Changing Workplace Leads to Employees Feeling Less Valued
ANDOVER, England, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --
Nearly one in five UK employees feel their workplace has changed in the past year and their employer now cares less about their health and wellbeing, according to research by healthcare provider Simplyhealth. Increased workloads, failure of employers to manage absence effectively and greater stringency around time off for medical appointments are cited as the main reasons. The public sector is feeling the greater strain as 26% feel their employer cares less, compared to 13% in the private sector.
Simplyhealth's engaging employees through health and wellbeing report, surveyed Managing Directors, Finance Directors and HR Directors, alongside employees, to assess the impact that health and wellbeing has on employee engagement. It found that more than a third of employees felt health and wellbeing was most important at work, ahead of career progression opportunities. It also increases their loyalty, as three quarters of those who felt their employer cares about wellbeing describe themselves as very loyal. In turn, one in ten employees have left an organisation where they didn't feel their employer cared about their health and wellbeing.
James Glover, Sales and Marketing Director, Employer, comments: "Health and wellbeing is highly valued by employees and a key driver in their level of job satisfaction, loyalty and motivation. If employers fail to recognise this, they could lose talented staff when the job market starts to recover. Simplyhealth can help companies implement an effective wellbeing strategy that caters for their employees' physical and emotional health. The results can improve morale, boost productivity, reduce sickness absence and aid retention."
More than a third of employers (36%) feel they're doing their best in difficult economic times and actually care more about employee health and wellbeing. Yet, only 11% of employees believe this to be the case. Government cuts are having an impact on health and wellbeing as more than a quarter of public sector employers (27%) state they care less about it.
Nick Kemsley Co Director of the Centre for HR Excellence at the Henley Business School says: "Volume of work and a change in the way that employers are managing health and wellbeing issues appear to be impacting employees' views. As structures become ever leaner, and expensive external recruitment is deferred, employees have more work to do. A rebalancing by employers from financial to non financial vehicles for supporting health and wellbeing could be behind this difference in views."
Simplyhealth provides cash plans, dental plans, self funded health plans and private medical insurance to companies, individuals and families. For further information about Simplyhealth please visit http://www.simplyhealth.co.uk/forbusiness or call +44-(0)845-075-0063.
Notes to Editor
- We surveyed 1,005 workers, 504 Managing Directors, Human Resources Directors, Divisional and Company Directors and 204 Finance Directors between 27 April and 3 May 2011 using an online fieldwork Methodology
- We became Simplyhealth in 2009 after bringing together HSA, BCWA, LHF, HealthSure and Totally Active, our family of health companies have joined together over the last nine years to form Simplyhealth
- We've been providing healthcare solutions for nearly 140 years, dedicated to serving our customers through a variety of cash plans, dental plans, private medical insurance, healthcare trusts and mobility and living aids
- Simplyhealth is a trading name of Simplyhealth Access, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority
- As of December 2010, Simplyhealth had 1.2 million customers providing cover for some 2 million lives
- Simplyhealth is committed to making a positive impact on its communities. Last year, we donated GBP1.6 million to health related charities and causes
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