January 27, 2026

Wellness Works Ep2: Wellbeing Begins with Leadership

45 minutes

Workplace wellbeing is often talked about as an HR initiative – but without leadership ownership, even the best programmes struggle to succeed. In this second episode of the Wellness Works mini-series on The HR Room Podcast, Dave and Laura are joined by special guest Stacey Machesney, Head of Health & Wellbeing at Irish Life, to explore why leadership is the true foundation of sustainable workplace wellbeing.

Together, they discuss why wellbeing cannot sit with HR alone, the dangers of box‑ticking, and how leadership behaviour, culture and work design shape the real employee experience. They examine the ethical, legal and business risks of getting wellbeing wrong, the growing impact of mental health claims, and the modern challenges leaders now face – from hybrid work and loneliness to neurodiversity and inclusion.

From practical guidance on influencing senior leaders to the importance of empathy, training and role‑modelling healthy behaviours, this episode offers clear insights for HR professionals and leaders who want to move beyond surface‑level initiatives and build workplaces where people can truly thrive.

Guests

• Laura Barry – Head of People Development, Insight HR

• Stacey Machesney – Head of Health & Wellbeing, Irish Life

Topics include:

• Why leadership ownership is essential for effective workplace wellbeing

• The risks of leaving wellbeing with HR alone

• Box‑ticking and the limits of one‑off initiatives

• Leadership behaviour, culture and work design as drivers of wellbeing

• Ethical and legal responsibilities around psychological health and safety

• The business cost of poor mental health, burnout and presenteeism

• Equipping leaders with the skills and confidence to support their teams

• Neurodiversity, inclusion and the future of workplace supports

• Hybrid work, loneliness and rebuilding social connection at work

• How HR can build a strong business case for wellbeing with senior leaders

Resources and Links

- Wellness Works Webinar: Designing a Wellbeing Programme That Works

- Irish Life's Health of the Nation Report 2025

Get in touch

If you’re not already following us on LinkedIn, please do. If you have suggestions for future episodes, or if you’d like to join us as a guest, reach out to Dave Corkery at [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn.

If today’s episode has you thinking about leadership and wellbeing in your organisation – whether you’re starting from scratch or strengthening an existing approach – you can arrange a confidential consultation with Laura Barry by emailing [email protected].

About The HR Room Podcast

The HR Room Podcast is brought to you by Insight HR — where we speak with HR leaders, experts and practitioners across Ireland about the issues shaping the world of work today.

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