Looking after your employee’s health is an essential part of being an employer. But there’s more to it than providing adequate sick leave and comfortable, safe working conditions. The goal is to support employees to thrive through supporting their physical, mental and financial health.
Employee health benefits are rapidly becoming more important and popular. While not compulsory, they can have a direct impact on productivity, morale and retention.
Here we share everything you need to know about employee health benefits, including how they affect business performance and how to choose the best initiatives for your workforce.
What are employee health benefits?
Employee health benefits are a selection of offerings provided by an employer to their workers that care for their health and wellbeing. These non-monetary perks are offered on top of an employee’s wages, with common examples including subsidised gym memberships, private health care, wellness programmes and dental cover.
Providing health benefits is extremely beneficial to the whole organisation and can make an employer more desirable to work for while improving business performance.
Types of employee health benefits
There are three main types of employee health benefits. Each area is equally important and contributes to an employee’s overall wellbeing:
- Physical health: benefits that support employees with medical conditions or illnesses, and promote physical wellbeing, such as gym memberships, health cover and support to stop smoking.
- Mental health: programmes that support an employee’s mental wellbeing and emotional health, including paid leave, counselling, stress management and support groups.
- Financial health: initiatives that support an employee’s financial situation, including education around investments and budgeting, discounts and vouchers, and reimbursement programmes.
Other initiatives can also indirectly support an employee’s overall health, including social events and recognition at work.
Find out more: Types of employee health and wellness programmes
What health benefits are best for your business?
Every business is unique, as are its employees. This means there are no set rules when it comes to which employee health benefits are most appropriate. Instead, companies should spend ample time researching their own workers’ needs and which benefits will make the most difference.
Find out more: How to choose the right benefits for your employees
With that said, there are certain employee health benefits that are more in demand than others. Initiatives including flexible working, mental health support and cancer support are some of the most valued benefits that contribute to improved employee wellbeing.
Find out more: The health benefits employees want most
The benefits of providing employee health programmes
Employee health and wellbeing initiatives are proven to benefit both individual workers and the business overall. When thoughtfully considered and strategically implemented, they can:
- Improve employee productivity
- Boost morale and overall engagement
- Lower stress and improve work-life balance
- Promote inclusion and diversity
- Improve employee retention
- Help to overcome health inequalities
Find out more: Why employee health and wellness benefits are important
These benefits can have a lasting impact on overall business performance. Healthier employees are less likely to take sick leave, or continue to work while physically unwell, which can significantly impact business performance. As employee health is linked to higher job satisfaction and motivation, the benefits of wellbeing programmes also directly affect profitability and result in a measurable ROI for organisations. Companies that clearly care for their employees’ wellbeing are more likely to stand out and attract better talent.
Implementing an employee health strategy
The benefits of employee health and wellness programmes are evident, but to maximise long-term results, organisations must consider an overarching employee health and wellbeing strategy. This includes various components that support and consider employee health across the business, from communication to team working and career development.
Find out more: How to create an effective employee health and wellbeing strategy
How Perci Health can help
Cancer is one of the most common health issues in the UK. More than 1 in 3 people living with cancer are of working age and 85% of those diagnosed want to continue working. It’s therefore crucial that businesses provide specific support for their employees going through this complex, challenging period of life.
Perci Health is the leading cancer support provider in the UK, helping employers to set a new standard of care for their employees affected by cancer. Through specialist cancer nurse support, access to the UK’s leading cancer experts and personalised programmes, our pioneering virtual care clinic makes an immeasurable difference to employees’ lives.
Find out more about how cancer care employee benefits can bolster your employee health strategy by talking to our team.