The provision of health schemes is growing within UK companies, according to a report from PruHealth, yet employee engagement is still too low.
The Workplace Health Report has found 89% of larger firms in the UK and 33% of SMEs offer health incentives for their employees. Firms believe health initiatives can help increase staff morale, improve productivity and reduce absenteeism as a ‘halo' effect of a healthier workforce. Over half (51%) of larger firms and 38% of SMEs experience a drop in absenteeism on introducing wellbeing initiatives.
Almost 90% of larger companies offer health benefits to their workforce, while only a third of SMEs offer health initiatives to staff. However, a further third feel the culture of the company and the small numbers encourage employees to live healthier lifestyles, negating the necessity for organised programmes.
However, the report also identifies a distinct lack of awareness of these health-related initiatives among employees in larger organizations, as 29% of large firm employees think their company does not offer any health or wellbeing initiatives, but only 3% of larger firm employers actually confirm this to be the case.
Shaun Matisonn, CEO of PruHealth said: "The provision of these programmes and investment in employee health are no longer peripheral issues, they are core concerns.
"Having now built this momentum, companies must be careful not to throw money away on poorly executed health and wellness strategies. It is all very well having these programmes in place, but employee engagement must be actively and continuously encouraged."
