From Perks to Purpose: Building True Wellbeing
- Feb 2
- 3 min read
You’ve seen it before. A workplace that seems to tick every wellbeing box: flexible hours, yoga Wednesdays, free snacks. On the surface, it looks inspiring. Yet something doesn't quite feel right. Meetings are quiet. No one really says what they think. Decisions are announced, not discussed. Over time, people stop offering ideas, stop challenging assumptions, and simply keep going (or start leaving!).
Eventually, it becomes clear what's missing. It isn't the perks. It’s not the yoga, the snacks, or the flexi hours. It’s whether people feel safe to speak up, be honest, and whether they feel genuinely supported in their work that makes all the difference.
When Safety Slips, So Does Wellbeing — and Engagement
Research backs this up. Harvard professor Amy Edmondson helped define and popularise the concept of psychological safety — the shared belief that it's safe to take risks, admit mistakes, ask questions, or challenge ideas. When that sense of safety fades, stress starts to build — and engagement drifts along with it.
A 2022 Gallup study showed that employees who strongly agree they feel supported by their manager are 70% less likely to experience burnout and twice as likely to be engaged at work. It's not because their jobs are easier — it's because they trust that if things get tough, they'll be backed, not blamed.
So while companies often chase wellbeing and engagement with programs and perks, what people really crave is psychological breathing room.
The Perk Paradox
Many companies pour time and money into wellbeing programs, thinking that perks like flexible hours, free snacks, or yoga classes will solve stress. It's understandable — we all want something tangible to point to. But research shows these initiatives only work if the underlying culture is healthy.
Without trust and safety, perks feel superficial — and employees often feel worse because they highlight the gap between “what’s offered” and “what’s actually safe.”
In other words, you can’t buy wellbeing — at least not in any lasting way. You can create it through the environment people experience every day.
Culture Isn't Cushy — It's Protective
Culture often gets confused with being "nice". But psychological safety isn't about being soft; it's about being solid. It's built when leaders do small things consistently: listening without defensiveness, sharing their own challenges, asking questions before making judgements.
Those moments teach people something powerful: it's okay to be human here.
When that happens, wellbeing and engagement naturally rise together. People stop guarding themselves and start contributing more freely. They collaborate, problem-solve, and share ideas that move things forward. The work doesn't get easier — but it gets lighter, more connected, and more meaningful.
What Actually Moves the Needle
If you’re serious about wellbeing, it's worth looking beyond the quick fixes. Ask:
Do people feel safe to say when they’re struggling?
Do they feel heard — not just surveyed?
Do managers know how to have real, caring conversations?
Because those are the questions that separate workplaces that look supportive from those that feel it.
Wellbeing isn't something you offer on top of work — it's something people experience through work. And it starts not with perks, but with trust.
The Takeaway
Wellbeing doesn’t come from adding more perks - it comes from removing fear. When people feel safe, supported, and trusted, their energy shifts from protecting themselves to doing great work.
That’s when engagement lifts — not because people are told to care, but because they genuinely do.
So before launching the next wellness initiative, check the foundations. Because real wellbeing isn't built in a yoga class — it's built in everyday interactions.
We’re Dear Team, and we’re all about helping workplaces thrive.
Through engagement surveys, culture checks, and 360° leadership reviews, we uncover what really matters at work — and help you do something meaningful with it. If you’re ready to build a culture where people flourish, get in touch - we’d love to help.
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