Almost three quarters of UK adults think employers have a responsibility to support their mental health.
This is according to a report from YuLife in in collaboration with YouGov which also found around three-quarters (73%) believed that healthcare standards have worsened over the course of their lifetime.
More than half (55%) stated that they have worsened significantly and a similar number (59%) thought the standard of healthcare had worsened over the past 12 months alone.
Reactive care over preventative care
Just 12% of people thought that the healthcare system in the UK prioritises preventative healthcare over reactive healthcare.
And 85% of people said that they ‘only’ or ‘usually’ use the healthcare system when they have an issue that needs addressing.
Employees’ experience
When it comes to employees, an overwhelming majority saw a correlation between improved employee health and employees’ performance in the workplace.
More than eight in 10 (81%) thought improved physical health would affect employees’ productivity, while 83% said the same about mental health.
Almost three quarters of those surveyed (74%) thought employers had a responsibility to support worker mental health and 59% said the same about physical health.
However, just 36% of people said that their current employer gave them a great deal or a fair amount of support for their health, while a similar proportion (35%) said they receive little or no support.
PMI
Turning to private medical insurance (PMI), 84% of people said they did not have it.
Among them, 60% cited affordability, whereas 19% preferred to use the NHS.
Two-thirds (66%) of people who don’t have PMI because they cannot afford it, would be likely to take out a policy if they could afford one.
And just over a quarter (22%) ranked providing PMI as one of the most important actions an employer can take to support employees’ health and wellbeing.
Sammy Rubin, CEO and founder of YuLife, (pictured) said: “Most of us primarily interact with the healthcare system in a reactive manner – we visit our doctor when we have a problem that needs addressing.
“However, many common medical conditions can be prevented by making simple and accessible lifestyle changes, like walking more or taking a few minutes to meditate every day.
“Healthcare in the UK needs to adopt a more proactive and preventative mindset in order to rectify many of the issues that affect our physical and mental health, impair our productivity, and damage our society.
“Businesses can and must play a key role in encouraging and incentivising their employees to adopt healthier habits,” Rubin continued.
“Employers that invest in their employees’ mental and physical health reap rewards in the form of improved productivity and increased engagement and loyalty – a win-win for individuals, businesses, and society.
“With advances in technology now enabling businesses to analyse data and track which wellbeing initiatives are most effective for their employees, the time is ripe for every employer – large or small – to make a difference in getting the nation’s health back on track.”