Why leaders must take corporate wellbeing seriously

Business longevity requires a range of qualities. And in the modern workplace, one of these has climbed to the top of the list – corporate wellbeing. Leaders are slowly recognising the power of CWOs, wellbeing benefits and other initiatives that support healthier, happier employees.

When we think of corporate health and wellbeing, we are hardwired to think of free coffee, pizza Fridays and extended holiday allowance. As enticing as that list sounds, it doesn’t fit within the definition of modern corporate wellbeing. 

Employers are now reevaluating their approach; exploring things like flexible working, onsite yoga classes, free gym memberships and more. The list goes on, and rightly so.

To summarise, times are changing. In a world battling uncertainty, misfortune and more, our personal health and wellbeing is as important as ever. Here, we’re exploring the seriousness of corporate wellbeing if leaders hope to stay ahead of the curve.

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The importance of corporate wellbeing 

Below, we’re going to explore a number of reasons that make corporate health and wellbeing a top priority in modern business. Some of these you may already know, others might be things you haven’t considered until now. 

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Burnout has reached boiling point

It’s no secret that burnout has wreaked havoc on employees over the past few days. As society went digital and remote work boomed, burnout became recognised by the WHO (World Health Organisation) as an “occupational phenomenon”.

Back in 2019/20, precisely 32.5 million working days were lost in the UK. All of which were due to “work-related ill health”. In other words, stress, depression, anxiety or musculoskeletal disorders. 

What leadership teams must realise is that corporate wellbeing cannot exist in an environment plagued by burnout. In some scenarios, management actively encourages burnout through short deadlines, toxic attitudes or disciplinary actions. 

The list builds up, and the seriousness of burnout continues to escalate. It was reported earlier this year that around half (46%) of the UK working population are close to burnout. It’s very clear that corporate wellbeing must be taken more seriously by organisations. 

Additionally, the same research conducted by Westfield Health discovered that one in five (19%) are working an extra five to ten hours each week. The statistics are astonishing, and the boom of mismanaged remote work is a contributing factor. 

Corporate health and wellbeing must start by evaluating existing downfalls. Do remote employees feel heard? Is the office environment welcoming, friendly and collaborative? Are senior team members building a culture of corporate wellbeing? These are all questions that must be answered.

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Corporate health and wellbeing are in high demand

Yes, you read that right – corporate wellbeing is an enticing incentive for talent to join your organisation in the modern workplace. Employees want to feel as though their company truly cares about them, and unfortunately, that’s a little difficult to convey with ‘pizza Fridays’.

As the saying goes, “out with the old, in with the new” and that must be the approach taken with corporate wellbeing now. A few months ago, it was reported that 46% of employees want better access to wellbeing initiatives and mental health support. 

What’s more, 57% of employees in a startup environment believe having access to mental health services would be an effective measure to support mental wellbeing. Finally, around 64% of employees believe their company must do more to support a healthier work/life balance.

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Did you know that 92% of Heka members are less likely to leave their job

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In a MetLife report from 2021, it was reported that employers must build a benefits package that supports modern stressors. According to one survey, when a benefits package supports the needs of employees (presumably in the form of corporate wellbeing), 42% are more likely to be resilient. 

The statistics suggest that corporate health and wellbeing are in high demand. Not only are leaders recognising the necessity of corporate wellbeing, but so too are employees. Yes, wellbeing may have been high on the corporate agenda, but until recent years, it has become a determining factor in a lot of scenarios. 

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The war for talent relies on corporate wellbeing

As leaders navigate a stressful couple of years, there’s another growing epidemic. One that’s taking the job market by storm. The war for talent has seen employers pulling out all of the stops to attract and retain people. 

With better wages, hybrid working and other impressive benefits packages, leaders are leveraging their offering as much as possible. According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics), the beginning of 2022 saw a record number of job vacancies between January and March. At 1.2 million, this figure had risen by more than 400,000 when compared to pre-pandemic in January to March 2020.

As we explored above, corporate health and wellbeing are in high demand. Leaders should look to wellbeing incentives to tackle the war for talent. Attracting candidates through paid gym memberships, free mental health support, healthy meal deliveries and more is a great idea. 

It could be the leverage employers need to really attract the best talent. As more job descriptions land on LinkedIn and job sites, companies are making the most of their “why join us” section. It’s here that HR teams are including a multitude of bullet-pointed reasons that include corporate wellbeing.

You should discuss the importance of corporate health and wellbeing with other senior colleagues – reassess the benefits and initiatives currently available. As platforms like Heka arise, there should be fewer reasons why employers can’t support employee wellbeing.

To offer better incentives is to fight against the tug-of-war for talent. Employers should see corporate wellbeing as a means to avoid high attrition and enhance retention. 

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3 Reasons why Heka support better corporate wellbeing

So you’ve made it this far! Now, let’s discuss the power of Heka – pronounced “Hee-ka”. Heka is an employee wellbeing platform. We host more than 3,000 experiences products and services from some of the leading UK wellbeing providers. What’s more, our enormous library of opportunities spans more than 50+ wellbeing categories. 

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Personalisation is at the heart of Heka

The main reason to consider Heka is personalisation. Unlike many platforms and benefits providers, Heka supports personalisation. We understand that health and wellbeing is a personal journey – what works for us may not work for the next person. 

That’s why there are more than 3,000 experiences, as we mentioned above. We’ve ensured that there’s something for every member of your team. Be it sleep aid, mental health support, financial wellbeing or fitness classes, Heka has it all!

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Supports employee wellbeing during a recession

Due to the wide variety on Heka and the nature of the experiences available, our wellbeing platform can support people through a recession. Think about it, with healthy meal deliveries, gym memberships, and fitness classes, employees needn’t cut back on their hobbies and interests. 

In fact, we believe that Heka encourages better choices. What employees may cut back on in life, we empower employees to keep these experiences, products and services. With a monthly allowance, employees don’t need to lose out on that weekly yoga class anymore. 

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Healthier employees are happier employees

Finally, healthier employees are happier. And if there’s anything we know about happy employees, it’s that they are more productive, engaged and perform better. Unlike other benefits platforms, Heka supports healthier lifestyles – the very thing that boosts happiness. 

Still not sold? Head over to our case studies page and find out what our customers think about Heka.