88% of workers want healthcare

02/05/2008

More than three quarters of businesses in the UK do not provide health benefits for their employees, new research has found.

The figures, by careers website Reed, found almost 90% of workers expect their employers to provide health benefits, with over 80% saying better corporate health benefits would improve their productivity.

Almost three quarters said team sports would improve their working relationships with colleagues, six out of 10 want their companies to offer subsidised gym membership, and 14% want healthy food subsidies.

One in ten added that they would like yoga relaxation classes, with a further 9% saying support to stop smoking would be beneficial.

However, while over half of workers said their health is important to them, they added that the benefits a company offered to them would not influence their decision to take a job.

Martin Warns, operations director at Reed, said workers are increasingly looking to their employers to provide health benefits.

“The research echoes a call from the health secretary for companies to invest in the wellbeing of their workforce and for senior managers to encourage a healthy and active workplace culture.”

He added that businesses should not adopt a knee jerk reaction to the figures and feel they should invest in expensive corporate fitness schemes.

“Small and less costly steps toward creating a healthier work environment, such as providing free fruit for staff or encouraging staff to cycle to work, can be equally as effective.

“Check if employees are stressed out or overworked and deal with the root causes before investing in expensive corporate health schemes to fix the problem,” he said.