Nearly two-thirds (65 per cent) of employees now receive health benefits through their employer according to research from healthcare services and plan provider, Simplyhealth, with one in five (20 per cent) reporting that they use them at least once a month – up from one in six (15 per cent) last year.
However, while nearly two in three now have access to employer-provided health benefits, some still do not use them. Over a quarter of employees with access to health benefits (29 per cent) say that despite needing to use their benefits, they have not.
A third (35 per cent) of employees say that they would be more likely to use their health benefits if they were simple to use, and 23 per cent say they would be encouraged to use their benefits if their employer was clearer about what was available to them.
Dr Macarena Staudenmaier, head of clinical product and operations at Simplyhealth, said: “It’s encouraging to see so many employers investing in workplace health benefits at a time when they are contending with many competing financial demands.
“This commitment can make a real difference to people’s health and wellbeing and to long-term business outcomes.
“There’s a big opportunity to increase the impact of this investment by helping teams feel confident about using the benefits available to them.
“Simple steps can go a long way: communicate clearly and regularly what’s covered, explain how to access support, and make signposting part of onboarding and everyday line-manager conversations.
“When employees understand their healthcare options, especially how to get help quickly when they need it, they’re more likely to use benefits early, when support can be most effective.
“That not only improves engagement and return on investment, it also helps employers build a workplace culture rooted in preventative healthcare.”
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