Many workers feel their employer is falling short on preventative health support, according to new research that reveals a large gap between staff experience and what organisations believe they provide.
The findings point to low consultation, limited access to meaningful benefits and a sense among employees that current provision does not meet their needs.
Affordable healthcare provider Benenden Health, which offers a membership based healthcare service for individuals and businesses, has released a Preventative Health in the Workplace Report. The research, conducted by pollster Opinium, surveyed 500 business decision makers and 2,000 employees across the UK.
The report shows that while 86 percent of employers believed their workforce was engaged with the preventative health benefits on offer, only 18 percent of employees recalled ever being asked for their views. Just 36 percent of workers described their health provision as good and six in ten said it was only average or poor.
Employees Want More Meaningful Support
The research indicates strong demand for preventative health benefits that address specific needs. Condition specific health screening was viewed as the most valuable perk by 84 percent of employees. Nearly three quarters wanted better guidance to recognise early signs of poor mental health and 73 percent said access to health coaches would make a difference.
In contrast, the most common form of preventative support currently offered is discounted gym membership. Forty four percent of employees said they had no preventative health benefits at all.
Preventative health in the workplace involves giving staff opportunities to take practical steps to maintain their wellbeing, such as timely access to medical advice, relevant resources and support for healthier routines during the working week. The report suggests that many organisations have not yet moved beyond traditional gym related perks to the kinds of targeted interventions employees now expect.
Barriers Remain But Evidence of Impact Is Strong
Employers said they faced obstacles in offering a wider range of preventative services. Costs were cited by 55 percent, competing priorities by 33 percent and 21 percent expressed concern about the impact of such benefits. Yet among employers already offering preventative health support, 94 percent reported a positive effect on employee satisfaction.
Benenden Health’s chief people officer, Mike Hay, said organisations recognised the value of preventative health although many workers still did not experience the support they needed. “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,” he said.
He added that strong employee appetite for better support created an opportunity for employers. “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.”
Hay said that healthier staff contributed positively to business outcomes and that organisations should look to remove barriers to action. “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.”
Closing the Gap
For employers looking to improve staff wellbeing, the findings suggest that stronger consultation and more varied health support could have an immediate effect. Many workers are calling for guidance on early mental health concerns, options for health screening and access to health coaching. Managers may therefore need to focus less on single perk offerings and more on integrated wellbeing support that reflects staff expectations.
The report also shows that employees place value on early intervention. Resources that help workers address issues before they escalate may offer a route to better wellbeing and higher satisfaction. With nearly half of employees reporting that they currently have no preventative benefits, the potential gains appear significant.
Consultation also emerges as an important theme. With only 18 percent of employees recalling that they had been asked about their preventative health needs, organisations may need to invest more time in listening to staff and understanding what would be most beneficial. More open dialogue could help reduce the perception gap identified in the research.
A Growing Priority For Workplace Wellbeing
As interest in wellbeing continues to rise across the UK workforce, preventative health looks set to play a larger role in organisational people strategies. The data indicates that employee expectations are evolving and that many want support that is both practical and tailored. Employers that adapt may see greater engagement and satisfaction among their staff.
The research also suggests that preventative health should not be treated as a fringe addition to existing wellbeing programmes. For many workers, early support for mental and physical health is a central expectation. The findings could therefore prompt organisations to reassess current provision and consider a more structured approach.
The report includes guidance for employers on how to develop preventative health measures and build stronger wellbeing cultures. While barriers remain, the evidence from employers already offering such benefits suggests that investment in preventative health may lead to tangible gains for both staff and organisations.