As you plan for 2026/27, your business faces multiple HR priorities: modernising pay practices, redesigning work operating models, rolling out new HR technology, enhancing employee experience, managing rising health and benefit costs, and investing in workplace safety. Among these, employee wellbeing stands out. Supporting your team’s health and engagement isn’t just a perk, it drives productivity, retention, and resilience.
You can’t ignore wellbeing!
Failing to prioritise employee wellbeing has real consequences. Rising absenteeism, stress, and burnout disrupt productivity and place extra pressure on colleagues. Employees may face higher out-of-pocket healthcare costs, and without support, retention and recruitment become more difficult.
Neglecting wellbeing also drives hidden costs: higher insurance premiums, operational strain, and long-term societal costs if workforce health is ignored.
How can you align wellbeing with your HR priorities?
Wellbeing should be integrated across all six key priorities for 2025/26:
- Modernising Pay Practices: Pair competitive, fair pay with wellbeing initiatives such as health benefits and flexible leave to show your employees they’re valued.
- Optimising Work Operating Models: Flexible or hybrid work models reduce stress and support health, while keeping teams productive.
- Rolling Out New HR Technology: Digital tools help track wellbeing, simplify benefits administration, and give employees easy access to support.
- Enhancing Employee Experience: Prioritising mental and physical health improves satisfaction, engagement, and retention.
- Managing Rising Health and Benefit Costs: Offering Private Medical Insurance and Corporate Health Plans allows you to support your employees’ health while controlling costs.
- Investing in Workplace Safety: Physical and mental safety programmes reinforce trust, reduce risk, and protect wellbeing.
So when wellbeing is embedded across these priorities, your HR strategy delivers tangible results for employees and your business.
How can Insurance support your teams?
Private Medical Insurance (PMI) provides your employees with quick access to private treatment for acute conditions, helping them recover faster and reducing the impact on your workforce.
A Corporate Health (Cash) Plan complements PMI by reimbursing your employees for everyday healthcare and wellbeing expenses, from physiotherapy and dental check-ups to prescriptions and eye tests. These plans encourage preventive care, reduce financial strain on employees, and help manage overall costs.
Beyond Insurance
Wellbeing doesn’t stop at insurance. You can strengthen it with:
- Mental health support and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs)
- GP helplines and online health assessments
- Health screenings to detect issues early (blood pressure, cholesterol, BMI, lifestyle analysis)
- Lifestyle incentives like gym memberships, nutritional advice, and wellness programmes
These initiatives help employees feel valued, reduce absenteeism, and foster a motivated, resilient workforce.
“When your employees thrive, your business thrives. Wellbeing isn’t an optional extra, it’s essential for growth, retention, and resilience.”
We can help you!
Integrating wellbeing into your HR priorities ensures that pay, work models, technology, employee experience, benefits management, and safety all work together to support your team. Partnering with our experts at Adler Fairways can help you implement PMI, Cash Plans, and wellbeing programmes effectively and sustainably.
By putting employee wellbeing at the heart of your HR strategy, you reduce hidden costs, support your workforce, and build a resilient business ready for the challenges of 2026 and beyond.
Contact us today to see how we can help you meet your 2026 priorities, support employee wellbeing, and build a healthier, more productive workforce.
Steve Hope
Employee Benefits Director
Adler Fairways
