A recent survey of 1,146 adults in the UK, conducted by Cignpost, the leading health and diagnostics company, reveals that UK employers are failing to meet staff expectations when it comes to supporting their health.
According to the research, 58 per cent of Brits want employers to take greater responsibility for their health, amid a cost of living crisis and following an increase in long-term health issues after the coronavirus pandemic.
Many companies continue to offer traditional health benefits, however, 41 per cent of employees would like them to offer comprehensive health tests and screenings in order to ensure they are able keep track of their health proactively. Alongside employees wanting greater support from their employers, the survey revealed that over 4 in 10 people do not use any health benefits because they are not provided to them.
Further analysis has highlighted that economic inactivity due to long-term sickness is at a record high in the UK and the NHS backlog has passed 7 million for the first time. Alongside increasing health inequalities, the survey revealed an increasing desire amongst the UK workforce for businesses to step in and support them in leading a healthier lifestyle in 2023 and beyond.
Abigal Comber, chief marketing officer at Cignpost, said: “The pandemic has placed a long-overdue focus on people’s health and wellbeing with employee’s expecting more from their employers in supporting their healthcare. It is in the best interest of all to invest in corporate health and wellbeing packages as this will increase staff retention and boost productivity while easing pressure on the NHS.
For some businesses this might mean reminding employees of the health benefits available to them, and for others it might mean bolstering packages to include preventative healthcare, such as diagnostic screenings to allow for greater visibility about wellness as well as the chance to identify health concerns early.”
Cignpost, the company behind the survey, is an expert in health diagnostics and screening and have been instrumental in keeping workspaces and businesses working safely since the start of the pandemic.
