Employee Health in Crisis: New Research Reveals Growing Disconnect in SME Workers’ Wellbeing Support

Rising intelligence wellness concerns and deficiency of capable support are leaving SME workers struggling unsocial arsenic cost-of-living pressures mount

A caller study from world wellbeing supplier Westfield Health reveals that UK labor are facing expanding intelligence and beingness wellness challenges, exacerbated by insufficient workplace support and nan rising costs of living.  

The findings, based connected responses from complete 2,000 workers, item a widening spread betwixt what labor request and nan support offered by employers.  

SME workers consciousness nan unit unsocial arsenic intelligence wellness declines 

Mental wellness struggles are escalating, pinch astir 3 successful 10 (30%) labor reporting a diminution successful their intelligence wellbeing complete nan past year. Even pinch this drop, SME workers still support their struggles to themselves. Over 60% of SME workers shared that they did not inquire for thief pinch their intelligence wellness from anyone, while only 20% asked for support from GPs and 11% from a friend aliases family member. 

Additionally, almost three-quarters (74%) of group are concerned astir rising surviving costs, adding unit to an already overburdened workforce. Burnout, stress, and financial worries person besides been cited arsenic important contributors to worsening intelligence health.  

Productivity has besides taken a hit. 45% of labor opportunity their intelligence wellness has affected their activity successful nan past 12 months, contributing to a emergence successful intelligence wellness absences, which costs UK SME employers £11.9 cardinal successful 2023.  

However, labor astatine SMEs are much apt to consciousness hopeful and unchangeable compared to those moving for ample businesses.  

Businesses autumn short of wellbeing support 

Despite nan increasing request for support, a 3rd (33%) of SME workers study nary entree to wellbeing support astatine work, and wherever resources are available, they are often underutilised. Shockingly, almost half of SME labor pinch entree to wellbeing programs person ne'er utilized them.  

The study besides recovered that while labor astatine SMEs are little apt to person entree to wellbeing programs, they are much apt to usage them erstwhile available. 51% of SME labor utilized nan wellbeing support offered to them compared to only 35% of workers astatine ample companies.  

“Evidence shows that happy and patient labor are nan astir productive. We now impulse SMEs to put successful people’s wellness and wellbeing, and much importantly, intelligibly pass nan disposable support to guarantee labor use from these resources,” says Vicky Walker, Group Director of People astatine Westfield Health.  

In fact, 66% of labor who utilized wellbeing support recovered it helpful, though 42% said they person ne'er been asked for feedback connected what they really need. “It’s captious to cod worker information and feedback and place cardinal trends and needs. Regular feedback will thief to measurement nan occurrence of your workplace wellbeing strategy accurately,” advises Vicky Walker. 

What labor astatine SMEs really want from workplace support  

As 42% of SME workers see a occupation alteration wrong nan adjacent year, businesses look perchance monolithic costs—up to £47.1 cardinal for SMEs. To clasp talent, companies request to supply nan correct benefits.  

Nearly 4 successful 10 (36%) workers astatine SMEs want entree to private wellness insurance, while 23% for illustration worth a 24/7 GP line, and 22% would admit intelligence wellness days. Health check-ups (22%), entree to counselling (18%), and entree to a gym (19%) were besides cited arsenic weighted wellbeing benefits.  

Flexible moving hours besides rank arsenic a apical privilege for SME labor choosing their adjacent employer, much truthful than those from ample businesses. This is nary surprise, arsenic almost 1 successful 4 labor interest they’ll beryllium forced to activity much successful nan agency and little from home.  

SME workers are nan astir connected to their employer and company 

It’s bully news for SME businesses, arsenic their workers are much apt to consciousness their individual values align pinch nan institution arsenic a whole.  

Almost 4 successful 5 (79%) labor consciousness their values align pinch those of their colleagues, two-thirds (66%) consciousness aligned pinch their manager, and moreover 61% consciousness their values lucifer those of nan elder activity teams.  

Vicky Walker, Group Director of People, shares her last judgement connected nan findings:  

“Offering schemes that supply free aliases heavy subsidised healthcare not only saves labor money but besides encourages them to return preventative steps to look aft their wellbeing. Ultimately reducing absence rates and boosting productivity for businesses.” 

“The information paints a clear picture: labor are struggling, and businesses request to return proactive steps to reside workers’ wellness and wellbeing. SMEs must enactment now. Adding broad support, whether it’s intelligence wellness training, an EAP aliases a health rate plan, to worker benefits packages and ensuring clear connection astir them will make a world of difference.” 

“The costs of inaction—financially and successful position of worker health—will proceed to emergence unless much robust support systems are implemented.”