Westfield Health, an international wellness provider, has released a new report that reveals UK employees face increasing mental and physical challenges. These are exacerbated by the lack of workplace support and rising costs of living.
Based on the responses of over 2,000 employees, these findings highlight an increasing gap between what workers need and what employers offer.
Pressure on workers as mental health declines
Mental health issues are on the rise, with almost 3 out of 10 (30%) employees reporting that their mental well-being has declined over the last year. Although 27% of employees have seen improvements in their mental health, the situation is still alarming for most.
Almost three quarters (74%) are also concerned about the rising cost of living, which adds pressure to a workforce already under stress. Burnout, financial concerns, and stress have all been identified as contributing factors to a worsening of mental health.
The productivity has also been affected. 45% of employees said their mental health affected their work over the last 12 months. This contributed to an increase in mental illness absences that will cost UK employers PS19.5billion in 2023.
Business wellbeing falls short
In spite of the increasing need for support, more than one-fourth (27%) of employees do not have access to workplace resources that support wellbeing. And when they are available, these resources are rarely used. Unbelievable, 60% of employees with access to wellness programs never use them.
Evidence shows that healthy and happy employees are more productive. Vicky Walker is the Group Director for People at Westfield Health. She says, “We urge employers to invest into people’s wellbeing and to communicate clearly to employees what support they can receive.”
The report also found, that although employees in SMEs were less likely to access wellbeing programs than their larger counterparts, they were more likely to take advantage of them when they became available.
42% of respondents said that they had never been asked to provide feedback about their actual needs. It’s important to collect feedback from employees and data in order to identify trends and needs. Vicky Walker advises that regular feedback is essential to accurately measure the success and effectiveness of your workplace wellness strategy.
What employees really want from workplace support
Businesses could face massive costs if 40% of their employees are considering a change in jobs within the next 12 months. This can amount to up to PS38,3 billion (for large companies) and PS47.1 for SME’s. Businesses need to offer the right benefits in order to retain their talent.
Nearly four in ten (39%) workers would like to have access to private healthcare insurance. 29% are more interested in the benefit of a 24/7 GP service, while 24 % would enjoy mental health days. As well as health check-ups, access to counselling and gym memberships (20%) are also valued benefits.
The ability to work flexible hours is also a priority when employees are choosing their next employer. It’s not surprising that almost one in four employees fear they will be forced to spend more time at the office.
Vicky Walker Group Director for People shares her final judgment on the findings.
“Offering free or heavily subsidised health care not only saves employers money, but also encourages workers to take preventative measures to ensure their well-being . In the end, reducing absence rates will boost productivity for businesses.”
The data shows that employees are suffering and employers need to be proactive in addressing the health and well-being of their workers. Companies must act immediately. Add comprehensive support to employee benefit packages, such as mental health training, EAPs or health cash plans, and ensure clear communication about them.
“The cost of inaction–financially and in terms of employee health–will continue to rise unless more robust support systems are implemented.”
The original HR News article Employee Health in Crisis: New Research Reveals Growing Disconnect in Worker’s Wellbeing Support appeared first on .
