Why true well-being at work means addressing stress, not just handing out stress balls.
We have entered an era where employee well-being is not a luxury, it's a survival skill. While many organizations still associate workplace wellness with gym memberships or snack bars, employees are struggling in deeper, quieter ways.
As a counselling psychologist working with individuals across diverse sectors, I have seen a recurring pattern: burnout, self-doubt, and a growing sense of “I am not good enough!” These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of systemic issues like unhealthy leadership, lack of support, and unrealistic work demands.
A Real-Life Glimpse: When the Workplace feels like a battlefield
One client, a product manager working in a fast-paced corporate environment, shared feeling persistently 'unable to deliver' at work, citing lack of focus, speed, and ability to perform under pressure. The client mentioned:
“No one ever taught me the seriousness of depth of things. I panic and fail to execute. I constantly feel excluded and disconnected.”
This case mirrors many others who suffer in silence, appearing competent on the outside while struggling with internal pressure and burnout.
Another client, working in a sales role in the banking sector, came in reporting severe burnout. They shared “feeling overwhelmed by constant pressure and lack of empathy from their manager, along with some personal challenges that made coping even harder”. A few months later, during a follow-up, there was a notable shift as the client shared that things had improved significantly after a new manager with a more empathetic and understanding approach took over. This change in leadership had a direct and positive impact on their mental well-being and work experience.
These stories are not rare, they are reflections of how leadership and culture shape not just performance, but a person’s ability to function and feel whole at work.
It’s not just the amount of work that’s the problem. It’s also the environment people are in, how they were raised, and the heavy pressure of feeling like they are not meeting, let alone exceeding expectations. Many workplace cultures tend to value performance above all else, often overlooking individual potential and personal circumstances.
To truly support employee well-being, companies need to move beyond surface-level perks like yoga sessions or meditation apps. These are helpful but don’t address deeper issues. Real wellness comes from building a supportive culture, where managers lead with empathy, one-on-one check-ins happen regularly, and people feel safe to make mistakes and ask for help. The focus should shift from just offering benefits to making employees feel valued and understood.
Organizations must also recognize the hidden stress employees carry, shaped by their background and life experiences. Support should be both personal and leadership-driven, through access to mental health professionals and by creating safe spaces where leaders actively listen, engage, and foster open dialogue. More than perks, emotional safety is what helps people stay engaged and do their best work.
Redefining performance is key, many people struggle not because they lack skill, but because they're in high-pressure environments that value speed over learning. It’s time to reward growth, not just output.
Lastly, leadership matters most. When managers lack empathy, micromanage, or give unclear directions, it damages well-being. Training leaders in emotional intelligence, communication, and active listening can create workplaces where people don’t just cope, they ‘thrive’.
In today’s fast-paced world, true wellness is not built on perks, it’s built on purpose. When organizations start focusing on ‘how people feel’, not just what they do, they unlock real engagement and lasting performance. By creating emotionally safe spaces, offering personalized support, and training leaders to lead with empathy, workplaces can become places where people don’t just work to survive, but grow to thrive. Real wellness starts when we shift from checking boxes to truly caring.
About the Author
Ketki Shetty is a Counselling Psychologist, Executive Coach, and HR Consultant with over a decade of cross-functional experience in individual transformation and organizational development. As the founder of Heartle, she offers one-on-one counselling and wellness programs that help individuals manage stress, build emotional resilience, and navigate workplace challenges with confidence. Drawing from her extensive background in HR and people strategy, Ketki integrates psychological insight with practical business acumen, helping individuals thrive and organizations build human-centric, future-ready cultures.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ketkipshetty/
Website: https://www.heartle.in