For the first time, Gallagher's Workforce Trends Report: Workplace Wellbeing Index has analysed its trove of data to reveal the three personas that make-up every workplace, offering key insights people teams can use to better shape their people strategy.
By analysing both lifestyle and workplace data, Gallagher has been able to dissect the workforce into three distinct workplace personas or Wellbeing Workers:
Thrivers make up over 1 in 3 (34%) of employees, who consistently go the extra mile at work and are more satisfied in both their work and home lives. They are most likely to:
The majority of employees (58%) fall into the Survivors persona, those workers that are holding on for now but showing key signs of reaching their breaking point. They are most likely to:
The remaining 8% are classified as Strugglers, those employees that require immediate attention. They are most likely to:
"We wanted to provide employers with a new lens through which to look at their teams," Dr James Allen, Director, People Experience and Innovation, said.
"By identifying the three distinct Wellbeing Worker personas, we've gained deeper insight into how personal life factors and workplace conditions interact to shape each employee's experience — and how tailored support can help every worker thrive."
As the most extensive study of its kind in Australia, Gallagher's insight shows key areas employers can look towards to improve the wellbeing of their employees, regardless of the persona they fall into.
"For example nearly 20% of those in the Strugglers persona have experienced some sort of workplace violence over the last year," Allen continued. "This really highlights how important it is for employers to develop preventative safeguarding methods to keep their employees safe at work."
While it may be easy to think of those Survivors as a happy middle ground, the Gallagher data paints a different picture.
"The Survivors are showing real signs of pressure," Allen continued. "More than 1 in 3 are currently experiencing burnout, and simply put, that rate is unsustainable. If things don't change, they could just as easily slip into the Struggling persona."
Survivors are also the most likely persona to be considering or planning to make changes to improve their wellbeing, which offers a real opportunity to make a difference, Allen said.
"The stage of change in the wellbeing journey for each persona shows that proactive employers can help to strengthen and develop the wellbeing of their employees with targeted action. Employers need to be really careful that they don't wait before things are too late to help."
To read more about Wellbeing Workers and for deeper insights into how employers can help each of their employees within their people strategy, read Gallagher's 2025 Workforce Trends Report: Workplace Wellbeing Index.
