best employee wellness programs: Top picks for 2025

In a post-pandemic UK, the link between employee wellbeing and business success has never been clearer. Yet, for many HR leaders, the challenge is immense. Faced with rising employee expectations, increasing burnout, and a national dental crisis causing millions of lost workdays, traditional benefits packages are proving insufficient. Investing in the health of your team is no longer a perk; it's a strategic necessity for productivity and retention. A holistic approach that covers mental health, fitness, and often-overlooked areas like dental care is now the benchmark for a competitive benefits package.

This guide is designed to help you navigate the complex market of the best employee wellness programs available to UK businesses. We've moved beyond generic advice to provide a detailed breakdown of seven leading platforms, from on-demand dental care providers like Toothfairy to comprehensive mental health support and fitness networks. For each programme, you will find a clear analysis of its key features, benefits, and practical implementation details, complete with screenshots and direct links to help you make an informed decision. Understanding the impact of these initiatives is vital, and learning how to effectively measure employee satisfaction is crucial for demonstrating ROI and refining your approach. This list will equip you to choose a solution that genuinely supports your employees and strengthens your business.

1. Toothfairy

Best for Comprehensive Dental Wellness

Toothfairy stands out as a premier choice for businesses seeking to integrate dental care into their employee wellness programmes. This UK-based, dentist-founded digital platform brings clinically supervised, on-demand dentistry directly to your employees' phones. It represents a significant evolution in how dental care is accessed, moving beyond traditional insurance models to provide immediate, tangible support that can directly impact employee health and reduce absenteeism.

As the UK’s first health-regulated dental app, Toothfairy combines patented technology with a network of real, qualified dentists. This powerful blend allows it to deliver a robust service that addresses the most common reasons for dental-related work absences: emergencies, cosmetic treatments, and teeth straightening.

Standout Features and Business Applications

The platform’s strength lies in its practical, high-impact features, making it one of the best employee wellness programs for tackling oral health head-on.

• 24/7 Emergency Access: Employees can connect with a qualified dentist via secure video consultation any time, day or night. This immediate triage for issues like toothache or dental trauma allows for prompt advice, e-prescriptions sent to a local pharmacy, and efficient referral to an in-person clinic if necessary, minimising downtime and distress.

• Remotely Monitored Cosmetic and Straightening Treatments: Toothfairy provides a smarter, more affordable way to access cosmetic dental work. This includes dentist-prescribed teeth whitening and clear aligner therapy for straightening teeth, offering an intelligent alternative to specific aligner brands. The entire process is supervised by a registered dentist, ensuring clinical safety and professional oversight without the need for frequent in-person appointments.

• Proactive Oral Health Support: The app uses smart AI to help triage issues and provides a hub for ongoing dental advice. This encourages a proactive approach to oral health, helping employees manage their wellbeing before minor issues become major problems requiring time off work.

Why It Excels as a Wellness Benefit

Toothfairy directly addresses a critical gap in many corporate wellness strategies. Dental problems are a leading cause of sickness absence, and by providing a simple, accessible solution, employers can demonstrate a clear commitment to their team's health. The service is designed for easy implementation, with bespoke business plans available to suit different company sizes and needs. While complex procedures still require a physical visit, Toothfairy's virtual-first model handles a vast range of common dental needs efficiently.

To get started, businesses can book a discovery call to design a custom plan. Individuals can download the app to see specific service pricing and options.

Pros:

• Round-the-clock access to UK-qualified dentists for emergency advice.
• Clinically safe, dentist-supervised cosmetic treatments (aligners and whitening).
• Reduces employee absence by providing immediate dental triage and care.

Cons:

• Pricing is not listed on the website; requires contacting the company or using the app.
• Not a replacement for in-person visits for surgical or complex procedures.

Website: https://www.toothfairyapp.co.uk

2. Wellhub (formerly Gympass)

Wellhub, the platform formerly known as Gympass, offers a comprehensive corporate wellbeing network that gives employees flexible access to a vast range of health and wellness resources. It stands out as one of the best employee wellness programs by bundling physical fitness, mental health, and nutritional support into a single, user-friendly subscription model. Employers can roll out the programme company-wide, empowering their teams to proactively manage their wellbeing.

The platform’s strength lies in its extensive partner network, which includes thousands of gyms, fitness studios, and digital apps. This variety ensures high adoption rates, as employees can find activities that genuinely appeal to them, from yoga and HIIT classes to guided meditations and therapy sessions. The model is particularly effective for distributed teams, providing equitable access to wellness resources regardless of location.

Key Features and Implementation

Wellhub simplifies the process for both employers and employees. The company purchases an annual corporate subscription, with pricing provided through a custom quote. A key benefit is the rapid implementation, with most programmes launching in under 30 days.

• Employee-Led Choice: Staff select their own monthly plan, with transparent UK pricing ranging from a free digital-only tier to the comprehensive £199.99/month Diamond plan. This autonomy increases engagement.
• Flexible Subscriptions: Employees can pause, cancel, or upgrade their plans at any time, adapting the service to their changing needs and budgets.
• Holistic Partner Network: Access includes in-person gyms, plus digital apps for mindfulness (Calm), nutrition (MyFitnessPal), sleep, and therapy.

Practical Tip: To maximise ROI, HR managers should actively promote the diverse range of digital apps included in even the lower-cost tiers. Highlighting therapy, nutrition, and sleep resources can engage employees who may not be interested in traditional gym memberships.

While corporate pricing requires a direct quote, the clear, tiered structure for employees makes Wellhub an attractive and scalable solution for UK businesses aiming to build a resilient and healthy workforce.

Website: https://wellhub.com/en-uk/

3. Vitality (Vitality at Work)

Vitality offers a unique, insurance-led approach to corporate wellness, making it one of the best employee wellness programs for UK businesses seeking an integrated solution. It combines comprehensive private medical insurance with a rewards-driven platform designed to encourage healthier habits. This model directly links proactive health management with tangible benefits, creating a compelling case for employee engagement and long-term behavioural change.

The platform's core strength is its ability to incentivise positive lifestyle choices. Employees earn points for activities like walking, regular exercise, and completing health checks, which can be redeemed for rewards like cinema tickets, coffee, and discounts on tech and travel. For employers, this translates into a healthier, more productive workforce with demonstrable data on engagement and risk reduction.

Key Features and Implementation

Vitality provides a structured framework for businesses, combining insurance coverage with engagement tools. While a bespoke quote is standard, the company publishes example pricing to help with initial budgeting. A key advantage is the ‘Vitality at Work’ option, which allows employers to extend certain preventative benefits to staff who are not covered by the main insurance policy.

• Integrated Insurance and Wellness: A single solution that provides private medical care alongside a programme that actively encourages preventative health measures.
• Rewards-Driven Engagement: Employees are motivated by tangible rewards, which drives higher and more sustained participation in wellness activities.
• Workplace Insights: Employers receive anonymised data and analytics to track programme effectiveness, identify health risks, and measure the impact on sickness absence.
• Flexible Benefit Extension: The ‘Vitality at Work’ add-on allows companies to offer valuable services like online GP access and talking therapies to their entire workforce, not just insured members.

Practical Tip: Leverage the configurable team challenges and client manager support to drive internal competition and camaraderie. Organising department-wide step challenges or health campaigns can significantly boost engagement and reinforce a company culture centred on wellbeing.

By tying health insurance directly to proactive wellness behaviours, Vitality presents a powerful, end-to-end solution for UK companies focused on reducing absenteeism and fostering a resilient workforce.

Website: https://www.vitality.co.uk/business/health-insurance/corporate/

4. Unmind

Unmind is a clinically backed workplace mental health platform that positions itself as one of the best employee wellness programs by focusing exclusively on proactive and preventative mental wellbeing. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of digital tools, assessments, and resources developed by clinicians and academics. It empowers organisations to embed mental health support directly into their company culture, helping employees build resilience and manage challenges like stress and anxiety.

The platform’s credibility, particularly within the UK, is a significant differentiator. Its evidence-informed approach and partnerships, including long-running access programmes with the NHS, demonstrate a commitment to quality and efficacy. Unmind provides a safe, confidential space for employees to measure and manage their mental health through structured programmes, guided exercises, and in-the-moment support, making it a robust solution for businesses prioritising psychological safety.

Key Features and Implementation

Unmind is designed for enterprise-level deployment, offering dedicated support to ensure a successful rollout and sustained employee engagement. The company provides a custom quote based on the organisation’s size and needs. While its primary focus is mental wellbeing, its specialist approach ensures a depth of content that is hard to match.

• Scientifically Backed Content: Offers structured programmes and assessments covering seven key areas of wellbeing, including sleep, focus, and calmness.
• In-the-Moment Support: Provides a library of short, practical exercises for immediate relief from stress, low mood, or focus challenges.
• Employer Analytics: Delivers aggregated, anonymised data and insights on workforce wellbeing, helping HR leaders identify trends and measure the impact of their strategy.
• Proven UK Adoption: Has demonstrated strong credibility and adoption through its extensive work with UK organisations, including NHS trusts.

Practical Tip: Leverage Unmind’s reporting dashboard to identify company-wide wellbeing trends. If data suggests high levels of stress, use this insight to launch targeted internal campaigns that guide employees towards Unmind's specific stress-management courses and tools.

While pricing is available upon request, Unmind’s strong clinical foundation and specialised focus make it a powerful partner for UK companies dedicated to building a mentally healthy and resilient workforce. For a holistic programme, it can be effectively paired with providers covering physical and financial wellbeing.

Website: https://unmind.com/

5. Peppy

Peppy offers a highly specialised enterprise health app focused on delivering expert support during critical life stages that are often underserved by traditional benefits. It has cemented its place as one of the best employee wellness programs by providing direct, confidential access to human experts for issues like menopause, fertility, parental support, and men’s health. The platform empowers employees to navigate significant health journeys with professional, personalised guidance.

The platform’s core strength is its high-touch clinical model, which goes beyond generic digital content to offer one-to-one consultations with specialist practitioners. This approach is particularly effective for sensitive and complex health matters, providing a safe space for employees to seek advice. By addressing these specific needs, employers can significantly improve employee retention, boost productivity, and demonstrate a meaningful commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Key Features and Implementation

Peppy is designed for seamless integration into a company’s existing benefits ecosystem, with the employer funding access for their staff. Pricing is quote-based, depending on the number of employees and the specific health verticals selected. Implementation is focused on driving awareness and engagement from the outset.

• Expert Consultations: Employees can book 40-minute video consultations with specialist clinicians, such as fertility experts, menopause practitioners, and mental health professionals.
• On-Demand Support: Private chat functionality provides direct access to health experts for quick questions, alongside a rich library of on-demand resources and structured courses.
• Live Virtual Events: Weekly events and webinars led by clinicians offer group support and education on key health topics, fostering a sense of community.
• Targeted Programmes: The service is structured around key verticals: Menopause, Fertility, Baby & Early Parenthood, and Men’s Health.

Practical Tip: To maximise impact, pair Peppy with your broader wellbeing strategy. Promote its specialist services during relevant awareness months (e.g., Menopause Awareness Month) and ensure line managers are trained to signpost employees to this confidential resource during life-stage conversations.

While Peppy’s scope is narrower than all-in-one wellness suites, its deep expertise in underserved areas provides an invaluable layer of support that drives tangible business outcomes and fosters a truly inclusive workplace culture.

Website: https://peppy.health/

6. YuLife

YuLife transforms traditional group insurance into an engaging daily wellness tool, making it one of the best employee wellness programs for businesses seeking to merge protection with proactive health initiatives. The platform ingeniously bundles essential insurance products like life, income protection, and dental cover with a gamified mobile app that rewards employees for healthy behaviours. This unique model encourages staff to actively participate in their own wellbeing every day.

The core of YuLife’s appeal is its reward system. Employees earn ‘YuCoin’ for simple activities like walking, meditating, or completing mindfulness challenges within the app. These coins can then be redeemed for real-world rewards from popular brands in the YuStore, creating a powerful incentive loop. By combining financial security with tangible, everyday benefits, YuLife effectively boosts employee engagement and builds a positive culture around health.

Key Features and Implementation

YuLife simplifies vendor management by offering a single, integrated solution for insurance and wellbeing. Pricing is customised based on the specific group insurance policies and cover levels chosen by the employer, requiring a direct quote. Implementation involves setting up the insurance policies and rolling out the app to employees.

• Gamified Wellbeing App: An intuitive app encourages daily healthy habits through challenges, leaderboards, and progress tracking, fostering a sense of fun and community.
• YuCoin Rewards System: Employees earn a digital currency for completing wellbeing activities, which can be spent in the YuStore on vouchers for well-known brands.
• Integrated Insurance: Provides core financial protection with Group Life, Income Protection, Dental, and Health insurance, all managed through one provider.
• Engagement Dashboards: HR teams get access to real-time, anonymised data on employee engagement, helping them measure the programme's impact and ROI.

Practical Tip: Leverage the platform’s challenges and leaderboards to run company-wide wellness competitions. Offering small additional prizes for the most engaged teams or individuals can significantly boost participation and foster healthy, friendly competition.

By connecting insurance protection directly to positive lifestyle choices, YuLife offers a compelling and modern approach to employee benefits. Its gamified experience makes wellbeing accessible and enjoyable for the entire workforce.

Website: https://www.yulife.com/

7. Heka

Heka offers a refreshing, allowance-based approach to corporate wellbeing, making it one of the best employee wellness programs for businesses seeking flexibility and high engagement. Instead of a one-size-fits-all subscription, employers allocate a monthly wellbeing allowance, which employees can spend on a curated marketplace of thousands of health and wellness experiences across the UK. This model empowers staff to choose support that is genuinely meaningful to them.

The platform’s strength lies in its vast and diverse range of options, covering everything from gym memberships and online fitness classes to mental health coaching, nutritional advice, and even specialised support for fertility and menopause. This breadth ensures that every employee, regardless of their interests or life stage, can find valuable resources. The marketplace model is particularly effective for promoting inclusivity and ensuring the benefit is utilised by a wider cross-section of the workforce.

Key Features and Implementation

Heka provides a straightforward and transparent pricing model, making it highly accessible for SMEs and mid-market companies. Implementation is typically quick, allowing businesses to launch their programme efficiently. Employers pay a monthly platform fee and then set the wellbeing allowance amount for their team.

• Employee-Led Allowance: Each employee receives a monthly budget to spend on the Heka marketplace, giving them complete control over their wellbeing journey.
• Transparent Pricing: The platform fee starts from a clear £5 per person per month, plus the employer-funded allowance, making budgeting predictable.
• Centralised Benefits Hub: Companies can display their existing benefits within the Heka platform, creating a single, easy-to-access hub for all employee perks and support.
• Admin and Analytics Dashboard: HR teams gain access to a dashboard providing insights into usage, popular categories, and the overall ROI of the programme.

Practical Tip: To enhance the perceived value, encourage employees to explore categories beyond traditional fitness. Promote unique offerings like life coaching, financial wellbeing seminars, or creative workshops to demonstrate the truly holistic nature of the benefit and engage different employee demographics.

While some employees might need to top up their allowance for higher-cost experiences, Heka’s model of choice and personalisation drives strong, sustainable engagement, positioning it as a dynamic solution for modern UK businesses.

Website: https://www.hekahappy.com/

Comparison of 7 Employee Wellness Programs

Building Your High-Impact Wellness Strategy Starts Here

Navigating the landscape of employee wellness can feel overwhelming, but as we've explored, the modern workplace offers an incredible array of solutions designed to support every facet of your team's health. From comprehensive dental care and fitness access to mental health support and personalised perks, the journey to a healthier, more engaged workforce begins with a single, deliberate step. The key takeaway is clear: there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The best employee wellness programs are not those with the most features, but those that genuinely align with your unique company culture, budget, and, most importantly, the specific needs of your people.

Moving beyond a tick-box approach to benefits is crucial. An active wellness strategy proactively addresses the real-world challenges your employees face, such as the often-overlooked impact of dental pain on productivity or the need for flexible mental health support. Integrating modern, accessible solutions like digital dental care isn't just a perk; it's a strategic tool to reduce absenteeism and demonstrate a genuine commitment to employee wellbeing.

Recapping the Top Wellness Platforms

To help you crystallise your thoughts, here’s a quick summary of the standout programmes we covered and what makes each of them a strong contender:

• Toothfairy: Best for tackling dental absence, boosting productivity, and offering a highly-valued, modern health perk.
• Wellhub (formerly Gympass): Best for companies with a diverse, geographically spread workforce seeking flexible physical fitness options.
• Vitality: Best for organisations aiming to foster long-term healthy habits through a reward-based, holistic health ecosystem.
• Unmind: Best for businesses prioritising a preventative, organisation-wide approach to mental and psychological wellbeing.
• Peppy: Best for supporting employees through major life transitions, such as parenthood, menopause, and men's health.
• YuLife: Best for gamifying wellness and creating a fun, engaging culture around health, life insurance, and wellbeing.
• Heka: Best for empowering employees with ultimate choice and personalisation in their wellness spending.

Your Action Plan for Implementation

Feeling inspired? It's time to translate that inspiration into action. A high-impact wellness strategy is built on data and clear objectives, not guesswork.

Follow these three steps to get started:

1. Survey Your Team: The first and most critical step is to listen. Use anonymous surveys or focus groups to understand what your employees truly need and want. Are they struggling with stress, seeking better work-life balance, or concerned about accessing healthcare like dental appointments?
2. Define Your Goals and Budget: What do you want to achieve? Your primary goal could be reducing sick days, improving employee retention, or simply boosting team morale. Once your objectives are clear, establish a realistic budget that reflects the value you place on your team's health.
3. Shortlist and Schedule Demos: Armed with employee feedback and clear goals, use this guide to select two or three providers that seem like the best fit. Book demonstrations to see the platforms in action and ask targeted questions about implementation, engagement, and reporting.

Investing in your team’s wellbeing is the single most important investment your business can make in its future. It cultivates a healthier, more resilient, and deeply engaged workforce ready to drive your organisation forward.

Ready to tackle one of the biggest hidden causes of absenteeism and presenteeism? Learn how Toothfairy can provide your team with instant access to dentists, orthodontists, and cosmetic treatments, making it one of the most impactful and affordable additions to the best employee wellness programs. Discover our corporate plans today.