Rethinking Employee Health & Wellbeing

Covid has caused employers to rethink their approach to employee health and wellbeing, and it’s time we all re-evaluated…

Back in November, I provided an insight into what employers need to be looking at when it comes to employee benefits in the face of the Covid pandemic. More recently, I wrote about how staff are reappraising the value of the employee benefits they get due to Covid-19.

The bottom line is the Covid pandemic has triggered significant change in the workplace, especially in terms of employee benefits and the perceived value they hold to staff. As is to be expected, one aspect that is gaining increasing attention as a result of the pandemic is employee health and wellbeing, with many employers re-evaluating their approach to this crucial area.

Indeed, new research shows that a significant proportion of employers are changing their approach to health and wellbeing because of the pandemic. 

According to a survey by Unum, over four-fifths (86%) of employers are changing their approach to employee health and wellbeing due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

Vast majority of employers say employees need to feel more protected

Unum’s research, which is to be presented next month in a report that is expected to be titled, Employee Benefits and the Value of Help, found that the vast majority (95%) of employers said that the pandemic has impacted their need to make employees feel more protected.

The poll of 350 UK employers and 1,000 employees also found that 72% of employers believe that their motivation for introducing health and wellbeing measures is based on a need to care for and protect employees.

Other key findings of the research include:

• Many businesses are focussing on prevention rather than cure, with almost half (47%) offering preventative wellbeing measures.
• Two-thirds (68%) of employers said investment in health and wellbeing has grown in importance over the past two years.

Finally, two-fifths (40%) of employer respondents say they have placed more value on staff being fit since the Covid-19 pandemic, while 38% of respondents say that the pandemic has triggered a review of their health and wellbeing strategies. Only 4% have made no changes at all. More than four in 10 (42%) employers have introduced new procedures to increase remote working.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Glenn Thompson, customer solutions director of Unum UK, said: “Whether it’s from individuals, communities, or businesses, 2020 has brought the value of help and support to the front of all our minds. Employers are being challenged like never before, while employees are likely to need even more help, and our latest research gives a clearer understanding of how both groups value different kinds of support.”

Time to re-evaluate?

As I have mentioned in previous posts, the impact of Covid-19 has led more employers than ever to re-evaluate how best they can support their employees in these challenging times. If you would like to speak to one of our experienced team to review your existing arrangements to ensure they are fit for purpose, please contact us at Premier Choice Healthcare.