These work health start-ups are trending. Here’s what you need to know.

The advent of hybrid work has made us more aware of our ‘work wellbeing’ than ever before. We know that physical and mental health are key, but so too is being financially organised, limiting the admin, and keeping our ethics in check. Here’s how health start-ups are playing their part in assisting us.

With hybrid work – and the flexibility it has afforded people – helping us to evaluate our

wellbeing more than ever, technology has become a key part of the solution as workers seek better health and balance in their lives.

Reflecting this growing consciousness, the recent UK edition of the Top Start-ups 2023 List by LinkedIn, features a large proportion of work health start-ups, with a particular focus on employee happiness. It highlights the increasing expectation of care from businesses, as workers know they work better when they feel better, and see it as their employer’s responsibility to help them get there.

Let’s take a closer look at the six rising start-ups who businesses and employees alike are turning to as the world of work takes a health check.

In the wellbeing space

• Peppy: Designed to help employees “take control of their health and bring their best selves to work, every day”, Peppy’s offering covers all aspects of health and wellbeing, and even extends to the wider family. The app provides both practical and emotional support through access to healthcare professionals, virtual consultations, live chat, at-home testing kits and resources.
• Ben: This employee benefits platform was created to simplify processes and cut back on admin. It also allows for “greater autonomy and personalisation” of benefits packages, giving that all important sense of individualised care. There are all of the traditional benefits – insurance, for example, and dentistry – but meditation app subscriptions and the ability to buy or sell holiday entitlement are also included.

Health cover and insurance is a key driver when it comes to people choosing a job, according to stats from ABI. And it pays off too. Analysing more than 16,000 people, they found that 65% of those who accessed vocational rehabilitation services through insurers didn’t need to take sick leave.

Providing local hybrid workspaces has also been proven to give employees more time for healthy living, and by destigmatising care through open conversations, employers can in turn help to improve work satisfaction, performance, and retention.In the corporate responsibility space

• Ecologi is an environmental start-up that provides companies with tailored climate action services such as tree planting and carbon removal projects. Businesses can buy subscriptions for staff so they can feel the warm glow that comes from making a difference. From sponsoring specific wildlife and wetlands projects, paying for biochar carbon removal, and contributing towards renewable energy schemes, it’s a way of showing your ethics and empowering your team.
• Sylvera provides carbon data and analytics to help businesses and governments invest in real climate impact. It can help organisations get on track to net zero and demonstrate to their employees that they acknowledge their corporate responsibilities.

Gen Z want to work for purpose-driven companies – it is one of their key decision makers when it comes to finding and accepting a job. Apps like Sylvera and Ecologi can provide part of that, but ensuring that office space and working practices are considered in terms of their impact on the planet will also help. Cutting down on commuting and investing in greener working environments like certified carbon neutral flexspaces are some of the biggest ways businesses can lower carbon emissions.In the skills and equipment space

• Hofy was built to help make life easier. Automated equipment workflows and smoother on-boarding systems cut out the ubiquitous headaches that those moments can bring. Plus, by smoothly distributing the necessary tech to the right people, it can enhance remote working – which is proven to lead to better health and employee retention.
• Wagestream: Used by a diverse range of companies from Bupa to Burger King, and with customers in Europe, the US and Australia, this financial wellbeing app is designed to support workers with pay management, budgeting tools, and access to personal financial coaching. It is, they say, made to “empower them to build better financial health”.

Financial health underpins many people’s sense of wellbeing. It can be a cause of immense stress, or conversely a welcome sense of calm. Two-thirds of employees who are struggling financially report at least one sign of poor mental health, which inevitably affects their work. Helping staff to manage their money is a win-win situation.

Health and wellbeing is no longer a soft option. It’s now at the heart of a burgeoning tech industry and has a meaningful impact on employee satisfaction. Choosing the right tech systems and adopting the best working practices, like hybrid work, is a core part of attracting the best staff and boosting the bottom line.

Read more to find out how Spaces can improve your business wellbeing.