A Healthier Workplace

A healthier workplace means that employees are happier and more productive. Everybody wins. A recent independent study by health insurance company, PruHealth reveals that British companies are taking health in the workplace more seriously than ever before.

Almost 90 per cent of larger companies offer health benefits to their workforce as more and more senior executives and company bosses are realising the impact of a physically and mentally healthy workforce.

Top 4 initiatives offered by larger businesses:

1. Free/ discounted gym membership - 53%
2. Flu jabs - 52%
3. Free private medical insurance - 50%
4. Access to counselling - 50%

Top 3 initiatives offered by small and medium sized businesses:

1. Free fruit/ healthy meal options - 12%
2. Free private medical insurance - 12%
3. Exercise classes/ sports club - 9%

PruHealth, are themselves committed to improving health through their Vitality medical insurance scheme which rewards their private medical insurance clients with reduced premiums if they carry out a range of health enhancing activities.

Shaun Matisonn, CEO of PruHealth said:

'When it comes to health and wellbeing programmes in the workplace, we are seeing a turning point in UK businesses. The provision of these programmes and investment in employee health are no longer peripheral issues, they are core concerns. Not only are employees demanding these types of employee benefits, but with the pressures of the current economic environment, fostering a healthy workforce has never been more important to help aid both morale and productivity.

'Having now built this momentum, companies must be careful not to throw money away on poorly executed health and wellness strategies. It is all very well having these programmes in place, but employee engagement must be actively and continuously encouraged. It is understandable that employee numbers in small and medium-sized firms may be an obstacle to putting together a football team or exercise classes, but there are lots of smaller-scale initiatives to get staff involved, such as using pedometers and providing fruit bowls.

PruHealth’s Vitality incentive programme enables smaller companies to provide a full ‘blue-chip’ range of healthy activities for employees as part of their corporate PMI, enabling companies of all sizes to benefit from a healthier workforce.'