WeWork goes all in on wellbeing

Flexible office giant, WeWork, has announced a global commitment to pursue the WELL Coworking Rating, partnering with the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) and The Instant Group, in a landmark move set to raise the bar for health, wellbeing and workplace experience across the flex sector. Here’s the full rundown…

The rollout is set to cover over 300 WeWork locations across five continents - around half of its global portfolio - marking the largest workplace wellbeing commitment ever made by a coworking operator.

At the heart of the initiative is the WELL Coworking Rating - a framework developed by IWBI in collaboration with The Instant Group to accommodate flexible workspace operators in creating healthier, higher-performing environments.

Built on the globally recognised WELL Building Standard, the rating assesses more than 50 evidence-based features spanning everything from air and water quality to lighting, thermal comfort, movement and nutrition, giving operators a clear blueprint for delivering a more consistent, transparent working experience.

Over the course of the next three years, the flex operator will implement the WELL Coworking Rating across hundreds of locations worldwide, with the initiative set to enhance the workplace experience for more than 550,000 members each year.

The move forms part of WeWork's broader strategy to deliver healthier, more adaptable workspaces across its portfolio, spanning everything from coworking memberships and private offices to full-floor headquarters and fully managed workspace solutions.

Ebbie Wisecarver, Chief Design and Product Officer at WeWork, said: “Today’s workers want an exceptional workplace environment, and well-being is a key part of that experience. Pursuing the WELL Coworking Rating across our portfolio underscores that commitment to our members, embedding health and wellness into the spaces they use every day. We are showcasing to the entire commercial real estate sector that workplace well-being is a fundamental priority.”

Rachel Hodgdon, IWBI president and Chief Executive Officer, said: “As flexible work continues to evolve, coworking spaces play an increasingly important role in supporting the health, well-being, productivity and connection of workers around the world. By enrolling many of its global locations in pursuit of the WELL Coworking Rating, WeWork is helping redefine what excellence looks like in the coworking sector."

She continued: "This commitment sends a powerful signal to the market that people deserve spaces designed not only for flexibility and convenience, but also for human health and performance. WeWork’s leadership is elevating expectations across the industry and positively impacting the experience of people using flexible workspaces at a global scale.”

Meanwhile, Sam Pickering, Managing Director at Incendium Consulting (Part of the Instant Group), commented: “Across our global client portfolio, we are seeing a clear shift in occupier priorities, with health, wellbeing and workplace performance becoming increasingly important factors in workspace selection and portfolio decision-making.

He elaborated: "As organisations place greater emphasis on employee experience, talent attraction and productivity outcomes, there is growing demand for independently verified standards that demonstrate the quality and impact of workplace environments. The WELL Coworking Rating provides operators with a robust framework to meet these expectations, differentiate their offer and support the continued maturation of the flexible workspace sector.”

With more than 600 locations spanning 45 million sq ft globally and a community of over 500,000 members, WeWork's commitment has the potential to reshape expectations around workplace wellbeing and push the industry forward.

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