Almost half (47%) of employers reported increased productivity when their employees’ health and wellbeing is supported, according to new research by Group Risk Development (Grid).
The industry body for the group risk sector surveyed 500 HR decision makers, and found that 63% of respondents measure the impact to their business of supporting the health and wellbeing of their staff. Of those who do, 98% report that it has a positive impact on their business and 47% state that employees’ productivity increases when they know their overall health and wellbeing is supported.
Furthermore, 42% say it demonstrates to employees that the business cares about them, and that engenders loyalty and engagement, and 41% agree that supporting health and wellbeing holistically helps them manage absence, mitigating the number and length of absences and meaning quicker returns to work.
Almost two-fifths (38%) believe they are more likely to succeed financially as a business when their employees are fit and healthy, and 37% said supporting staff, including their health and wellbeing, is integral to their ethos and helps fulfil business objectives.
A third (33%) have seen a positive return on their investment and financial impact, and 32% think it helps differentiate them from their competitors and recruit and retain employees.
Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for Grid said: “Supporting the wellbeing of staff is a virtuous circle: staff are more likely to remain in the business and work more productively. This in turn means that the business is financially successful, but also seen to be having a positive impact in other areas, which in turn attracts new clients and new staff. With business purse-strings now tighter than ever, measuring the impact of supporting staff has never been more important to help HR departments retain their benefits budget and look after their people.”
Jane Hulme, HR director at Unum UK, added: “When employers genuinely support their people, the impact is clear. This leads to happier, healthier, and more productive teams, while also enabling employers to demonstrate return on investment and tailor their benefits to what employees actually need and want, both now and in the future.”
