Skip navigation

Elevating employee wellbeing by developing a strong learning culture

A recent McKinsey report sheds light on the critical shift from addressing burnout to promoting holistic health within organizations.

A woman who is smiling, sits at a desk in the office where she works. She's on her laptop and there's a man in the background sitting behind her at a desk on a computer.A woman who is smiling, sits at a desk in the office where she works. She's on her laptop and there's a man in the background sitting behind her at a desk on a computer.

Table of contents

Insights from Ellen Raim, Founder of People MatterWe focus more on solving than preventing People problems.

Elevating employee wellbeing by developing a strong learning culture

A recent McKinsey report sheds light on the critical shift from addressing burnout to promoting holistic health within organizations. We’re highlighting the key takeaways below.

Understanding holistic employee health

The landscape of employee wellbeing has expanded beyond traditional health measures. Today, wellbeing encompasses mental, emotional and physical health, underlining the need for a comprehensive approach.

  • Holistic health includes mental, emotional and physical wellbeing.
  • Today’s employees demand more health support from their workplaces.
  • The gap between current wellbeing offerings and employee needs is widening.

Cultivating a learning culture

A strong learning culture supports employee engagement and development. High-quality learning experiences can bridge the gap between current practices and the desired state of continuous growth.

  • Traditional learning solutions often fail to meet employee expectations.
  • Companies with intentional learning cultures engage and upskill employees.
  • Live, interactive learning experiences are highly valued by employees.

Addressing the challenge of learning at scale

Implementing live learning programs at scale poses significant challenges for People leaders. Many bandwidth and budget constraints, including logistical challenges, can get in the way. Strategic live learning solutions can simplify the process of building a scaled-up learning culture.

  • Scalability is a primary concern for People teams trying to develop a learning culture.
  • Budget and resource constraints hinder the adoption of scaled, comprehensive programs.
  • Employees seek quality learning experiences that are broad, accessible and impactful.

Additional insights about holistic wellbeing programs:

  • Employee wellbeing directly influences engagement and productivity.
  • A holistic approach to wellbeing can differentiate your company as an employer of choice.
  • Continuous learning supports skill development, employee satisfaction and retention.

Here’s how People leaders can create a strong learning culture:

  • Regularly survey employees to understand their wellbeing and learning preferences.
  • Assess current wellbeing programs to identify gaps in holistic health support.
  • Foster partnerships with providers, like Electives, who work with you to understand your organization's unique needs.
  • Develop a learning strategy that incorporates holistic wellbeing and aligns with employee needs and organizational goals.
  • Leverage technology to facilitate live learning sessions without overwhelming People team resources.
  • Integrate individualized learning options like Electives Membership into your wellbeing strategy.
  • Introduce regular "health and learning" check-ins or updates within the organization.
  • Celebrate and share success stories of employees who benefit from your wellbeing and learning programs.

Learn live. Adapt faster.

Latest resources

Learn more about creating a culture of learning throughout our resources below.

People developing people: Bullhorn’s playbook for learning culture in the age of AI
 
Nov 6, 2025

People developing people: Bullhorn’s playbook for learning culture in the age of AI

Kristina Bell, Senior Director of Talent Management at Bullhorn, shares how she’s building a sustainable learning culture, leading with trust and helping people grow in the age of AI.
People leader interviews
How Asmara Silverman at Philo built a culture of growth and connection with Electives Membership
Electives team
 
Nov 5, 2025

How Asmara Silverman at Philo built a culture of growth and connection with Electives Membership

Electives helped Philo make learning easy to scale and hard to ignore, with 95% of learners reporting behavior change.
Case studies
Fixing the feedback vacuum: Why most peer feedback fails and what actually works
Electives team
 
Nov 4, 2025

Fixing the feedback vacuum: Why most peer feedback fails and what actually works

Struggling to make peer feedback useful? Discover why most systems fail—and how expert-led, real-time practice builds a feedback culture that sticks.
Communication skills
Workplace holidays to celebrate in December
Electives team
 
Nov 1, 2025

Workplace holidays to celebrate in December

Month-long celebrations in December, workplace holidays in December and our holiday calendar download.
Culture + collaboration
Hyper-personalized learning is here. Are you ready?
Electives team
 
Oct 29, 2025

Hyper-personalized learning is here. Are you ready?

Today’s employees want growth on their terms. Here's how to deliver high-impact, personalized learning—without a big team or budget.
Learning best practices
Manager burnout is the new silent risk
Electives team
 
Oct 28, 2025

Manager burnout is the new silent risk

Managers are burning out—fast. Here's what HR needs to know to support and future-proof middle managers into 2026.
Leadership + management

View all posts

ENJOYABLE. EASY. EFFECTIVE.

Learning that works.

With live learning + AI simulations, Electives is a learning platform that makes it easy to design, execute and measure effectiveness.

Request a demo

Request a demo

Learn more

Learn more