97% believe in link between wellbeing and organisational performance

Nearly all (97%) of respondents believe in a link between employee wellbeing and organisational performance, according to research by Edenred.

Wellbeing-Thinkstock-2014

However, its annual 2015 Wellbeing barometer, which surveyed 422 HR decision makers, also found that just a quarter (26%) of employers see employee wellbeing as a priority for their organisation. 

The research also found:

  • 20% of respondents described employee wellbeing as nice to have or important but not a priority, despite the fact that 55% believe it is vital to understand where employees need support before doing anything.
  • 81% invest in some sort of wellbeing initiative for staff.
  • Just under two-thirds (60%) of respondents either do not know or have not taken steps to understand which specific health and wellbeing issues are problematic for their organisation.
  • 54% of respondents believe it is important to have a targeted wellbeing strategy, which deals with the most relevant issues.
  • Two-thirds (64%) of respondents said that HR policy is critical in improving employee wellbeing but only 21% currently have the right policy in place.

Andy Philpott, sales and marketing director at Edenred, said: “It is clear that many organisations are currently playing lip-service to the idea of employee health and wellbeing by failing to take steps to understand the issues facing their employees and organisation.

“There is also a substantial gap between the support that HR practitioners believe will make a difference to health and wellbeing and what their organisations currently offer.

”Without a strategic approach to wellbeing, backed by investment in the right areas, the majority of organisations will fail to make any real difference to employee health through their current approach.”

 

Edenred wellbeing research-infographic-2015