"We’re seeing a clear communication gap when it comes to workplace health benefits."
- Paul Shires - Health Shield
New research by Health Shield Friendly Society has found that over a third of employees are not using their workplace health benefits because of uncertainty about what is covered and how to access services.
The Britain at Work report, which surveyed 2,000 UK employees, found that 35% said that uncertainty was a barrier preventing them from using their workplace health benefits.
33% were also worried about potential hidden costs of the benefits, and 30% were unaware of how to access workplace benefits in the first place.
22% were also concerned about privacy and data collection while using workplace health benefits, and 21% said they were concerned about their employer knowing about certain health conditions.
However, 20% reported that they were unaware of the workplace health benefits. This was most common among younger employees, with 86% of those aged under 44 saying they did not know about the support on offer.
Meanwhile, 19% said they found health benefits too complicated, with 18% saying the hassle around accessing the support was preventing them from engaging with it.
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"We’re seeing a clear communication gap when it comes to workplace health benefits," Paul Shires, director at Health Shield, said.
"A surprising number of employees are unsure what support is available to them, what it covers or how to access it.
"When employees do not fully understand their benefits, they are far less likely to use them when they need support. That means opportunities to address health concerns early can be missed, increasing the risk of issues becoming more serious and potentially affecting wellbeing, absence and productivity."
Emily Jones, head of workplace wellbeing at Broadstone Financial Solutions, added: "Many employers have invested significantly in health and wellbeing support over recent years, so it’s important they regularly review whether employees understand and engage with the benefits available.
"Clear signposting, simple access routes and regular reminders can make a significant difference to take-up. Employers should also be transparent about what is covered, how benefits work and the safeguards in place around personal data.
"Improving engagement with existing benefits can often deliver as much value as introducing new ones, helping employees access support earlier and making wellbeing investment work harder."
