Why Corporate Wellness Matters – The Real Cost of Stress at Work
Stress can sometimes be thought of as a personal issue, something to be handled with better time management, a yoga class, or an early night. The truth is, stress doesn’t stop at the office door. It seeps into how we think, lead, collaborate, and perform.
When stress becomes the norm rather than the exception, it’s not just individuals who suffer, the business will too.
The Cost of Stress
Workplace stress has become one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today. According to the World Health Organization, stress-related conditions cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion every year in lost productivity.
In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive reports that over 875,000 workers suffered from work-related stress, depression, or anxiety in 2023, resulting in 17 million lost working days. In the UAE, surveys show that around 60% of employees report feeling stressed at work, with many saying this affects their motivation and focus.
These numbers aren’t just statistics - they represent real people showing up each day feeling drained, distracted, and/or disengaged.
How Stress Shows Up at Work
The signs of stress within a team can be subtle at first:
People working longer hours but getting less done.
Rising sickness absences.
A drop in creativity or collaboration.
Increasing staff turnover.
Less engagement and enthusiasm for the work.
Over time, this becomes what’s known as presenteeism - being physically present but mentally exhausted. It’s estimated that presenteeism costs businesses twice as much as absenteeism does.
As this builds, morale begins to dip, communication breaks down, and even the strongest employees can start to feel burnt out. The impact of this ripples across the organisation, impacting everyone across the management chain.
A Human Problem - and a Business One
What’s often misunderstood about workplace wellbeing is that it’s not just about “nice to have” perks like free fruit or gym memberships. It’s about creating an environment where people can perform at their best - sustainably.
When wellbeing is taken seriously, teams become more engaged, leaders make better decisions, and businesses perform better. A healthy culture reduces turnover, improves retention, and fosters trust - all of which contribute directly to success of the business.
Ignoring stress isn’t just costly; it’s short-sighted.
The Shift That’s Needed
The good news is that more organisations are starting to recognise the link between wellbeing and performance but there’s still a gap between awareness and action.
A wellbeing strategy can’t just sit with HR or rely on one-off workshops. It needs to be embedded into how a company operates day-to-day - through leadership, culture, and systems that genuinely support people.
When employees feel supported, valued, and equipped to manage stress, everyone benefits.
The Takeaway
Wellbeing isn’t a soft initiative - it’s a smart one. Investing in your people’s health and stress management isn’t just the right thing to do - it’s one of the most effective business decisions you can make.
This blog is part of my Corporate Wellness Series, where I’ll explore how to reduce stress, prevent burnout, and create workplaces where both people and businesses thrive.
If you’d like to learn more about how wellbeing can support your organisation, you can visit the Corporate Wellness section of my website.