The State of Workplace Wellbeing Training: Insights from Our 2025 Survey
Background and Purpose
Just before the summer break, I reached out to the Work Well Community with a mission: to build the next generation of wellbeing training programmes based on real insights from those who understand workplace wellbeing challenges firsthand. The survey was specifically designed for professionals working internally within organisations who have influence on wellbeing training decisions—HR professionals, People teams, Learning & Development specialists, Health & Safety leads, wellbeing champions, and line managers.
The comprehensive survey explored five areas:
Current level of wellbeing within organisations
Most pressing wellbeing challenges facing teams today
Priority audiences for wellbeing training initiatives
Preferred training formats and approaches that work in practice
Budget realities and success metrics that matter to decision-makers
The goal was simple but ambitious: to gather evidence-based insights that would inform the development of training programmes that organisations actually need, want, and can implement successfully.
A heartfelt thank you to the 56 Work Well Community members who took the time to complete our comprehensive workplace wellbeing survey!
What you've shared exceeds my expectations and paints a clear picture of both the challenges and opportunities ahead.
The Findings
The Wellbeing Culture Reality Check
Our survey revealed a concerning picture of current wellbeing cultures across organisations:
50% rated their culture as "Fair" – some wellbeing initiatives exist but are inconsistently applied
44% rated their culture as "Good" – solid wellbeing practices are in place
4% rated their culture as "Poor" or "Very Poor"
Only 2% achieved "Excellent" – wellbeing deeply embedded in culture
This data shows that while most organisations aren't failing completely at wellbeing, there's significant room for improvement. The fact that half of respondents describe their wellbeing culture as only "fair" indicates a clear gap between intention and execution.
The Skills Gap
Perhaps the most telling finding from our challenges analysis was this stark reality:
71.4% of you believe that Managers lack skills to support team wellbeing
This overwhelming response validates what many wellbeing professionals have suspected: the biggest barrier to effective workplace wellbeing isn't budget, time, or senior buy-in—it's that managers simply don't have the skills they need to support their teams effectively.
The Clear Winner for Training Priority
When asked which group should be the priority target for wellbeing training, the results were decisive:
Line managers and team leaders: 39.3%
General employees across all levels: 26.5%
Senior leaders and executives: 23.2%
Wellbeing champions/peer supporters: 5%
HR and People team members: 4%
All of the above: 2%
When we combine line managers and senior executives (recognising that most senior executives are also people managers), a remarkable 62.5% of respondents identified people managers as the priority for wellbeing training.
This finding powerfully validates what the skills gap data already told us: people managers are both the problem and the solution when it comes to workplace wellbeing.
What Would Training Success Look Like?
When respondents were asked to identify their top 3 success factors for wellbeing training, the number one response was clear:
Primary Success Metric = Greater confidence in managers to support their teams
This perfectly aligns with the identified skills gap—organisations aren't just looking for any training, they're specifically seeking solutions that will build manager confidence and capability in supporting team wellbeing.
How Do People Want to Learn?
Despite living in an era of AI and digital learning, when asked preferred training delivery format, our results show a clear preference for human connection in wellbeing training:
Blended approach (combination): 52%
In-person workshops: 30%
Live online sessions: 9%
Self-paced online modules: 7%
No preference: 2%
When we combine in-person and blended delivery preferences, 82% of respondents want some form of human interaction in their wellbeing training. This suggests that even as technology advances, the human element remains critical for effective wellbeing skill development.
Realistic Training Duration
Understanding the practical constraints of busy workplaces, we asked about realistic training durations. The responses showed a preference for focused, digestible sessions rather than lengthy programmes—validating the need for efficient, impactful training design.
Budget and Implementation Realities
The survey revealed realistic budget expectations and highlighted the importance organisations place on ongoing support rather than just one-off training events. Most respondents indicated that ongoing CPD and support was either "essential" or "important" for sustaining training impact.
What Can We Do About It? Taking Action on These Insights
The convergence of these findings tells a compelling story:
People managers are the priority (62.5% when combining line managers and senior executives)
Managers lack the skills to support team wellbeing (71.4% identified this as a top challenge)
Training success is measured by manager confidence in supporting their teams
Human connection is essential for effective learning (82% prefer in-person or blended delivery)
These insights directly validate the need for targeted people manager wellbeing training—exactly what the data shows organisations need most.
Introducing the People Manager Wellbeing Training Programme
I plan on taking immediate action on these survey findings. I'm excited to announce our first dedicated People Manager Wellbeing Training Programme specifically designed to address the skills gap identified by our community.
The programme will feature:
Blended delivery combining in-person workshops with ongoing online support
Practical skills development focused on building manager confidence
Evidence-based content addressing the real challenges you've identified
Early access will be available to Work Well Community members through a pilot, recognising your valuable contribution to shaping this solution.
Conclusion
This survey has provided more than just data—it's given us a roadmap for addressing the most pressing needs in workplace wellbeing training. The message from our respondents is clear: organisations need confident, skilled people managers who can effectively support team wellbeing.
The fact that 71.4% identified manager skills gaps as a top challenge, while 62.5% prioritised people managers for training, and success is measured by "greater confidence in managers to support their teams" creates an undeniable business case for targeted people manager wellbeing training.
To our survey participants: your insights are directly shaping a training solution designed by the community, for the community. Thank you for your time, honesty, and commitment to improving workplace wellbeing. The winner of our free one-hour consultation draw will be contacted directly.
Interested in a pilot training programme for your organisation? Email here to express your interest and find out more.
The survey was conducted online in June 2025 with 56 respondents. Click here for a further breakdown on the survey results.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Crooke is a wellbeing educator, speaker and adviser, empowering Irish organisations to promote and sustain wellbeing within their workplaces.
He is the founder of The Work Well Institute and the Workplace Wellbeing Ireland community and is Course Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Workplace Wellness at Tangent, Trinity College Dublin. He is the host of The Work Well Podcast.
In his spare time, Brian is bringing free resistance training to every county and community in Ireland through his parkHIIT social enterprise.
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