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Healthcare 'unaffordable luxury' for employers

27 May 2009 Breaking News

Half of British workers admit to being stressed and one in five are suffering depression, but employers believe investment in health is a "luxury few businesses can afford", according to Norwich Union Healthcare's third Health of the Workplace study.  

The research highlights conflicting priorities for employers. While 86% of the 200 "business leaders" surveyed need workers to be more productive than ever, 62% describe workplace healthcare investment as a "luxury few businesses can afford in 2009."

However, the majority (97%) know that there is a direct link between worker health and productivity, and 61% are now calling on the government to provide more tax incentives on workplace health investment.

Eighty-nine percent of the 200 GPs surveyed expect requests for anti-depressants to dramatically increase.

Dr Douglas Wright, head of clinical governance at Norwich Union Healthcare, said: "This is an alarming diagnosis for the future economic health of the country's businesses and a very clear signal that employers and Government must work together with the UK's workforce on occupational health.

"Two thirds (64%) of employees told us they will work harder for a company that invests in their health, yet just 1% of British businesses plan to introduce new employee health benefits in 2009.

"There are however cost-effective steps for workers and employers - employees by using diet and exercise to protect their wellbeing and, for employers, by utilising stress audits, manager training and Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), which help manage mental wellbeing as well as providing advice on areas such as financial worries, debt and redundancy.

"The Government already offers tax concessions on health screenings and we urge them now to extend this to EAPs."

The Health of the Workplace surveys were all carried in March 2009.