Health and wellbeing benefits are the most impactful component of an employee value proposition (EVP) but are underutilised by staff, according to new research from Cigna Healthcare.
The report, Harnessing health – measuring the impact of employee health and well-being benefits, surveyed employers and staff in the UK, US, Hong Kong, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and found that for employers, employee wellbeing is a top priority in their organisation and the benefits produce tangible advantages.
However the survey found a disconnect between employer intentions and employees’ perspectives: just 57% of employees said that their employer proactively supports their health and wellbeing and 58% of employers said that their health benefits are underutilised by staff.
Two-thirds (66%) of employers said that health insurance reinforces a corporate culture that supports health, and 65% said that it plays a crucial role in attracting talent.
Almost half of respondents believe health and wellbeing benefits help to shorten working hours (48%), reduce absenteeism (47%) and improve employee productivity (47%).
Jason Sadler, president, international health, Cigna Healthcare, said: “Our survey results show that health and wellbeing benefits drive workplace performance, help attract and retain talent, and are critical in keeping employees healthy and engaged. To fully harness these positive impacts, employers should provide benefits plans that meet the needs of their workforce, while also fostering a workplace culture that encourages proactive health and wellbeing management.”
