Three quarters of people (74 percent) think employers have a responsibility to support employee mental health and 59 percent think they should also support physical health, according to YouGov research in collaboration with insurer YuLife.
The research, with 2,100 adults in February 2024, found that 83 percent think improved mental health would boost employee productivity, while 81 percent say the same for physical health.
However, only 36 percent think their current employer gives them a great deal or a fair amount of support for their health, while a similar proportion (35 percent) say they receive little or no support.
The findings come as three-quarters of UK adults told the survey that healthcare standards have deteriorated over their lifetimes, while 59 percent think standards have worsened over the past year alone.
“Businesses can and must play a key role in encouraging and incentivising their employees to adopt healthier habits,” said Sammy Rubin, CEO and Founder, YuLife.
“Employers that invest in their employees’ mental and physical health reap rewards in the form of improved productivity and increased engagement and loyalty – a win-win for individuals, businesses, and society.
“With advances in technology now enabling businesses to analyse data and track which wellbeing initiatives are most effective for their employees, the time is ripe for every employer – large or small – to make a difference in getting the nation’s health back on track.”
Just over one in 10 people think that the healthcare system in the UK prioritises preventative healthcare over reactive healthcare. And 85 percent of people say that they ‘only’ or ‘usually’ use the healthcare system when they have an issue that needs addressing.
Rubin said: “Many common medical conditions can be prevented by making simple and accessible lifestyle changes, like walking more or taking a few minutes to meditate every day. Healthcare in the UK needs to adopt a more proactive and preventative mindset in order to rectify many of the issues that affect our physical and mental health, impair our productivity, and damage our society.”
Demand for private health insurance is rising, however, the vast majority of people (84 percent) do not have it. Within this group, 60 percent say that the main reason is that they cannot afford it, while 19 percent say that they prefer to use the NHS. Two-thirds (66 percent) of people who don’t have private health insurance because they can’t afford it would be likely to take out a policy if they had the money. And a fifth (22 percent) say providing private health insurance is one of the most important actions an employer can take to support employee health and wellbeing.
