The UK workforce is under pressure. NHS waiting lists remain at record highs, budgets are still stretched, and employees are feeling the strain. In an environment like this, workplace wellbeing is central to business success.
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Employers often provide a wide range of health and protection benefits, but a disconnect remains. Many employees don’t fully understand or engage with the support available to them. That’s not just a missed opportunity for employers – it’s a chance for advisers to step in and add real strategic value.
The wellbeing perception gap – and why it matters
Unum’s 2025 Employee Wellbeing Report reveals a clear disparity: while 75% of employers rate their workforce wellbeing at 7 out of 10 or higher, only 66% of employees agree. This isn’t a reflection of poor provision necessarily – as even well-designed benefits can fall short if they’re not clearly communicated, easily accessed, or aligned with what employees truly value.
And the consequences go beyond engagement. Despite the growth in wellbeing initiatives, productivity often remains sluggish. One in three employees experienced a mental health issue in 2024, and many took no action to address it. Stress, burnout, and presenteeism are quietly chipping away at performance, revealing a deepening productivity paradox.
More tools and benefits are available than ever before, but employees are often still struggling. Unum’s full Employee Wellbeing Report explores why, and what can be done to close the gap between intention and impact.
This disconnect between support and impact is where advisers can make a real difference. By helping clients improve how benefits are communicated, accessed, and understood, advisers can ensure wellbeing strategies don’t just exist – they work.
Why the opportunity is now
To be clear, I’m not saying that it’s the adviser’s job to fix internal communications or manage employee engagement. But advisers are uniquely positioned to help clients get more value from the benefits they already offer.
By offering insight, tools, and guidance, advisers can:
▪ Strengthen client relationships by solving real-world problems
▪ Improve renewal conversations with evidence of impact
▪ Open the door to new services and upsell opportunities
▪ Differentiate their consultancy in an increasingly competitive market
Five ways advisers can help bridge the gap
Here are five practical ways advisers could help support clients in closing the wellbeing perception gap from our research speaking to 1,000 HR decision-makers and employees.
1. Start with the employee voice
Encourage clients to gather regular feedback – through surveys, focus groups, or informal check-ins. This might sound like a small thing, but the research tells us that it has a major impact on identifying gaps in understanding and ensuring benefits reflect real needs.
2. Simplify access to support
Help clients centralise benefit information within everyday platforms like portals or apps. A clear, well-designed hub boosts engagement – something we’ve seen firsthand since launching Unum’s employer portal to the market last year.
3. Tailor communications
Help clients tailor benefits messaging by job role, life stage, or key moments – like onboarding. Keep it simple, human, and relevant. A short message about mental health for new managers, or a timely nudge on financial tools can go a long way. Relevance drives results.
4. Use real stories to build trust
Encourage clients to look for advocates within the business. People willing to share testimonials from employees who’ve benefited from support. These stories make benefits relatable and help overcome scepticism.
5. Empower line managers
Support clients in equipping managers with the tools and training to be everyday wellbeing champions. A simple check-in or a quick mention in a team meeting can carry more weight than a company-wide email. When managers lead by example, wellbeing becomes part of the culture – not just a campaign.
From insight to impact
Helping clients close the wellbeing perception gap isn’t about doing more – it’s about doing things differently. It’s about recognising that productivity doesn’t come from pushing people harder, but from creating the conditions for them to thrive.
Discover what’s really shaping the UK workforce
Download Unum’s latest Employee Wellbeing Report for in-depth insights into today’s challenges, and what’s coming next, at: unum.co.uk/employee-wellbeing
Packed with real-world examples, case studies, and expert guidance, it’s everything advisers need to help clients build healthier, more productive teams.