Employee mental health and wellbeing schemes an ‘essential differentiator’ for UK businesses

Steve Nuttall, partner at Deloitte in the North West

As many as 88% of business and HR leaders in the UK are working towards improving employee wellbeing, with initiatives no longer seen as a ‘nice to have’, but as an essential differentiator.

According to the 2018 Deloitte Global Human Capital Trends survey, UK companies are more likely to offer employees wellness and work-life balance programmes than their global counterparts, which boasts an average of 82 per cent.

UK organisations are also more likely to offer employees mental health support. 36% of businesses in the UK currently have mental health counselling programmes in place, against a global average of 21%. 

This follows Deloitte analysis for the Stevenson-Farmer independent review which found that poor mental health costs the UK economy between £74bn and £99bn a year, with workplace interventions showing a return to business of between £1.50 and £9 for every £1 spent.

Steve Nuttall, partner at Deloitte in the North West, explains:“It’s positive to see that many UK businesses are taking steps to champion mental health in the workplace, but it’s clear that more still needs to be done. Offering mental health support to employees not only helps British workers to thrive but also makes good business sense and supports the wider economy.”

While many are now prioritising wellbeing in the workplace, the UK may still have some way to go before even the most basic initiatives are truly embedded across all organisations. Three in five (59%) UK organisations report having limited or basic wellbeing programmes, typically focused on traditional interventions such as adjusted working patterns and additional exceptional leave.

36% of UK businesses offer wellbeing programmes ‘beyond the traditional’, including mindfulness, life balance and financial fitness, compared with a global average of 24%, but just 5% of organisations in the UK claim to offer ‘extensive’ wellbeing programmes, which are actively tracked to measure the impact on workplace productivity and efficiency.

Currently, wellbeing programmes are valued by organisations for their impact on employee engagement and productivity. 68% say that wellbeing programmes have a positive impact on supporting employee retention in their organisation, while 64% say it promotes employee productivity and improves results. Meanwhile, 56% say it supports employee recruitment and employment branding. 

Nuttall adds: “Organisations in the UK are no longer measured solely on their financial performance and the quality of their products and services. Rather, they are also judged on the way they treat and engage with their staff and customers, the support they give to the communities in which they operate and their impact on society as a whole. This is increasingly important for attracting and retaining staff, building a strong reputation and cultivating loyalty amongst customers.” 

Flexible working is currently the most well established programme helping employees with their work-life balance. While 59% of UK organisations offer flexible working, 92% of those rate it as having a valuable impact. Meanwhile, half (50%) of UK organisations have an employee assistance programme, offering employees support with personal or work related problems, up from a global average of 30%.

Nuttall concludes: “Organisations in the UK are increasingly recognising the importance of investing in employee wellbeing. However, many are still questioning where to start. Bridging the gap between awareness and action requires businesses to make wellbeing a priority at the most senior management levels. After this, an adequate review of organisational needs, understanding what is best practice and targeting interventions to the needs of those in the organisation will be key drivers of success.”