COVID-19 causing cultural shift in approach to employee health and wellbeing

Research launched by Unum, employee benefits provider, has revealed that 86% of UK employers surveyed are changing their approach to employee health and wellbeing in light of the current pandemic. Almost all employers surveyed (95%) say it has impacted their need to make people feel more protected, with many focusing their health and wellbeing strategies on preventative measures, like mental health advice and support.
woman walking on pathway during daytime

Research* has found 86% of UK employers surveyed are changing their approach to employee health and wellbeing in light of the current pandemic. Almost all employers surveyed (95%) say it has impacted their need to make people feel more protected, with many focusing their health and wellbeing strategies on preventative measures, like mental health advice and support.

The research, captured in a report expected next month titled Employee Benefits and the Value of Help*, surveyed 350 UK employers and more than 1,000 employees, to better understand the emotional and commercial value of benefits and how they are changing.

Key findings of the research, include:

72% of employers believe that their motivation for introducing health and wellbeing measures is based on a need to care for and protect the people they work with

Many businesses are focussing on prevention rather than cure, with almost half (47%) offering preventative wellbeing measures

Two-thirds (68%) of employers said investment in health and wellbeing has grown in importance over the past two years

COVID-19 has had a direct impact on the approach to health and wellbeing measures at work, as the research revealed 40% of employers surveyed place more value on employees being fit and well since the pandemic. Nearly four in ten (38%) of respondents surveyed said the pandemic has prompted a review of health and wellbeing strategies, while only 4% said they have made no changes at all.

The research also found that the pandemic has accelerated existing trends in workplace awareness, putting a greater emphasis on employee wellbeing and the desire for more flexible and remote working. Indeed, 42% of employers interviewed explained they have implemented new procedures to align to the increase in working from home as a result of COVID-19.  In addition, the study reveals that benefits can have both ‘emotional’ and ‘commercial’ value to employees.

Commenting on the report’s findings, Glenn Thompson, Customer Solutions Director of Unum UK, explained:

“Whether it’s from individuals, communities, or businesses, 2020 has brought the value of help and support to the front of all our minds. Employers are being challenged like never before, while employees are likely to need even more help, and our latest research gives a clearer understanding of how both groups value different kinds of support.

“We’ve identified a tiered system of benefits that helps us to understand the value of help and explains the importance and relevance of each service – from highly valued services, through to niche services and discounts. By understanding the value of the benefits they provide, businesses can ensure the measures they invest in can make a real, demonstrative difference to employee health and wellbeing and their business.”

*1,024 UK employees and 350 employers were interviewed by Loudhouse (on behalf of Unum) in September 2020 on a range of issues related to health and wellbeing services offered in the workplace.

 

Read more

Latest News

Read More

Why so many smart leaders are terrible at leading people

29 July 2025

Talent Management

29 July 2025

Deepfake interviews. Synthetic faces. Tampered documents. As generative AI reshapes identity fraud, traditional screening methods are being put to the test. Giant Screening CEO Mathew...

Worklife Balance

28 July 2025

The issue isn’t just about time management; it’s about mental bandwidth. The cognitive load of managing multiple priorities can leave little room for self-care, creativity,...

Newsletter

Receive the latest HR news and strategic content

Please note, as per the GDPR Legislation, we need to ensure you are ‘Opted In’ to receive updates from ‘theHRDIRECTOR’. We will NEVER sell, rent, share or give away your data to third parties. We only use it to send information about our products and updates within the HR space To see our Privacy Policy – click here

Latest HR Jobs

Queen Mary University of London – IT Services DirectorateSalary: £54,617 to £60,901 per annum

University of Sussex – Human Resources Salary: £25,733 to £29,179. Grade 4, per annum, pro rata if part time

UCL – Chemistry Department / Faculty of Mathematical & Physical SciencesSalary: £54,172 to £63,752

University of Oxford – Department of PsychiatrySalary: £31,459 to £36,616 (discretionary range to £39,749) per annum. Grade 5

Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE

Read the latest digital issue of theHRDIRECTOR for FREE