- Six in 10 workers rate their employer’s health benefits as only ‘average’ or ‘poor’
- 77% of employers feel they’ve consulted staff on preventative health benefits – but just 18% of employees agree
- Employers offering preventative health benefits report a 94% uplift in employee satisfaction levels
Affordable healthcare provider, Benenden Health, has today released its Preventative Health in the Workplace Report, revealing a stark perception gap between what businesses believe they’re offering in terms of preventative health support and what employees actually experience. The Report reveals clear, simple actions managers can take to bridge this gap and help their employees proactively engage with their health.
The survey of 500 UK business decision-makers and 2,000 employees, finds that while 86% of employers believe their workforce is engaged with their preventative health benefits, fewer than one in five (18%) employees recall ever being consulted about them.
This disconnect extends into quality and delivery: just 36% of employees describe their workplace health provision as ‘good’, while 60% rate it only as ‘average’ or ‘poor’.
In the workplace, preventative health means supporting employees to take proactive steps to protect and enhance their health and wellbeing, before issues arise – from encouraging timely medical advice, to offering wellbeing resources – and support healthy habits during the working week.
Demand of preventative health benefits outstrips supply
The report highlights a mismatch between what employees want and what employers provide:
- 84% of employees would find condition-specific health screening the most beneficial perk
- 74% want better guidance to spot early signs of poor mental health
- 73% would value access to health coaches
Yet, the most common benefit currently offered remains a discounted gym membership, and 44% of employees reporting that no preventative health benefits are available to them at all.
Employers face barriers but benefits are clear
Employers cite costs (55%), competing priorities (33%) and doubts about impact (21%) as the main challenges in introducing preventative health measures for staff.
However, the evidence is compelling: 94% of employers who already provide preventative health benefits say they have been a positive impact on employee satisfaction.
Mike Hay, Chief People Officer at Benenden Health, comments:
“Our research shows that while businesses increasingly recognise the importance of supporting employee preventative health, many employees still aren’t seeing or feeling the benefits. The encouraging news is that demand is high. When employers provide meaningful support, they can empower staff to adopt healthier habits, resulting in significant gains in satisfaction, engagement and wellbeing.
Despite competing priorities, healthier employees are better for business, contributing to increased productivity and reduced absence. We want to help organisations overcome barriers to introducing these benefits and bridge the perception gap so that preventative health becomes a core part of workplace culture, not an afterthought.”
The full Preventative Health in the Workplace Report, including practical guidance for HR and business leaders, is available to download here: Preventative health in the workplace
