Simple Strategies for Supporting Employee Wellbeing in the Hybrid and Remote Work Era
As hybrid and remote work become standard across Australia and New Zealand, the way we think about employee wellbeing is shifting too. With teams now spread across kitchen tables, home offices, coworking spaces and office desks, a one-size-fits-all approach to support no longer cuts it. And with the rising cost of healthcare, traditional benefits programs can feel bloated, outdated, or just out of reach.
But supporting your team’s wellbeing doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. In fact, some of the most effective strategies are simple, flexible, and built around the realities of modern work life.
Whether your team is fully remote, in-office a few days a week, or somewhere in between, there are meaningful ways to create a culture of wellbeing that works for everyone. Read on for practical, people-first ideas that don’t require a huge budget but can have a big impact.
Prevention-Focused Wellbeing Tools
Staying ahead of health issues is not only better for your team—it’s better for your business. When people have access to proactive support, they’re more likely to stay healthy, focused, and engaged.
Think mental health and resilience training, movement breaks and guidance around sleep or nutrition. Wellbeing programs like better [blank] make it easy for employees to get support when they need it, without waiting for a problem to snowball.
Flexible, Voluntary Benefits
One-size-fits-all benefits rarely fit anyone well. Giving employees options means they can choose what actually supports their lifestyle, not just what’s on offer.
These can include:
Financial wellbeing tools
Resilience training
Lifestyle extras like wellness allowances
It's a win-win; your team gets more personalised support, and you get to keep costs under control.
Everyday Healthy Habits
Small habits can lead to big results, especially when they’re easy to stick to. Encouraging daily wellbeing moments helps keep energy high and stress levels low.
Some ways to spark healthy habits are:
Wellbeing challenges
Healthy habit webinars and training
Online wellbeing resources like better [blank]
These kinds of initiatives don’t just boost health; they boost team morale too, no matter where your people are working from.
Digital Wellbeing Made Easy
When your team is working from different locations, wellbeing needs to be portable. A digital-first approach brings resources straight to employees, no matter the time zone or work schedule.
For example:
Team-based wellbeing challenges
On-demand wellbeing challenges
Resilience workshops
It’s wellbeing that fits around work, not the other way around.
Inclusive and Accessible Programs
Everyone’s version of wellbeing looks a little different. That’s why it’s important to offer a wide mix of content and formats, so no one’s left out.
Whether it’s a virtual nutrition talk or a casual in-person workshop, topics should cover a wide range of topics like better [blank]’s ‘8 Dimensions of Wellbeing’.
It’s all about making sure support is relevant, practical, and easy to join.
Support for Work-Life Balance
Back-to-back Zoom calls. Late-night emails. Blurred boundaries. The always-on culture is real, and it’s exhausting.
To help your team protect their time and mental health, try:
Digital detox challenges
Tools for setting work/home boundaries
Prompts to take regular breaks
Building in these supports shows your team that rest isn’t a reward—it’s part of doing good work.
Holistic Wellbeing Culture
Wellbeing isn’t just about yoga classes and fruit bowls. It’s about building a workplace where people feel safe, respected, and genuinely cared for.
That starts with leadership and trickles down:
Normalise conversations about mental health
Encourage open communication
Celebrate small wins and team efforts
When wellbeing becomes part of your culture, not just a checkbox, it creates a lasting impact.
Extending Wellbeing to Families
When work affects home life and vice versa, it makes sense to support the whole picture. Extending wellbeing programs to include family members can ease stress, improve outcomes and show your team you’ve got their back.
This might include:
Resources for parents or carers
Access to health programs for dependents
Family-focused wellbeing sessions
It’s a thoughtful gesture that can boost loyalty and reduce absenteeism, too. The better [blank] program gives registered users the opportunity to invite up to 5 family / friends to participate in all aspects of the program for no additional fee!
Making Connection a Priority
Working remotely can be convenient, but it can also feel isolating if people miss out on casual chats and spontaneous moments of connection.
Simple initiatives can go a long way:
Virtual coffee catch-ups
Slack shout-outs or gratitude walls
Team challenges that encourage friendly banter
Bringing a sense of fun and belonging back into remote work helps people feel part of something, even when they’re working solo.
Creating a Healthier, Happier Workplace—Wherever Work Happens
Supporting employee wellbeing in a hybrid world doesn’t need to be expensive, time-consuming or complicated. It’s about meeting your team where they are, offering real support that fits into their day-to-day lives and building a culture that values health, balance and connection.
better [blank] is here to make that easy. Our affordable, flexible programs are built for modern teams, whether they’re in the office, working remotely or somewhere in between.
Let’s make your workplace one where people feel supported, connected and ready to thrive. Get in touch to see how we can help.
