"With the Government facing significant budgetary challenges, employers increasingly carry greater responsibility for supporting their people. In light of this, health and wellbeing benefits need to deliver more value than ever."
- Katharine Moxham - GRiD
New research from Group Risk Development (GRiD) has found that 70% of employers believe that state support is lacking when it comes to the health and wellbeing of UK workers, up from 63% in 2025.
According to the data, employers think that mental health support is the area where lack of state provision is felt most, with 43% saying this affects them and their colleagues.
There is also concern over staff’s lack of access to financial support if they are unable to work due to sickness or injury, cited by 39% of employers, while 38% worry about the lack of access to preventative care and 35% about support for physical health.
Employees echo these concerns, with nearly a third (29%) saying that pressure on the NHS means they are increasingly reliant on their employer to provide mental health support, such as access to counselling.
GRiD says that many employee benefits, including group risk - employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness - provide tangible support when individuals are struggling to access care elsewhere, and that timely intervention is key for best outcomes as delays in accessing state provision can allow issues to escalate across all areas of health and wellbeing.
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"Constraints on public sector funding have not eased over the past 12 months, and this is reflected in the growing number of employers who are concerned about the level of state support available for their people, and the impact it has on them. As a result, many employers will feel the impact as more employees are affected," Katharine Moxham, spokesperson for GRiD, said.
Katharine continued: "With the Government facing significant budgetary challenges, employers increasingly carry greater responsibility for supporting their people. In light of this, health and wellbeing benefits need to deliver more value than ever. Employers that use benefits to bridge gaps in state provision are more likely to maintain a healthier workforce, minimise absence and sustain productivity."
"How organisations respond to the lack of state support is within their control. By offering the right support, employers can influence how quickly people access help, and this can directly influence how quickly they return to work. This is not just about businesses doing the right thing by their people, but also about safeguarding the long-term resilience of their organisation."
