The strategic importance of wellbeing, as acknowledged by 54% of Italian CEOs.
In a growing trend across Europe, CEOs are increasingly viewing employee well-being as a strategic factor linked to financial success, with a growing involvement in wellness initiatives. This shift, while varying somewhat depending on the local economic climate and corporate culture, is particularly evident in the UK, where employee benefits and wellness programs are recognised as essential yet come with financial challenges.
According to a recent survey conducted by Wellhub, over half of UK companies see employee benefits costs as a major financial concern. In response, efforts are being made to adapt benefits strategies under economic pressure while aiming to meet diverse workforce needs. The focus is on investing in preventative healthcare and targeted well-being programs as a way to maximise return on investment for employee benefits in the long term.
This strategic approach to well-being is aimed at sustaining organisational health and financial efficiency. Similar trends are emerging across Europe, with CEOs appearing optimistic about the continent’s economic future and prepared to act to spur growth and innovation. While direct statements about well-being strategies in European CEOs’ views are less detailed, this optimism and willingness to move towards a competitive future imply recognition of talent-related issues, including well-being, as part of that growth imperative.
The trend towards holistic well-being initiatives—which address physical, emotional, career, and financial health—is growing globally and likely mirrored in Europe given similar market pressures and talent competition. Leaders increasingly rely on data to design effective, comprehensive well-being programs as part of their people strategies.
The survey "Return on Wellbeing 2025" involved over 1,500 CEOs in ten countries and global business leaders. The findings suggest that 95% of the participating CEOs are personally involved in approving the budget for wellness initiatives. Romanian, Spanish, Italian, and English CEOs perceive a positive return on investment from company health programs and workplace wellbeing, with up to 80% reporting a positive ROI.
CEOs in countries like Italy show a strong propensity to invest in employee well-being paths and consider it strategic, with 54% viewing employee well-being as a strategic factor for financial success. English and Romanian CEOs also show a high percentage (58% and 56%, respectively) of considering employee well-being as strategically important.
Interestingly, the survey findings indicate that 47% of the participating CEOs view employee well-being as important as salary. In Italy, 47% of CEOs even consider employee well-being as important as salary, while German CEOs express less awareness of the strategic relevance of wellbeing as an intangible asset to improve competitiveness.
However, the path to successful wellness initiatives is not without challenges. The survey findings also suggest that 30% of CEOs consider low participation in wellbeing programs the main obstacle to their success. As CEOs across Europe continue to recognise and invest in employee well-being as a strategic factor for financial success, overcoming these challenges will be key to realising the full potential of these initiatives.
- In a strategic effort to maximize financial returns, CEOs in the UK are investing significantly in preventative healthcare and targeted well-being programs as part of their employee benefits strategies.
- According to the "Return on Wellbeing 2025" survey, CEOs in countries like Italy, England, and Romania view employee well-being as strategically important, ranking it alongside salary in terms of significance.
- CEOs across Europe, such as those in Italy, are recognizing the importance of employee well-being for financial success, but face challenges like low participation in wellness programs, which need to be addressed to fully realize the potential of these initiatives.
