Mindfulness as a benefit: what can employers offer to enhance employees’ mental wellbeing?

The NHS website describes mindfulness as paying attention to what is going on inside and outside ourselves, moment by moment. It can also be thought of as a state of being present, focused and aware. With its links to mental wellbeing, therefore, mindfulness could have a place in the benefits strategies of employers that want to support their employees in this way.

Mindfulness schemes and benefits

Mindfulness can be integrated into the workplace in a variety of ways. These could include access to digital wellbeing and mindfulness apps, health and wellbeing services and resources, or starting meetings with a mindfulness exercise. Other options include wellbeing hubs with webinars which can be accessed 24/7, and encouraging staff to take regular breaks away from screens, through mindful walks, breathing exercises, or stretching.

A mindfulness scheme should be flexible, delivered both in-person and online, to suit the needs of the workplace, says Alexandra Taylor, integrative therapist at Wellness Cloud..

“Options might include offering drop-in meditation classes and guided reflection sessions,” she says. ”Workshops can also be tailored to address specific challenges, such as burnout or procrastination, with the added benefit of allowing employees to suggest topics that resonate with their personal experiences.”

Workplace mindfulness-related benefits can also include employee assistance programmes with a 24/7 confidential line, and access to discounted mindfulness services and support. Organisations could consider creating designated areas within the workplace where employees can practice mindfulness. They should be quiet, comfortable, and free from distractions.

Amy Rose, head of international partnerships at Koa Health, says: “Some employers invest in dedicated mindfulness training, either as one-off sessions or structured courses. These are valuable for embedding a culture of mindfulness and often target outcomes such as mindful leadership, greater self-awareness, empathy, and improved communication.”

One challenge for employers when offering this type of support is how far to personalise their approach in terms of employees’ gender, age and location. Making sure the right benefit is available at the right time to the right employee can overcome potential barriers.

Dr Amy Pressland, head of talent and performance at Benenden Health, says: “Organisations need to encourage managers to model mindfulness practices, [because] this demonstrates a commitment, sets a positive example and encourages employees to follow suit. Budget isn’t a necessity, it can be just as impactful to offer mindfulness as a benefit through promotion, awareness and role modelling. There are a range of free online resources employers can signpost to.”

Impact and value to wellbeing strategies

Including mindfulness as part of a broader wellbeing strategy can demonstrate an employer’s meaningful commitment to mental health, which can strengthen employee engagement. By fostering a culture of mindfulness, organisations can enhance staff wellbeing and create a more positive and resilient work environment.

Employers should evaluate what they currently do to support their employees’ wellbeing and how they can incorporate mindfulness into their wellbeing strategy.

“This demonstrates a commitment to the whole person, rather than just their value to the organisation’s bottom line,” says Pressland. ”Mindfulness helps individuals become more aware of emotions, which fosters better communication and collaboration. It can also lower blood pressure, improve sleep quality, and boost the immune system, contributing to overall physical wellbeing.”

Employers should adapt their strategies during their employees’ different life events, such as during onboarding, parental leave or sickness absence to suit evolving needs. They should also look at how they measure the benefit of their investment in mindfulness assistance to see if they experience a return on this in the form of an increase in engagement.

Tania Johnston, lead clinical psychologist at Koa Health, says: “It strengthens a wellbeing strategy by offering employees tools to manage stress, focus attention, and build resilience. Mindfulness programmes improve employee wellbeing by reducing anxiety and depression symptoms. Mindfulness interventions, particularly when combined with evidence-based approaches such as CBT, can help employees regulate emotions and experience greater psychological balance.”

Encouraging employees to slow down, check in with themselves, and manage their reactions more effectively can add depth and sustainability to a wellbeing strategy by addressing mental health in a proactive, rather than reactive, way.

Jo Werker, chief executive officer at Boostworks, says: “Through daily practices, employees can strengthen emotional intelligence, deepen self-awareness, and master stress responses, creating lasting change rather than temporary relief.”

Benefits to the business

A wellbeing strategy that includes mindfulness can offer many business benefits for an organisation. Other than equipping employees with tools to navigate pressure more effectively, leading to happier and more engaged teams, it also contributes to stronger performance, productivity, and a healthier organisational culture, explains Werker.

“Those that invest in and prioritise mental wellbeing experience lower absenteeism, higher productivity, and better employee retention,” she adds. ”When talent are selecting a new employer, they are looking for this kind of support. Employers need to demonstrate that they have invested in it to be competitive, but it also needs to be the right kind for their employee demographic.”

As organisations prepare to welcome younger generations to their workforces, offering mindfulness and wellbeing programmes is even more pertinent.

“This is because [younger employees] place great import on work-life balance, mental health and how employers support holistic wellbeing,” Pressland says.

Employers that successfully tailor mindfulness support to their organisation and employees, therefore, will reap a number of business benefits.