Press release 7 October 2025.
Nearly nine out of ten (88%) employers say they offer preventative support for their staff – i.e. support aimed at detecting and averting health and wellbeing issues – according to research from GRiD1, the industry body for the group risk sector. Of those employers who offer preventative measures, mental health support is considered the most beneficial – compared to preventative support for financial, physical and social wellbeing.
Preventative support that most benefits staff
- 43% of organisations that offer preventative support for mental health find it the most helpful type of support for staff. This can include initiatives to help staff manage stress and mental health, including EAPs and access to counselling
- 39% of organisations that offer preventative support for physical health find it the most helpful type of support for staff. This can include initiatives to encourage better health behaviours to mitigate against illness
- 27% of organisations that offer preventative support for financial health find it the most helpful type of support for staff. This can include financial planning and debt consolidation
- 27% of organisations that offer support for social health find it the most helpful type of support for staff. This can include organising social events, or supporting voluntary work
While nearly all (97%) large corporates with over 250 employees now offer some sort of preventative support, this drops to just over three-quarters (76%) for micro-employers (who employ fewer than 10 staff). There is a similar disparity when analysing the provision of preventative support for mental health conditions: 71% of large corporates offer this compared to 38% of micro-employers.
In the same research, employees lamented the lack of support for their health and wellbeing from the government, with nearly half (48%) agreeing that a lack of preventative support from the government affects them and their colleagues.
Prevention is the direction of travel
GRiD reflects that prevention is now the direction of travel for many organisations and bodies: both the government and the NHS are focussing more efforts in this area for a number of reasons, including to counteract the UK’s significant long-term sickness absence issue. Employers can and should continue their efforts in this area too. Not only is this a win-win-win for the employee, themselves, and the UK’s economy as a whole but, even when government provision is in place, there is a lot of ground to be gained before the gap between demand and supply is closed, particularly in the field of mental health.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD said: “There’s so much preventative support available for employers and employees via employee benefits and this is increasingly included within group risk benefits (employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness). Employers who help build mental resilience, champion a healthy lifestyle, and support their staff in health screening and medical assessments will see their absence levels reduced, and minimise presenteeism. Furthermore, they will see reduced costs due to fewer claims.
“When prevention is embedded into the company culture it can have quite astounding results.”
- 1. Employer research was undertaken by Opinium from 7-15 January 2025 among 500 HR decision makers from UK companies. Employee research was undertaken by Opinium from 7-10 January 2025 among 1,250 employed adults, aged 18+.
For further information please contact:
Sharon Mason
SMUK Marketing and PR
Mob: 07747 611773
Land: 01252 843350
smason@smuk.org.uk
Katharine Moxham
Spokesperson for GRiD
Mob: 07887 512508
Katharine.moxham@grouprisk.org.uk
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 developed 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