Investing in well-being increases even salary satisfaction, study reveals

Employees of companies that invest in well-being feel more valued, healthy, and productive. This is revealed in the 2026 Corporate Well-being Panorama, a survey conducted by Wellhub with more than 5,000 professionals in ten countries.

The results show a striking difference between those who have access to structured corporate well-being programs and those who do not:

• 61% of employees with wellness programs rate their overall well-being as good or excellent, compared to 40% among those without access to these programs.

• 60% report good or excellent physical health, compared to 43%.

• 79% say they are able to dedicate time to personal care at work, which is not the case for 55% of professionals who do not have access to wellness programs.

• 77% feel that their companies' human resources departments are genuinely concerned about their well-being, versus 38%.

• 90% consider their compensation adequate, compared to 57%.

The data reinforces that well-being is no longer just a benefit: it directly impacts the perception of value, engagement, and productivity. For companies, caring for the overall health of employees has become a high-performance strategy.

“Investing in well-being goes beyond the direct benefit that the employee receives. When a company demonstrates genuine care for the physical and emotional health of its people, it raises the perceived value of everything it offers, including salary and other benefits,” says Ricardo Guerra, leader of Wellhub in Brazil. “Well-being amplifies the impact of all the other investments the company makes in its team.”

Wellness Spaces Replace Happy Hour and Coffee Breaks

The study also highlights the role of so-called "third spaces"—environments outside the home and office dedicated to socializing and self-care—as a new pillar of professional relationships. These places, such as gyms, yoga studios, and wellness centers, are replacing bars and coffee shops as meeting points for colleagues. More than just leisure spaces, they represent a cultural shift in how workers balance productivity and physical and emotional health, transforming well-being into a central component of corporate life and the building of healthier teams.

• 91% of employees surveyed say these spaces help them cope better with work pressures.

• 74% visit them weekly, and 21% go every day.

• 22% say they connect with colleagues in these locations.

"Third spaces" are ceasing to be optional and becoming part of an essential social and emotional infrastructure for strengthening the sense of belonging and responsibility among the workforce. Even so, practical and behavioral barriers continue to limit access: 50% cite lack of time, 27% mention lack of motivation, and 23% cite cost. This scenario reinforces the need for corporate policies that make well-being more accessible and integrated into daily work.

Generation Z leads the adoption of well-being as a response to professional stress.

Young people at the beginning of their careers face the greatest emotional and mental burdens. Among Millennials, 56% report increased stress; in Generation Z, the rate is 55%, both above the global average. These groups also register the most frequent symptoms of burnout, many of them several times a week.

Generation Z is redefining self-care at work. They are the biggest users of digital wellness tools (72% use apps weekly) and the ones who value therapy the most: 68% say it is fundamental to mental health, compared to 59% of Millennials, 45% of Gen X, and 33% of Baby Boomers.

This change highlights a generational transformation: younger people reject the idea of ​​enduring work pressure and adopt a structured and proactive approach to self-care. They are building a model of sustainable success, in which mental health, flexibility, and integrated wellness tools become indispensable parts of the work experience.

Well-being boosts productivity and changes the relationship with work, bringing competitive advantages to companies.

According to the survey, 89% of professionals say they are more productive when they prioritize their health and well-being. This correlation shows that corporate wellness programs are ceasing to be a retention action and are becoming a strategic pillar of organizational performance.

Companies that use complete wellness platforms have the best results. Innovative organizations are reshaping their benefits strategies, treating well-being not as a cost, but as an engine for high performance.

“We are seeing a fundamental shift in how companies view employee well-being: today, well-being is no longer treated as a benefit but has become a driver of productivity,” says Guerra. “The most successful companies are integrating well-being into their talent strategy because healthy employees not only feel better, they produce more, stay longer with the companies, and drive better results.”

Research indicates that investing in well-being represents one of the talent strategies with the highest return on investment (ROI), with benefits that go beyond traditional health indicators and impact engagement, retention, and measurable performance.

Source: RH pra você