Employee wellbeing is a hot topic at the moment and there’s a good reason why. Employees are a crucial component in the success of almost any organisation and it is, therefore, essential to look after their wellbeing.
But employee wellbeing doesn’t just refer to your workforce’s physical health. It also encompasses mental, social, and financial factors. And employee wellbeing isn’t confined to the office either; employers should be looking to support employee wellbeing within their working and personal lives.
Employee wellbeing holds a significant role in shaping the overall employee experience, thereby affecting aspects like performance, absence, and retention. So, supporting wellbeing doesn’t just make a positive difference to individual employees, it is advantageous for businesses too.
In this article, we will discuss a variety of employee health benefits, explaining how each can support employee wellbeing.
Private health cover
Around 31% of working-age people in the UK report having a physical health condition. However, many people struggle to book a GP appointment when they need one or have had medical treatment delayed. This can lead to, symptoms worsening, a deterioration in physical health and individuals feeling worried or stressed about their condition.
Providing employees with private health coverage means they can access healthcare when needed, giving them all-important peace of mind. Timely investigations and treatment can improve an employee’s physical and mental health, therefore improving their wellbeing.
Cancer support
The lifetime risk of someone getting cancer is 50%. and of those living with cancer, around 36% of those are of working age. 85% of individuals in employment when diagnosed feel it is important for them to continue working.
This is why providing employees with comprehensive cancer support is imperative in supporting their wellbeing. Bespoke advice for those living with cancer can help them navigate the physical and emotional toll of their diagnosis. Cancer support can also help anyone else who has been affected by cancer, including family, friends and colleagues.
Stop smoking resources
More than 6 million people in England smoke and smoking was attributed to approximately 16% of deaths in the UK in 2016. What’s more, smoking costs businesses around £8.6 billion per year in lost productivity.
Businesses can support employee wellbeing by signposting them to relevant resources and local and national quit-smoking initiatives, such as the NHS Quit Smoking app. For further support, employers could also incorporate covering quitting aids, such as nicotine patches and gum, into their employee benefits package.
Menstruation and menopause leave
Two-thirds of working people who menstruate have never taken time off for period pain even though 40% say they routinely get pain that is so bad it impacts their ability to work. Conditions such as endometriosis, which affects 1.5 million people, can make periods even more debilitating and cause pain throughout the entire menstrual cycle. This can take a significant toll on a person’s physical and mental health.
What’s more, those experiencing menopause can face a range of symptoms including irregular bleeding, mood changes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, and hot flushes. These symptoms can be uncomfortable, worrying, and embarrassing. Employers can support the wellbeing of individuals who are menstruating or navigating menopause by accommodating flexible working arrangements, offering paid time off and providing access to resources and/or specialists.
Mental health support
Nearly 1 in 7 people experience mental health problems in the workplace and research indicates that more than 12% of sickness absence days taken in the UK can be attributed to mental health conditions. This is why employee health benefits that specifically support mental health are so important to employee wellbeing.
Mental health employee benefits can take many forms. For example, employers can implement an employee assistance programme that gives staff access to counselling and other talking therapies. Apps and resources are also valuable as many of these can be utilised by employees via a smartphone, on-demand, and in the comfort of their own homes. Employers can even offer paid time off for mental health through the allocation of mental health days or unlimited sick leave.
Family-forming benefits
1 in 7 heterosexual couples has trouble conceiving, and non-heterosexual couples and individuals who want to become parents often face additional barriers when trying to access treatment. Infertility and hardships in expanding their families can significantly impact employees’ physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, which in turn can affect their work performance.
Employers, therefore, can support employee wellbeing by providing family-forming benefits. These can include egg/sperm freezing, adoption support, surrogacy and fertility treatments such as IVF.
