Fewer than a quarter (24%) of employers target benefits support to specific employee groups dependent on the demographic and needs of their workforce, according to research by employee benefits advisory firm Towergate Employee Benefits.
Its survey of 500 UK HR decision makers also found that the 24% of employer respondents that do target benefits based on requirements said they consider factors including age, lifestyle and risk. The latter includes the risk of an employee developing particular health conditions, such as diabetes.
In addition, 35% of respondents offer the same benefits to all employees regardless of their seniority, and 36% offer the same benefits regardless of gender.
The report also highlighted that offering the same support to all staff is not necessarily the best approach, and that tailoring benefits to suit a workforce’s demographic is important in meeting employees’ specific needs. In addition, it is imperative to offer the right level of benefits to attract and retain employees, while those who provide benefits by gender are likely to ensure they are more appropriate to actual need.
Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Employee Benefits, says: “The health and wellbeing benefits available for the workplace are as diverse as the needs of each workforce. For employers to achieve the most from their spend, the more targeted the support, the better. Benefits that are targeted by demographic and by requirement will make the most significant difference to the wellbeing of the employees and of the organisation.
“When an employee can see that the support offered is really relevant to them, they are more likely to notice it, engage with it, and utilise it, so employers will achieve more value from the benefits provided.”
