Nine out of 10 employers want a better understanding of the risk profile of the health and wellbeing of their employees, according to new research.
The study by Towergate Employee Benefits found that 89 per cent of employers said this would be valuable, but just under half (46 per cent) said they currently have a good understanding of this in practice.
Employers says that this risk profiling can enable them to tailor health and wellbeing support. Employers said there are a number of advantages in this, with 60 per cent saying it should enable them to keep employees health and in work, 54 per cent saying it would aid recruitment and retention and 53 per cent saying it should enable them to prioritise the most relevant support options.
Towergate Employee Benefits points out that there are are various options for assessing the risk profiles of employees, in relation to their health and wellbeing. These range from questionnaires asking them about their lifestyle, to offering full medical assessments.
The research shows that questionnaires are by far the most popular option, used by 53 per cent of employers. Medical assessments, however are likely to prove more informative and accurate, and they do not need to be expensive. These are used for weight and fitness assessment by a third (33 per cent) of employers, but for risk of serious illness by just 17 per cent of employers.
Towergate says that all these options are preferable than the 18 per cent of employers who undertake no risk profiling at all.
While many employers carry out risk profiling for the health and wellbeing of employees, they don’t always carry them out for all employees. For example, the research showed only 69 per cent of businesses ask all employees to complete a questionnaire about weight and fitness.
When employers have a fuller understanding of the needs of their whole workforce this can help them tailor the support offered. This might include implementing smoking-cessation programmes, support for mental health, and suggesting areas to improve fitness and lifestyle. Twoergate adds that neither assessing the risks nor implementing solutions need be expensive, and the more tailored the support, the more value will be seen by employees and, therefore, the business.
Specialists can advise on how to carry out risk profiling and how to make sure the business benefits fully from the results.
Towergate Employee Benefits head of wellbeing Debra Clark says: “While it is clear that assessing health and wellbeing risk profiles can have benefits for employees, it can also benefit the business, with employers able to put the most appropriate support in place, and this can to aid recruitment, retention, productivity and reduce absenteeism.”
She adds “It is great that employers see value in risk profiling, but now they must take action to gain a stronger understanding of their own specific workforce, so they can offer the most appropriate support.”