Why the Way We Think About Employee Wellbeing Is Holding Us Back
- Written by Renee Thornton, CEO of Rehab Management
Workplace wellbeing has finally reached the mainstream. It’s no longer seen as a ‘nice to have’ or an afterthought—it’s a core business issue. But despite this shift, too many organisations are still approaching it with outdated tools and reactive thinking. In a time when burnout, disengagement and staff turnover are on the rise, businesses need more than token wellness days or generic EAP posters in the lunchroom. They need a strategy.
At Rehab Management, we’ve spent nearly three decades helping workplaces navigate the complex terrain of injury prevention, recovery, and employee support. What we’ve learned is this: a piecemeal approach doesn’t cut it. We need to start supporting people across their whole working life—before something goes wrong, not just after.
That’s why we’ve reimagined our approach. Our new segmentation model is designed to meet employees where they are—whether that’s at the hiring stage, during a critical life event, or when they’re ready to return after injury or illness. This isn’t about ticking a compliance box. It’s about creating resilient, engaged, and high-performing workforces through timely, targeted support.
Our five-part model reflects this whole-of-journey thinking:
Hire Right: Make smart, informed recruitment decisions by ensuring candidates can meet the physical and psychological demands of the role.
Act Early: Don’t wait until someone is off sick. Early intervention—through risk assessments, health checks, EAPs and ergonomic reviews—can prevent small issues from becoming big ones.
Empower Workplaces: We help build internal capability with training, critical incident response and Manager Assist Coaching, so organisations can respond effectively and supportively in real time.
Support Recovery: Our evidence-based rehab and return-to-work programs are personalised and practical, helping people rebuild confidence and return to meaningful work.
Transition Forward: Whether someone is facing long-term change after injury, illness, or a restructure, we offer the tools and support to help them find their next step.
We’ve also launched Senda Psychology, our dedicated mental health division, in response to the growing need for psychological support in the workplace. With new psychosocial hazard legislation now in force, the risks of getting mental health wrong—or ignoring it altogether—are too high to overlook.
There’s no silver bullet for workplace wellbeing. But we know that when employers take a proactive, human-centred approach, they don’t just reduce risk—they build cultures where people thrive.
In a tight labour market, that’s not just good ethics. It’s smart business.
Renee Thornton is the CEO of Rehab Management, one of Australia’s leading workplace rehabilitation and health providers.
