ClosePress release 3 February 2020.
Research* from GRiD, the industry body for the group risk industry shows that 34% of employers don’t offer any support for the physical wellbeing of staff. Changes to lifestyle can reduce the risk of cancer,** so support for physical wellbeing can be an important way for employers to help their staff in terms of prevention.
Furthermore, only one in five (20%) employers offer initiatives to encourage staff to be more active to improve their health, and only 14% offer training on specific areas such as smoking-cessation, nutrition, fitness and lifestyle.
Supporting the physical wellbeing of staff is integral to full, holistic support of staff, and there are many ways that employers can do this. From encouraging lunchtime walks and standing meetings, to providing access to specialists to advise on nutrition and health.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, says, ‘The options available for employers to support the physical wellbeing of staff are constantly being developed. We’ve seen some exciting initiatives in our own industry, from access to expert health professionals to wellness apps. The health and wellbeing industry is creative and we see tangible results in the workplaces of those employers that implement them.’
Support for physical health isn’t just about treatment, but about prevention and early intervention too, and it’s important that all are considered when employers are looking at how to support staff best. Programmes can be tailored to meet the specific needs of a workforce, taking into account age, gender or particular health concerns of a workforce demographic.
Moxham concluded, ‘Cancer is a leading cause of claim*** across all group risk products: employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness, so we know just how much cancer affects employees and their companies. The financial support offered is fantastic at a time when people need it most, but it’s important that all the other support - both in terms of prevention and early intervention - are not overlooked: they play an incredibly important part in employers looking after the health and wellbeing of their staff.’
How employers look after the physical wellbeing of their staff
|
If requested, we will arrange access to professional support such as seeing a specialist
|
21% |
|
Initiatives to encourage staff to be more active and to improve their health
|
20% |
|
Discounted gym membership
|
18% |
|
We have insurance in place to provide support, such as seeing a specialist (this might include private medical insurance or employer-sponsored income protection)
|
18% |
|
We fund private healthcare treatment if necessary
|
17% |
|
Training on specific areas such as smoking-cessation, nutrition, fitness, lifestyle
|
14% |
|
Access to apps/technology to monitor and improve health and fitness
|
11% |
|
We provide free or discounted healthy eating
|
11% |
|
Cash plans
|
9% |
|
We don’t offer support for the physical wellbeing of staff |
34%
|
-Ends-
*Research undertaken by Opinium on behalf of GRiD amongst 500 HR Decision makers between 4-18 March 2019.
***GRiD 2019 Claims Survey
For further information please contact:
Sharon Mason
SMUK Marketing and PR
smason@smuk.org.uk
Mob: 07747 611773
Land: 01252 843350
Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
Mob: 07887 512508
Notes for editors
About GRiD
Group Risk Development (GRiD) is the industry body for the group risk protection sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their wellbeing and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries who have a collective wealth of experience built over years of operating in the group risk protection market. Under the chairmanship of Steve Bridger (MD Group Protection, Corporate, Aviva UK Insurance) GRiD aims to promote group risk through a collective voice to Government, policymakers, stakeholders and employers.
GRiD works with government departments and regulators involved in legislation and regulation affecting group risk benefits, and with other organisations involved in the benefits and financial protection arenas. GRiD also seeks to enhance the industry's standing by encouraging best practice and by participating in industry-wide initiatives such as the professional qualification in group risk managed jointly with the Chartered Insurance Institute.
GRiD’s media activity aims to generate a wider awareness and understanding of group risk products and their benefits for employers and employees.
GRiD's dedicated spokesperson, Katharine Moxham, provides expert media comment on a full range of group risk issues.
Follow Katharine Moxham on Twitter @KMoxham
