In today’s fast-paced world, the landscape of work is evolving, and with it, the expectations of employees. It’s no longer enough for employers to simply offer a salary and basic health benefits. As the modern workforce, led by Millennials and Gen Z, places a greater emphasis on intentional living and holistic health, a new imperative has emerged for businesses: to genuinely invest in the wellness of their staff.

This isn’t just a corporate buzzword; it’s a strategic move that directly impacts morale, boosts productivity, and is crucial for attracting and retaining top talent in a competitive market. By championing employee wellbeing, companies are not only building a more resilient and engaged team but are also securing a sustainable future for their organisation.

According to Forbes, activities like the so-called ‘Forest bathing’, wellness retreats, mental health focus, play-based exercise and even nature-inspired interior design and hybrid work-life balance practices are in for 2025. But do you know why? How can employers make sure to cover these topics? And how can taking part of these trends benefit employees?

Sit back, take a deep breath and let’s dive in!

First and foremost, what is Wellness?

Wellness is defined by the Cambridge dictionary as “the state of being healthy, especially when it is something that you actively try to achieve” and “activities that are designed to help people feel healthier and happier, or the business of providing these activities”.
It involves a real commitment to finding and working on achieving the best version of one’s self that will ensure balance and leaving behind all the detrimental activities and habits that lead to harming our mental, physical, and emotional health.

Why is it important to encourage this as an employer?

Supporting and encouraging employee wellness has become an essential part of being a modern employer, this boosts morale, employee retention and engagement, while improving focus and productivity.

The 2025 study by Wellhub concluded that top talent brings their A-game to work and expect employers to match it, meaning, expectations go beyond the basic health insurance but a full support to wellness is fully expected and deserved. 85% of workers believe their employer has a responsibility to help them tend to their wellbeing and 83% would consider leaving a company that doesn’t offer the support they need, these trends being more visible in Millennial and Gen Z employees.  

The above-mentioned generations make together the largest workforce and the future of the companies, so offering the programs not only become an urgency for companies, but also become a long-term investment for a sustainable future and key for talent retention.

After the global pandemic experienced in 2020, a mental health crisis has come upon the world and today, one in 10 workers (11%) are doing poorly, struggling, or really struggling mentally, and about one in five (18%) workers say their mental wellbeing declined in 2024 compared to 2023. More concerning numbers are that over half (52%) of employees do not think their employer cares about their mental wellbeing  87% say they aren’t comfortable discussing a mental health issue in the workplace.

So is everything lost? The answer is NO. 

Practical Ways to Support Your Team’s Wellbeing

There are many ways to support your team’s wellness journey, some suggestions that can be cost-effective for companies while still being helpful for employees are: 

1. Stress management workshops: offering the team a workshop on learning techniques to reduce stress have proven beneficial and greatly appreciated by employees.
2. Flexible scheduling: this allows people to make time for fitness or mental health related activities since time constraints are considered a top impediment by over 56% of employees.
3. Fitness & Meditation subscriptions: whether it’s for a gym, online fitness classes, meditation, or another type of wellness-related app or program, covering the costs for a platform can help keep people engaged and constant in taking care of their health (both, mental and physical).
4. Onsite fitness classes: It can be as simple as hiring instructors to lead classes such as yoga, pilates, zumba, or strength training to boost energy levels at work.
5. Onsite fitness facilities: taking the previous point one step further, there are plenty of shared spaces and offices that have small gyms and different workout facilities within the same building creating a perfect environment for encouraging wellness.
6. Offer company housing solutions with fitness dedicated spaces: This approach addresses the core challenge of work-life balance and convenience. By providing living spaces that integrate dedicated fitness facilities, employers remove the proximity barrier entirely.  

The younger generations are supporting their mental health through therapy. Physical wellness impacts multiple aspects in the workplace from the attitude and energy of people in the office, to the productivity, performance, reductions of absenteeism and quality of work! The connection is undeniable: physical activity directly improves mental wellbeing by reducing stress and boosting mood, which in turn motivates people to stay active.

What types of physical activities can help?

So whether you are an employer looking for ways to increase productivity or an employee dealing with any of the struggles mentioned above, I will put it in simple words, the gains don’t stay at the gym, they reflect directly in the creativity, lower stress levels, motivation, productivity, higher energy levels, better work quality, improved time management and self-esteem!

Here are the best types of workouts for this needed boost:

1. Walking– Yes! A 30 minute brisk walk or a light jog have proven to increase the energy and ability to cope with stress and tasks. Furthermore, a study carried by Stanford University showed that a walk increased 81% of participants’ creativity compared to low numbers in people who stayed in the office sitting down all day.Extra benefits come when the walks are among nature, it adds cognitive benefits, including but not limited to enhancing executive attention, mood, creativity, immune function, aiding in recovery from stress, and lowering blood pressure.
2.  Yoga-This is your best ally if what you are looking for an overall stress reduction and a self-esteem boost.
3. Low-Intensity Aerobic Exercise– while a lot of people opt for a high intensity workout these are less effective when looking for that power boost than a low intensity workout such as using an elliptical machine, a controlled walk in a treadmill, swimming or dancing. The choice is yours here!
4. Strength training– Studies published by the National Library of Medicine in the US have reported that this type of exercise improves memory and brain functioning as well as in cognitive functions like processes like thinking, learning, memory, and decision-making.

The Proximity Advantage.

Speaking about work-life balance, having the possibility to access onsite fitness facilities offer people the so-called ‘Proximity Advantage’.

For the employee, this means simplifying the process of incorporating some physical activity to their daily routine, for the employer it improves the perception employees have of them, leading to the desired talent retention, less sick days and improved employee satisfaction.

Hybrid Spaces: The Integrated Solution

Shared spaces, designed to seamlessly blend the concepts of living, working, and wellness, are a powerful solution for achieving this. By offering a single location where individuals can find a workspace alongside modern fitness facilities, employers and communities remove the primary barriers to a healthy lifestyle. This integration not only simplifies the process of incorporating regular physical activity but also acts as a catalyst for community building and social interaction. These shared environments naturally lead to networking and the formation of connections with people who have common interests, creating a supportive ecosystem for holistic wellbeing.

The spaces offered in POHA House Preuswald are a great example of this type of solution with an added advantage of incorporating modern apartments and closeness to nature in the mix. With the new gym and yoga spaces opening in August 2025 proximity a

dvantage is impossible to miss here! 

Finding a holistic solution for holistic wellness.

The integration of living, working, community, and closeness to nature, now complemented by a brand-new on-site gym, creates a holistic environment that significantly boosts both employee retention and productivity. The presence of a convenient fitness facility, as seen at POHA House Preuswald, aligns with the understanding that employees value health and wellness offerings, making it an attractive prospect for top talent and fostering loyalty, thereby reducing turnover. 

Moreover, the easy access to physical activity can lead to all the before mentioned benefits among residents, translating directly into more efficient and high-quality work performance. The overall well-being promoted by such an integrated living and working space, coupled with the health benefits of regular exercise, also contributes to stronger immune systems and reduced absenteeism, further enhancing productivity.

Have we peaked your interest? 

Get in contact with us today and start enjoying the benefits of a shared space that cares for you!