For Workplaces · Inspired by PERMA(H)
Supercharging lives. Energising teams. Strengthening workplaces.
Backed by science. Confidential results. Immediately actionable. The PERMA+ Wellbeing Survey turns the latest research on flourishing into a confidential, repeatable measurement that gives leaders the signal — and the next action — they need.
268,986
Evaluations Completed
In association with The Wellbeing Lab · The Good Foundry · Action for Impact
01 · The case
Why invest in wellbeing?
In its simplest form, wellbeing is our ability to feel good and function effectively. Studies consistently show that when people experience higher wellbeing, both they and the organisations around them perform measurably better.
When people have higher wellbeing they are:
6×
more likely to feel engaged
29%
more likely to be productive
45%
more likely to be satisfied in their job
46%
less likely to experience unhealthy days
125%
less likely to burn out
Workplaces that invest in wellbeing experience, on average:
70%
fewer safety incidents
3.5×
more likely to be seen as creative and innovative
10%
higher customer ratings
10%
higher above-average shareholder return
Source: The Wellbeing Lab, Australian Workplace Report.
02 · The honest bit
Why caring for wellbeing is hard
Most workplace wellbeing measures and programs won’t tell you caring for wellbeing is challenging. We will. Three things that quietly undermine even the most well-intentioned programs:
Chasing perfect scores is unrealistic and unhealthy.
It is healthy for people’s levels of wellbeing to ebb and flow as they navigate the inevitable ups and downs of work and life. Rather than chasing ever-higher levels of wellbeing, your goal should be helping your people improve their ability, motivation, and sense of psychological safety to actively and mindfully care for their wellbeing — even during times of challenge.
How are you measuring success?
Stress and struggle are not signs people are breaking or broken.
Feelings of struggle and stress don’t have to undermine people’s performance — if they know how to respond to these signs as opportunities for learning, growth, and resilience. Normalising struggle frees people to talk more openly and honestly about the wellbeing challenges they’re facing, and to improve their ability, motivation, and psychological safety.
What messages are you sending about struggle?
Caring for wellbeing is not a solo adventure.
Wellbeing beliefs, expectations, and behaviours spread through a complicated web of social connections at the “me”, “we”, and “us” levels. Building a thriving workplace or community environment needs informed, diverse, and sustained support to help people take tiny — but mighty — daily actions to care for their wellbeing.
Do you have a system to care for wellbeing?
03 · The framework
What does the science suggest?
What should we be measuring? Studies show that wellbeing is not a one-dimensional concept. There is not one number you can point at, or workplace dial, several factors together build a reliable picture. One way to understand, measure, and act on evidence-based approaches for caring for wellbeing is by drawing on Professor Seligman’s PERMAH Framework, which points to six factors of feeling good and functioning effectively.
P
Positive Emotions
Boost resilience by lowering stress and mindfully navigating emotions, even when overwhelmed.
E
Engagement
Improve confidence and creativity by developing people’s neurological strengths, without overplaying them.
R
Relationships
Fuel psychological safety by creating caring & stable connections, even if dealing with difficult people.
M
Meaning
Make a sustainable positive difference for others — without burning out from painful fatigue.
A
Accomplishment
Build grit and determination to keep starting and growing, so self-doubt doesn’t keep you stuck.
H
Health
Maximise energy by eating, moving, and recovering wisely, even when life feels busy.
Depending on our values and goals, different numbers and profiles are best for different people. What matters is the ability to easily gather and understand this dashboard of wellbeing data and continue learning and prioritising the next actions.
04 · The instrument
How might the survey help?
We don’t just help you measure wellbeing — that only leads to more survey fatigue. Instead, we’ve done the hard work of translating the latest science into an actionable and impactful tool.
1
Confidential, quick, and easy to use
It takes less than five minutes to complete the survey, and it can be done on a mobile phone, iPad, laptop, or computer. Most importantly, everyone’s data and results are completely confidential and for their eyes only.
2
Naturally delivers actionable wellbeing insights
Everyone immediately receives their personal results in an easy-to-read report packed with actionable insights (click here to see an individual report). Each person also receives everything they need to design their own easy-to-action wellbeing plan. No leader degree needed.
3
Does no harm
Everything — questions, results, reports, guides, and additional resources — has been designed through a strengths lens that normalises struggle and places an evidence-based wellbeing toolbox at people’s fingertips. We work with the world’s leading wellbeing researchers to continuously test the survey tool to ensure its reliability and validity.
4
Provides a systems lens to wellbeing
Done for you reports and aggregated de-identified .csv files assessing wellbeing at the “Me”, “We”, and “Us” levels for teams and workplaces are available as soon as people’s data has been gathered. There are no drawn-out delays to analyse the data.
5
Offers additional support if needed
Our survey debriefing service helps individuals, leaders, and organisations interpret their results and take action. Our ongoing coaching sessions and wellbeing training programs are available to support positive action.
05 · What it measures
What does the survey actually measure?
Survey data is only as good as the actionable insights it delivers. To provide timely and reliable wellbeing data, the PERMA+ Wellbeing Survey measures:
A
State of workplace wellbeing
Understand how and where to prioritise your wellbeing efforts and investments with this simple but powerful snapshot that shows you the levels of thriving and struggle across your teams and workplaces.
B
Workplace outcomes
Explore the impact people’s levels of wellbeing may be having on engagement, performance, and satisfaction in your workplace.
C
Wellbeing amplifiers
Evaluate the effectiveness of your efforts and investments to help care for wellbeing in your workplace, including confidence, willingness, and support.
D
Wellbeing factors, inspired by PERMA(H)
Understand the strengths of current individual (“Me”), leader and team (“We”), and workplace (“Us”) actions to care for wellbeing and identify the potential risks or gaps that need to be addressed.
E
Workplace wellbeing nutrients
Understand the strengths of your workplace culture to support people’s psychological needs for belonging, mastery, autonomy, job resources, and meaning — and identify the potential risks or gaps that need to be addressed. The top three wellbeing struggles being experienced, the biggest barriers to caring for wellbeing, the people we turn to for help, and the most valued forms of workplace wellbeing support are also available to support positive action.
06 · Compliance & care
Can the survey assess psychosocial risks?
A growing list of countries are advocating — and in some cases, such as Australia, regulating — for workplaces to measure and minimise psychosocial (mental and social) hazards related to people’s work. To help we have two optional sets of questions and done-for-you reports that workplaces can add to the PERMA+ Wellbeing Survey if needed.
Psychosocial risk assessment
- Work design — lack of role clarity, unachievable job demands, low job control, inadequate reward and recognition.
- Social support — lack of supervisor support, poor workplace relationships, bullying, harassment.
- Work experiences — poor change management, poor physical environment, isolated and remote work.
- Work conditions — poor organisational justice, violent and aggressive behaviours, traumatic events.
Frequency and effectiveness data is reported back to leaders for the teams for each hazard and the levels of psychological safety in the individual (“Me”), leader and team (“We”), and workplace (“Us”).
Our culture of safety & care
- Connection — do people feel they belong here?
- Inclusion — are differences welcomed and respected?
- Uniqueness — are people supported to bring their authentic strengths?
- Compassion, Appreciation, Responsibility, Emotional wisdom — the four practical actions that bring a culture of care to life across “Me”, “We”, and “Us”.
After all, while safety is a workplace requirement, studies continue to find that care is a business imperative.
07 · Going deeper
Do you need coaching support?
The done-for-you individual, team, and workplace reports provided by the PERMA+ Wellbeing Survey are packed with actionable insights and tiny evidence-based practices that can be immediately applied. In addition, our workplace wellbeing coaches are always available to dive a little deeper.
i
Individual wellbeing results debrief
Just for yourself, or for anyone in your team or workforce these 30-minute one-on-one coaching conversations go behind the numbers to help people prioritise what will have the most immediate impact when it comes to caring for their wellbeing. A safe space to ask any question or request further resources, this is a simple, affordable way to provide additional support.
ii
Individual coaching series
Take accountability to the next level with the series of 4 x 60-minute one-on-one coaching conversations to help set clear wellbeing goals and design tiny wellbeing habits that will be filled into even the busiest of days. Experiment, adjust, and build the confidence and motivation it takes to care for wellbeing as the world around us keeps changing.
iii
Team / workplace wellbeing results debrief
Whether it is for the whole team, your whole workplace, or just a leadership group, these 60–90 minute coaching conversations highlight the wellbeing strengths and challenges to identify the evidence-based wellbeing changes that are likely to have the biggest business impact. Engaging, educational, and energising live premise data has never been this much fun before this session is designed to help you turn insights into action.
iv
Team coaching series
Be it for leaders, teams, or wellbeing champions we provide one-on-one, triad, and group coaching to help amplify the ability to care for wellbeing across your workplace. We tailor the duration and number of coaching conversations to your context and provide quotes for you to share across your workplace as part of the coaching process.
Try it for yourself.
Visit our offerings page to explore editions, add-ons and plans — or book a call with our team to talk through what a measurement program could look like for your workplace.
