Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today

Latest NewsMental healthWellbeingHR TechnologyHR Podcasts

What is employee wellbeing? Gethin Nadin talks to Oven-Ready HR

by Chris Taylor 13 May 2022
by Chris Taylor 13 May 2022 Image: Gethin Nadin
Image: Gethin Nadin

In this episode of Oven-Ready HR, host Chris Taylor talks to author, speaker and psychologist Gethin Nadin. 

Gethin is one of the world’s top employee experience and wellbeing influencers, and his work has been featured in the FT, Forbes, The Guardian and HuffPost. Gethin is also chair of the UK government-backed Engage for Success Wellbeing Thought Action Group and a fellow at the RSA.

This episode covers:

How many pillars of wellbeing are there?
Gethin believes that there are broadly five pillars of wellbeing: physical, financial, emotional, community and leisure.

Why should organisations be concerned about wellbeing?
Gethin argues that organisations that commit to employee wellbeing benefit from increased profits and shareholder returns. When an organisation is seen to care for its employees, employees perform better in terms of improved customer service, productivity and outcomes.

How much wellbeing tech is evidenced based?
Gethin estimates that there are some 400,000 wellbeing apps available for download but warns that the majority of this technology is scientifically unproven despite some being recommended by healthcare organisations such as the NHS. He warns that some apps could actually cause harm by creating a sense of over-reliance and self-diagnosis.

What is ‘psychological reactance’?
‘Psychological reactance’ is the term used to describe human behaviour when we’re told something that we feel threatens our freedom. Gethin explains that messages surrounding health and financial wellbeing often fail because organisations use ‘negative associations’ as opposed to ‘positive’ ones.

Employee burnout and toxic work cultures
Having work-based friends is effective in employees not feeling isolated or alone at work. Gethin argues that employee burnout is most likely to be caused by poor organisational design and structure. A lack of autonomy, not feeling appreciated, a lack of direction and unrealistic deadlines all contribute to burnout.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

How do we start a wellbeing strategy?
Gethin outlines the first steps an organisation needs to take when embarking on an employee wellbeing journey.  These include asking ‘why are we doing it?’ and ‘what do we hope to get out of it?’,  whilst keeping the employee front and centre of the strategy.

Chris Taylor

Chris Taylor is host of the Oven-Ready HR Podcast.

previous post
Fears over skills as visa application times double for spouses
next post
How employers can support women during the HRT shortage

You may also like

CIPD Festival of Work: ‘Wellbeing is not an...

11 Jun 2025

Employers must offer more flexibility to working carers,...

9 Jun 2025

CIPD: A quarter feel work has negative impact...

9 Jun 2025

Why cash lump sums may not be the...

5 Jun 2025

Sickness absence falls to almost pre-pandemic rate

4 Jun 2025

One-third have witnessed substance abuse at work

3 Jun 2025

Preparing for a new era of workforce planning...

3 Jun 2025

Three ways technology can boost wellbeing outcomes

27 May 2025

Workplace stress: Why it’s time to rebrand resilience

22 May 2025

Awareness weeks fuel spike in demand for mental...

19 May 2025

  • Preparing for a new era of workforce planning (webinar) WEBINAR | Employers now face...Read more
  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • OHW+
  • Resources
    • Clinical governance
    • Disability
    • Ergonomics
    • Health surveillance
    • OH employment law
    • OH service delivery
    • Research
    • Return to work and rehabilitation
    • Sickness absence management
    • Wellbeing and health promotion
  • Conditions
    • Mental health
    • Musculoskeletal disorders
    • Blood pressure
    • Cancer
    • Cardiac
    • Dementia
    • Diabetes
    • Respiratory
    • Stroke
  • CPD
  • Webinars
  • Jobs
  • Personnel Today