More than half of UK companies now use health and wellbeing benefits to help prevent staff absence, according to new research, in a shift away from traditional “treatment-first” models of employee care.
The study, by advisory firm Towergate Employee Benefits, found that 59% of employers are now taking a proactive approach to health at work by offering benefits that aim to keep employees well in the first place, rather than relying solely on support after illness or injury.
The head of group risk at Towergate, David Williams, said the approach was not just better for staff but made clear business sense. “There is now a lot more additional preventative care within employee benefits,” he said. “Preventative support works, and employee benefits providers know that preventing illness is cheaper than treating illness.”
Absence Still a Challenge for Many
Despite the growing focus on prevention, absence rates continue to cause issues for many employers, with 23% of businesses reporting that they struggle with staff absences. The challenge appears to scale with company size. Among small firms with 2–20 employees, 16% said absence rates caused problems, rising to 22% for mid-sized firms and 36% among businesses with more than 250 employees.
In the past, private healthcare was often seen as a reward for senior staff, designed to shorten waiting times for treatment. But as the Towergate research shows, companies are now looking for wider, more inclusive benefits that can actively improve workforce health and reduce the risk of absence altogether.
Preventative support includes tools such as health screenings, virtual GP access, lifestyle coaching, discounted gym memberships, fitness trackers, nutrition advice and smoking cessation support. Many of these services are built into products like private medical insurance or income protection schemes.
“With so many possibilities available for preventative health, and the list ever-changing and growing, it’s important that employers take time to discover the options and take advice if needed, to ensure they incorporate the right support for their staff demographic,” said Williams.
While prevention is clearly a growing priority, almost half of employers also use health and wellbeing benefits to support returns to work. According to the research, 46% of companies said they use these benefits to help staff come back sooner after illness, highlighting the dual purpose of such support in both prevention and recovery.
Tailoring Support to Workforce Needs
Williams said the growing range of options meant there was now a solution available for every size and type of business.
“Preventative care brings advantages to every size of business. The health and wellbeing industry recognises the importance of preventative healthcare so is making developments all the time, and options are available that will provide solutions for all employers and their employees.”
The research, conducted by polling firm Opinium among 500 UK HR decision-makers, shows that forward-looking employers are increasingly aligning their benefit strategies with wellbeing goals, not just to reduce absence but to build more resilient and productive teams.