There is a direct link between an employee’s health and an employee’s productivity. If an employee’s suffering in any way – whether it’s from a short-term cold or a long-term toothache – then obviously they won’t be at their best. They’ll feel tired, run-down, demotivated, and unable to focus. There’s also the issue of unplanned absences as a result of poor health, which is estimated to cost UK businesses around £11 billion a year.

The same is true of employee mental health. One study found that poor mental health could be costing UK employers up to £56 billion a year. But where mentally unhealthy employees are unproductive, studies show that mentally healthy employees perform better on work tasks. This is because they’re better able to find solutions to problems, and more willing to reach out to others to share information and collaborate.

How Promoting Employee Wellbeing Boosts Productivity

Promote a culture of positive wellbeing in your business, and as well as seeing a boost to individuals’ productivity, your business may also improve productivity through:

• Improved morale, with better relationships between employees and their managers.
• Fewer days lost to unplanned absences.
• Reduced staff turnover, and increased staff retention.

Prioritise your employees’ health, and you may develop a reputation for being a business that truly cares for its employees. This can make a huge difference to your recruitment efforts – good employees want to work for good employers!

It all adds up: The World Economic Forum found that businesses which have received awards for their health and wellbeing initiatives had seen up to a 115% growth in earnings.

How to Promote Good Employee Wellbeing

There are many things you can do to prioritise your employees’ health and wellbeing. Here are just a few quick ideas, including some short-term quick wins as well as some strategies for long-term change:

• Promote a good work/life balance. Look to offer your employees a greater say in when and how they work. If they want to work from home, or if they want to do part-time or flexible hours, find a way to see if that can work for your business. You could also aim to be as generous as possible when it comes to annual leave, parental leave, and other leave-based benefits.
• Optimise the workspace. Offer free fruit and chilled water in the office. Be mindful of light, noise, and temperature levels. Make sure all employees have everything they need to stay safe, comfortable, and productive at work. Consider redesigning your workspaces with soothing colours, natural light, lots of plant life, and access to dedicated quiet spaces.
• Encourage employees to get active. Offer discount gym memberships or cycle to work schemes as an employee benefit. Encourage employees to take short walks throughout the working day. Organise occasional in-office yoga or massage sessions.

Be sure to read our full guide to the best employee benefits. Many of these can actively contribute to a healthier, happier, and more productive workforce.

Offer Business Health Insurance as a Company Benefit

A business health insurance plan gives your employees quick and reliable access to private healthcare services. When employees can bypass long waiting lists and access the healthcare they need, when they need it, you’ll likely find that you’ll lose fewer days to unplanned absences, coupled with a rise in both productivity and staff retention.

Through providing essential peace of mind, a business health insurance plan is one of the most valued of all employee benefits. It can directly contribute to a healthier and happier workforce. And when you allow employees to add their family to their plans, along with dental cover, the impact will likely be even greater.

It’s a common misconception that only the biggest businesses can offer health insurance as a business benefit. Businesses of any size can give their employees some level of cover. At Capacity Insights we offer schemes for busienss with 10 or more employees. Read our full guide to the different health insurance options for smaller businesses.

Whether you’re looking to invest in your first business health insurance plan, or you want to change or add to your current package, we’re here for you. Get in touch to find out more.