimes it’s the small touches that bring people together, like a shared playlist in the office, or even the light-hearted debates over which radio station to have on. These things might seem trivial, but they help build connection and give people a reason to smile. And in the middle of a busy week, that really does count.
If you want to take the first step towards better workplace support, visit the HR Chest Mental Health Hub for ideas and resources that won’t cost the earth, but might just make all the difference.
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