Nearly two-thirds of employers feel a greater responsibility for supporting staff across the four key areas of mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing as a result of Covid-19, according to research from Grid.
The research surveyed 501 HR decision-makers and found that 59 per cent of companies believe they have a greater duty to support their employees’ mental health. It also found that 57 per cent of employers felt a greater responsibility for their employees’ physical wellbeing, 56 per cent felt a greater responsibility for their employees’ social wellbeing and 50 per cent felt a greater duty for their employees’ financial wellbeing.
Two-fifths of businesses, or 40 per cent, enhanced their communication on the resources available to employees. Nearly 34 per cent said they supported employee participation and use of support, and 27 per cent said they made it easier for employees to get support and benefits remotely, such as through applications and the internet. A quarter offered help to family members of particular employees and 22 per cent invested in new employee benefits to provide further support.
Further GRiD study, done between 14 and 18 January 2022 among 1,212 UK workers, found that 38 per cent of employees said their mental health had deteriorated, 27 per cent said their physical health had deteriorated and another 27 per cent said they were concerned about their financial health.
Grid spokesperson Katharine Moxham says: “As is evident in the research, employees feel most vulnerable in terms of their mental wellbeing, and employers have rightly assessed this as being an area in which they can step up and take more responsibility. However, employers should be wary of solely prioritising one area of wellbeing over another.
“Mental, physical, social and financial wellbeing are inextricably linked and so employers must address all four areas when providing post-pandemic support for staff. Employer-sponsored life assurance, income protection and critical illness have proven really popular because they provide financial support when people have been directly affected by the pandemic, as well as extra embedded services designed to support health and wellbeing.
“As the UK adjusts to the new norms of working life, adopting this holistic approach to staff wellbeing will ensure that all employees are as well looked after as possible, and this will have long-term benefits for the business too.”