Workplace Stress Is Rising—But Our Research Proves There’s a Better Way
As a mission-led business, we are driven by a unifying desire to create impact at scale. Our team is deeply committed to ending the workplace stress epidemic and shifting towards a preventative model of health. This impact is what fuels us.
The Growing Workplace Stress Crisis
We are in the midst of a seismic shift in workplace wellbeing. Post-pandemic, employers have invested unprecedented resources into employee health. Yet, despite increased awareness and spending, the impact has been limited. Chronic stress remains a daily reality for 38% of employees, and an alarming 82% are at risk of burnout—figures that continue to rise.
HR leaders are expressing frustration with existing solutions, which see average employee utilisation rates of just 5.5%. Even more concerning, many of these solutions lack measurable impact on key business metrics, making it difficult to justify further investment. But the need is only growing. In the UK alone, sick leave reached its highest level in a decade last year, with stress cited as a leading cause.
Traditional, reactive approaches are not enough. Health insurance claims continue to rise, with mental health a leading contributor. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) are failing to stem the rising tide of burnout. In industries driven by client demands and billable hours, systemic change may be slow—but that does not mean the crisis is unsolvable.
How can organisations better support their employees to create healthier, more productive workplaces? A clear consensus is emerging: the future of workplace health must be preventative and proactive. Prioritising employee wellbeing isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a business one. When workload demands are managed effectively, and employees are equipped to regulate stress, the result is better performance for both individuals and organisations.
Measuring the Impact of Prevention: Our Research Findings
To move from assumption to evidence, we conducted research in June 2024 to assess the impact of our platform on stress, burnout, and performance. Our goal was to provide real data that illustrates how a proactive approach to workplace health can drive meaningful change.
Study Design & Methodology
We surveyed 80 users of the WONE Platform, all professionals working in high-stress industries such as legal, finance, recruitment, and tech, and based in six countries across the UK, USA, and Europe. These employees have access to WONE through their employers and actively engage with the platform. The WONE Platform reduces stress by promoting short term recovery and long term resilience. Engagements in the platform include in-the-moment stress reduction techniques known as micro moments of recovery, and longer term educational sessions that focus on building resilience.
The study focused on three key measures:
- Perceived levels of stress before and after using the platform
- Perceived levels of burnout, assessed across its three core dimensions: emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness
- Perceived impact on productivity and effectiveness at work
Key Findings
Our research revealed striking results:
- 74% of users reported a reduction in their stress levels
- 80% saw improvements in at least one dimension of burnout
- 90% reported a positive impact on productivity
Beyond the numbers, individual stories highlight the profound impact. For example, one of our long-time users, Abhishek, shared that after just a few weeks of using WONE, his biometric health markers significantly improved: “My cholesterol dropped dramatically, my insulin resistance came down, and I felt more energetic and vigorous.” These are the kinds of transformations that reinforce our belief in a preventative, science-backed approach to workplace health.
How the WONE Platform Delivers Impact
The WONE Platform blends AI with science to help employees regulate stress by delivering micro moments of recovery throughout the workday. Our proprietary WONE Method, developed with leading stress scientists, product designers, and machine learning researchers, provides personalised health plans powered by:
- A clinically validated health score, blending biometric and self-reported measures
- Hundreds of live and on-demand sessions, tailored to individual needs
- Expert-led content, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based interventions
By seamlessly integrating these elements, WONE delivers real-time, personalised support to employees—helping them recover, perform, and thrive.
The Future of Workplace Wellbeing
While the problem of workplace stress is vast and complex, the solution doesn’t need to be. Our research confirms that when organisations take a preventative approach, real change happens: stress is reduced, burnout is mitigated, and productivity improves.
The workplace stress epidemic isn’t going away. But with the right tools, science-backed strategies, and a commitment to proactive health, businesses can create environments where employees—and organisations—flourish.
