08 May Workplace Health and Wellbeing Study – Executive Summary
Workplace Health and Wellbeing Study – Executive Summary
Healthy Ireland has shared the Executive Summary of its Workplace Health and Wellbeing study which was commissioned by the Department of Health and conducted on behalf of the Department by Core Research.
The aim of the study was to undertake a survey of workplace health and wellbeing with a focus on workplace wellbeing, work-related illness, risk factors for workplace stress, working conditions and work environment.
This study was conducted in late 2024 and examined worker wellbeing across several key areas and the findings will inform future health and wellbeing policy in the workplace. The data was collected using telephone interviews and a sample of 2,000 workers aged 18+was achieved.
This is the first national study on worker health and wellbeing commissioned by the Department of Health and will act as a benchmark for future research and to inform the development of interventions to promote health and wellbeing in the workplace.
Key Findings:
- Three in five workers rated their general health as good or very good.
- One in ten reported their level of health as bad or very bad with a higher proportion of women reporting poor health than men.
- One in ten workers said they experience high levels of stress in their lives and similar numbers reported low levels of stress (16%).
- Thirteen per cent of workers had consulted with a health professional with concerns about their mental health in the past 12 months; One in five 18–24 year olds had a mental health consultation.
- More people who work solely from home (68%) reported good health versus those who say they have no fixed workplace.
- More workers who worked fully from home (87%) were satisfied with flexible working opportunities than those who did not or had a hybrid working model.
- Over half of workers felt their job was impacting their homelife while just under half reported to have attended work while sick, worked outside of hours and worried about work when not working.
- Nearly one in five were dissatisfied with pay with men more satisfied with pay than women.
- Those with a higher income recorded higher levels of poor health compared to those with lower incomes.
- Three in five were satisfied that their workplace demonstrates an interest in their staff’s health and wellbeing and promotes a healthy lifestyle among staff.
- A majority of employers accommodate for painful menstrual periods, disruptive menopausal symptoms and miscarriages or medically assisted reproductive procedures.
- Thirteen per cent of workers reported experiencing discrimination at work. among those who reported experiencing discrimination, 32% attributed it to gender, 27% identified race as the key factor, and 26% pointed to age as the primary reason.
- Although three in four were satisfied with the way they are treated by their colleagues, over one in ten respondents reported experiencing ongoing bullying and harassment in the workplace.
A full breakdown of the research findings is available here; https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/c3e903e4/20260212_FINAL_Exec_Summary_DOH_Workplace_and_Wellbeing.pdf
Implications of Research
The data shows that while a majority of workers are broadly satisfied with aspects such as work-life balance, physical working conditions, and general organisational culture, significant issues remain particularly in relation to stress, mental health, discrimination, and equity in access to wellbeing supports. These insights carry substantial implications for workplace policy and point to the need for both targeted interventions, including stress management and mental health promotion, and ongoing research.
Overall, the findings point to the need for an integrated workplace wellbeing strategy. By aligning policy and practice more closely with the real experiences of workers, Ireland can foster healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable working environments.