Employee wellbeing has risen to the top of many companies’ agendas as the impact of work related stress, illness and mental health issues is better understood. We surveyed working adults from across the UK to find out what they think, and how they think the problem could be solved.
Feeling the strain
Wellbeing is an issue that is not being tackled by the NHS, which is under more pressure than ever before, and 70% of those surveyed believe it doesn’t have the budget to be able to offer these services.
It’s a burden taken on in part by employers, but employees still don’t feel it’s enough. 86% believe firms are not doing enough to help them deal with work-related mental health issues.
Presenteeism, where employees are at work in body but unable to work to their full capacity, is an issue that is having a significant impact on the UK economy. In a recent report, Deloitte found that presenteeism could be more detrimental to productivity than absenteeism and costs the UK between £16.8bn – £26.4bn per year.
A possible solution
In an effort to relieve the pressure, our survey found 75% of adults believe some of their National Insurance payments should be redirected to employee wellbeing programs. A government-backed auto-enrolment scheme, similar to the move on pensions, is one example of how the long-term financial needs of the NHS could be addressed.
David Capper, Commerical Director at Westfield Health, said “With the financial pressures of a growing and ageing population, alongside rising public expectations of the level of care they receive, the NHS is under greater strain than ever before. And, with the cost of presenteeism being so vast for UK businesses, doesn’t it make sense for employers to relieve some of the pressure though wellbeing initiatives?”
“From sleep to nutrition and mental health to physical fitness, there are so many elements that contribute to your overall wellness, happiness and healthiness. It’s more than free fruit in the office and discounted gym memberships. As business leaders, we need to create a culture where our people’s health and wellbeing is prioritised to drive confidence, capability, inspiration and ultimately prosperity.”
We’ve pulled the most interesting stats from the survey together in this infographic:
For more information about workplace health and wellbeing, please call 03331 227343 or visit westfieldhealth.com/business.