Employers are most likely to offer support for social health and wellbeing, according to research by Towergate Health and Protection.
The health and wellbeing firm asked 500 UK employers of all sizes and in all industries what health and wellbeing support they thought was most important to their staff and what they actually provide.
More than half (56%) of respondents provide social wellbeing support, but only 33% ranked it highest in terms of importance to their employees.
Furthermore, 54% offer mental health and wellbeing support, 42% provide financial health and wellbeing assistance and 41% offer physical health and wellbeing aid. Just under two-thirds (60%) employers ranked mental health and wellbeing as being most important to employees, while 56% thought financial health and wellbeing was key to its workforce.
The research also found that employers are not aligning the provision of support with employee requirements due to their perception of what is easier and cheaper to provide, basing provision on assumptions rather than facts or data, a lack of awareness of what is available, and being overwhelmed by the possibilities.
Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Health and Wellbeing, said: “There is an anomaly here with provision of support not tallying with what employers believe is most wanted by their staff. What is particularly interesting to note is that this is a mismatch between what employers think staff want and what those same employers are offering. It is important to consider why this might be.”
“Support for social health and wellbeing is the most common provision. It is important, however, that support is offered based on where it is most needed, and not just so that the wellbeing box can be ticked. It is important to have a good balance in supporting all four pillars of wellbeing.”