DHL Supply Chain UK and Ireland encourages healthy sleep habits through the use of wellbeing education, awareness campaigns, and open conversations.
Part of logistics firm DHL Group, it provides supply chain management and contract logistics services. Employing 32,000 UK employees, its workforce includes both frontline operational and office‑based employees, and specialist roles. Many frontline roles are shift-based.
Its awareness campaigns have focused on the importance of rest, recovery, and maintaining a good work‑life balance. The campaigns also aim to create an environment where employees feel comfortable talking about fatigue, energy levels, and sleep challenges they may be experiencing and be able to seek support.
DHL’s network of wellbeing champions helps this by promoting positive behaviours and signposting to available physical, financial, and mental wellbeing support. They also highlight relevant benefits, recognising that sleep issues can be caused by different factors. The champions work with leadership and health and safety teams to raise awareness of good sleep.
Healthy sleep plays an important role in physical, financial, and mental wellbeing. This is important in a business such as DHL, where many employees work shift‑based roles, sometimes at night, says Debbie Fennell, head of benefits at DHL Supply Chain.
“We offer a range of benefits and support to help employees improve their sleep,” she adds. ”DHL employees have free access to Wellness Cloud, which offers targeted sleep support and wellbeing resources. These include up to two free one‑to‑one sleep sessions with a specialist and further sessions at a discounted rate, and guided content, articles and tools to improve sleep quality and build healthier routines.”
Additionally, all employees have access to an employee assistance programme, which provides confidential support and counselling, as well as a four‑week sleep plan and tracker with practical guidance. It also includes articles and videos covering stress, anxiety and lifestyle challenges, all of which can have an impact on sleep.
As part of its acknowledgement that sleep issues can arise for many reasons, the organisation also offers access to financial support provided by Salary Finance and The Will Guys, and physical benefits such as a bikes-for-work scheme, discounted gyms and a free GP service.
Every month, DHL shares wellbeing content, webinars and resources on stress management, mindfulness, resilience, and healthy habits. It also takes part in annual awareness events such as Sleeptember and uses this to signpost employees to relevant benefits and charities.
DHL offers such support as an acknowledgment that healthy sleep is key to employee wellbeing, safety and performance, and that poor sleep can lead to higher levels of stress and absences, reduced concentration, and a greater risk of workplace accidents.
By supporting healthy sleep, employers can help improve engagement, productivity, and resilience across the workforce, says Fennell.
“This also supports a more preventative approach to wellbeing, rather than only responding when issues arise. Providing benefits that support healthy sleep shows a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing and helps build a culture of care, trust, and psychological safety. When employees feel valued and supported, it strengthens their sense of belonging,” she says.
