Press release 17 September 2024.
According to research conducted by GRiD, the industry body for the group risk sector1, a majority (74%) of employers say there is a lack of support from the state for the health and wellbeing of workers in the UK.
The research also found that two thirds (66%) of employers said that being unable to access support for mental health was affecting their workers. According to employers, the other areas of health and wellbeing where a lack of state support affects staff are:
- Being unable to access support for preventative care (65%)
- Being unable to access support for physical health (62%)
- Being unable to access financial support if staff are unable to work through sickness or injury (56%)
According to GRiD, these concerns are twofold: employers care deeply about the health and wellbeing of their individual members of staff who, without adequate support, potentially face poor health outcomes which can impact their lives as a whole. In addition, increased absences and reduced productivity are very likely outcomes for a business when a workforce cannot access the health and wellbeing support they need.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said: “The UK lags behind many of the other G7 nations in terms of productivity, and both the Government and employers need to address this issue: the health and wellbeing of staff is a good place to start. Rightly or wrongly, there is a move away from state support to the onus being on the employer to fill this gap, and employers need to be ready to do so. Those who do not grasp the opportunity willingly may find themselves on the backfoot when it comes to being able to recruit and retain the best talent.”
All areas of health and wellbeing need to be supported
Mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing are inextricably linked and so employers must address all four areas when selecting support for their staff. The breadth and depth of support must also be considered, so that not only does it support the health of employees during or after an illness or injury but critically, it should also offer preventative support to reduce the incidence of health and wellbeing issues in the first place.
Access to talking therapies, virtual GPs, second medical opinion services, health apps, and rewards for leading a healthy lifestyle, can all help an employee stay in work. Vocational rehabilitation support which draws on a wide range of assessments, interventions and services provided by a range of specialist healthcare professionals should also be embedded to support an individual whilst away from work and during a return to the workplace.
As well as supporting employees, support should also be available for HR teams and line managers, and can include HR and legal helplines as well as help with mediation.
Employee benefits, such as employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness – collectively known as group risk benefits – offer a powerful solution that encompasses all such support, and need to be considered by employers.
Katharine Moxham concluded: “Changes in governments, policies, the economy, and state provision, mean that the expectation for managing absence and rehabilitation is increasingly falling to employers. Providing comprehensive support to staff needn’t be a burden if employers choose their employee benefits partners wisely. However, fresh fruit on Fridays will no longer cut it for businesses that do not want to see productivity levels drop.”
- Ends –
1.
The research was undertaken by Opinium from 9-16 January 2024 among 500 HR decision-makers at UK businesses and amongst 1,210 employees from 9-12 January 2024.
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 sector, promoting the value to UK businesses of providing financial protection for their staff, enhancing their well-being and improving employee engagement. Our membership includes insurers, reinsurers, intermediaries and those operating in (or with other interests in) the UK group risk market. Together this forms a collective wealth of experience built over many years. Under the chairmanship of Colin Fitzgerald (Distribution Director – Group Protection, L&G Retail) 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
