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Methodology:

The survey on which these findings are based was carried out between 28th April and 19th May 2025 and received over 600 responses. The survey was completed by employers and employees across Ireland, working across a range of industry sectors and employed in various types and sizes of organisation in both the private and public sectors.

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Hays Ireland Working
Well Report
Attracting talent and powering performance

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Welcome to the 2025 Hays Ireland Working Well Report

While the advantages of a healthy, happy workforce might seem obvious to some, our latest research reveals just how deeply employee wellbeing shapes the modern workplace. Based on insights from over 600 employers and employees, our comprehensive report looks at the impact of wellbeing on both professionals and organisations.

Our report explores what wellbeing truly means today, why it’s become a cornerstone of successful business strategy – including talent attraction and retention – and how companies are embedding it into their everyday practices. We also offer clear, tangible recommendations to help both organisations and individuals thrive.

With professionals placing a growing importance on adequate wellbeing support from their current and prospective employers, organisations need to be investing in effective strategies or risk falling behind in a competitive market.

If you’re hoping to boost your employee attraction and engagement efforts, improve your employee value proposition, or just build a generally happier workforce, our report can provide you with the expert insights you need. 

Maureen Lynch

Maureen Lynch
Managing Director, Hays Ireland

The evolving world of work – shaped by hybrid models, digital acceleration, and external pressures – has placed employee wellbeing at the heart of sustainable performance. And in the aftermath of the pandemic, organisations now realise that wellbeing is not a perk, but a strategic priority that drives engagement, performance, and innovation. But despite increased awareness and investment, many organisations are still struggling to meet the needs of their people.

Our latest findings reveal both opportunity and challenge. An encouraging 85% of professionals say that hybrid working has positively impacted their wellbeing. However, less than half (48%) believe their organisation’s current approach to employee wellbeing is effectively supporting them. And while 95% of employers agree that employee wellbeing is vital to organisational success, 75% admit they don’t measure the effectiveness of their efforts.

Additionally, we’ve seen a growing recognition of the interconnectedness between mental, physical, emotional and financial wellbeing, and which of these aspects employees need the most support with.

At Hays, we’re committed to creating a workplace environment in which each individual feels supported, valued, and empowered to thrive. We hope that our findings and recommendations show that investing in employee wellbeing not only drives better business outcomes and improves talent attraction and retention but creates a ripple effect across our communities and the wider economy.

Hannah Pearsall, Head of Wellbeing at Hays

Hannah Pearsall
Head of Wellbeing at Hays

Welcome to the Hays Working Well Report 2025. As a partner of Hays, Sonder is proud to provide an introduction to this research. This report underscores a fundamental truth: the wellbeing of our people isn't just an ethical consideration, it's a strategic imperative for ongoing organisational success.

The Hays Working Well Report 2025 offers a grounded, real-world perspective on employee wellbeing in Ireland today. The findings illustrate the pressures employers face, with persistent high stress levels across workforces and the ongoing challenge of blurred work-life boundaries. It's evident that while organisations are committed to supporting wellbeing, the implementation and measurement of these initiatives present genuine hurdles. The fact that three-quarters of employers don't consistently measure the effectiveness of their wellbeing strategies, and 32% of employees aren't fully utilising available support, highlights an opportunity to rethink how businesses can better support and measure the health, safety and wellbeing of their people.

The future of wellbeing isn't about isolated programmes, but about embedding proactive support, clear communication, and effective feedback loops into the very fabric of our organisations.

I invite you to explore these insights and reflect on your company’s strategy for holistic employee care.

Craig Cowdrey, CEO and Cofounder at Sonder

Craig Cowdrey
CEO and Cofounder at Sonder

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About Sonder

Sonder is a leading safety, medical, and mental health support platform that helps organisations protect their people and mitigate risk. Available 24/7, Sonder’s proactive and on-demand support connects employees and students to expert guidance, real-time safety monitoring, and immediate assistance when they need it most.

Learn more
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How do we define wellbeing?

When we think about wellbeing, it’s often limited to our understanding of physical and mental health – but true wellbeing stretches far beyond that. It’s about an individual’s overall quality of life, including their financial security and how connected they are with people and wider society.

We’ve identified four key pillars of wellbeing that provide a more holistic view of what it means to truly thrive at work and in life. These pillars serve as the foundation for how we assess employee wellbeing throughout the report:

Physical wellbeing

Staying healthy through regular exercise, balanced nutrition, sufficient sleep, and preventive healthcare

Physical wellbeing

Mental wellbeing

Managing stress, emotions, and thoughts in a healthy way; includes resilience, self-awareness, and seeking support when required

Mental wellbeing

Financial wellbeing

Feeling secure and in control of your finances, from budgeting and saving to planning for the future
 

Financial wellbeing

Social wellbeing

Building and maintaining positive relationships, feeling connected to society and other people, and having a sense of belonging and support

Social wellbeing

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Employee wellbeing has become a top priority for many organisations, as employers are increasingly recognising its impact on business-critical factors such as the productivity, morale and engagement levels of their workforces.

Our comprehensive survey data shines a spotlight on employee wellbeing and provides employers with the guidance they need to better support their employees and foster a resilient workforce.

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of professionals often feel stressed at work [49% for men, 59% for women]

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of professionals say that having the option of hybrid working has had a positive impact on their wellbeing

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of employees don’t use any of the wellbeing support initiatives offered by their organisation

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of employers believe that positive employee wellbeing is important to their organisation’s overall success

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of employers admit they don’t measure the effectiveness of their wellbeing initiatives

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of professionals have left a role due to inadequate wellbeing support

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Read on to discover the current state of workplace wellbeing.

Workplace wellbeing overview