Top 3 reasons to implement employee health checks in 2024/25

Employee health is essential to a company’s overall success. So, how do you keep your employees healthy, happy, and engaged?

Over the last decade, we’ve gone through a financial crisis, a cost-of-living crisis, and a pandemic. These major events have caused a decrease in funding and cuts to public services, making it more difficult to access healthcare, secure quality housing, and have enough financial resources — all of which can impact our health and wellbeing.

?Now, almost 20% of working-age people in the UK have a condition that limits their ability to work[1]. This means that a significant portion of the population is unable to work due to health issues from physical disabilities to mental health disorders. And for the people in work, the average UK employee now misses 7.8 days per year due to sickness[2].

?So, what can be done?

?More people are turning to their workplace for answers to their health. Our communities have changed – many people now view their work environment as their social and community outlet, as well as how they make money. This puts employers in an important position to support people to feel fulfilled, happy, and healthy.

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What are employee wellbeing initiatives?

?Employee wellbeing initiatives are the actions you take for employees’ health and wellbeing to make them feel happier, after, and more valued at work.

?These initiatives might include improving habits, tools, benefits, or processes around mental health support, fertility treatments, or stress-reduction schemes.

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Why are employee wellbeing initiatives important?

?Employee health benefits can help improve your employees' health and wellbeing, which can also benefit your business.

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According to the CIPD, investing in employee wellbeing can lead to[3]:?

-? ? ? ? ? ? Increased resilience

-? ? ? ? ? ? Better employee engagement

-? ? ? ? ? ? Reduced sickness absence

-? ? ? ? ? ? Higher performance and productivity?

Crucially, an effective wellbeing program could be the catalyst that puts someone on a healthier trajectory for the rest of their life.

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What makes a good employee wellbeing initiative??

A good employee wellbeing initiative is one with purpose and drive. The CIPD says it should be engrained within the company culture – from people to policies. They shouldn’t be down to one person, and they need to be relevant and consistent.?

Starting an employee wellbeing committee is a great way to get more buy-in. Asking your people what they want can also be an effective way to tailor your strategy. So, where do you go from there?

We believe that deeper insights into employees’ current health can unlock a more meaningful and effective employee wellbeing strategy. And, with a Medichecks health check, you could get just that.

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What is a health check?

An employee health check examines a person's health and lifestyle information. It may look at health markers such as blood pressure, weight, and blood test results to identify areas for improvement.

At Medichecks, we provide employees with test results, a doctor's report, and guidance on the next steps. This helps them better manage their health and identify any health risks or deficiencies so they can take early action. This has tremendous benefits for individuals (of course) – but did you know that you can use this anonymised data too?

We explain how implementing a company health check can be cost-effective and make a genuine difference to your employees’ health and your bottom line.

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Three top reasons to implement a company health check

1. Data-led insights provide clarity for your strategy

Starting with a health check can help you strategically navigate the expanding world of employee wellbeing initiatives and perks.

Initiatives can span physical activity (like walking clubs and lunchtime yoga), healthy eating (recipe clubs, healthy menu choices and snacks), and mental health support (stress management). On top of this, there are quirkier wellbeing perks like outdoor meetings, onsite massages, or smoothie days.?

A Medichecks company health check provides you, the employer, with anonymised data to show hotspots of health risks. You can split this data by teams (if you have the numbers). You’ll also get a report from one of our corporate health specialist doctors. This pulls out key pieces of information, clearly highlighting areas of concern where you could take action to improve employee health and wellbeing.?

By understanding the specific health metrics of your employees, you can tailor wellness programs and interventions to meet their needs.

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For employers, this means:

• Targeted interventions: You can create programs that address the most common health issues within your workforce, such as stress management workshops, fitness challenges, or nutritional guidance. You can even pinpoint these by team.
• Cost efficiency: By focusing resources on proven areas of need, you avoid wasting money on generic programs that may not resonate with your team.
• Better outcomes: Employees are more likely to engage with and benefit from initiatives directly relevant to their health concerns.

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2. Meaningful initiatives can have a real impact on your KPIs

Wellbeing initiatives often fall short of their potential because they are stand-alone from everyday business. To gain real benefit, they must be integrated throughout the organisation, culture, and management.

Investing in understanding which health concerns affect your employees tells them that you’re invested in your health. It also means you can offer and track projects that will have a real impact on their health, which can significantly impact your HR and people management goals.

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For your organisation, this means:

• Attracting talent: A robust health and wellness program can be a significant draw for potential hires, setting your company apart in a competitive job market.
• Retaining talent: Employees who feel cared for are more likely to stay with your company. Health initiatives can foster loyalty and reduce turnover.
• Enhanced morale and productivity: Healthy employees are generally more satisfied and productive. They experience fewer health-related absences and bring more energy and focus to their work.

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Implementing company-wide health checks is not just about ticking a box for corporate wellness. It's about creating a healthier, more engaged, and more productive workforce. By leveraging health data, empowering employees, and aligning health initiatives with your HR goals, you can create a workplace that thrives in 2024/25 and beyond.

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3. Health checks enable employees to get in control of their health

Health checks offer employees insights into areas of their health that, with minor adjustments, can lead to improved workplace performance.

-? ? ? ? ? ? 1 in 6 UK adults is deficient in vitamin D – people with low vitamin D are at greater risk of respiratory tract infections like the flu and common colds.

-? ? ? ? ? ? 1 in 12 women has iron deficiency anaemia – low iron levels are linked to reduced employee productivity.

-? ? ? ? ? ? 1 in 5 UK adults has prediabetes or diabetes – around 30% of UK adults with type 2 diabetes are unaware they have the condition.

-? ? ? ? ? ? 1 in 7 under 60s has low levels of vitamin B12 – low vitamin B12 can lead to fatigue, headaches, low mood, and memory problems, which can affect work performance.

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Health checks aren’t just there to uncover the ‘big stuff’. Most commonly, they identify deficiencies or markers that are out of range, but that can be easily fixed with small changes to their diet and lifestyle. These people might have been tired, off, or not quite right – but couldn’t understand why. Or they may have thought their symptoms were just part of getting older.

Encouraging people to take supplements (or teaching them about the benefits) can be so valuable for those who are deficient. Insights provide employees with vital information about their health in a confidential and supportive manner. This empowers them to make informed lifestyle choices and set personal health goals.

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For employees, this means:

• Awareness: Regular health checks can reveal underlying issues that might not yet be symptomatic, allowing for early intervention.
• Actionable Insights: Employees receive accurate data that can help them make better decisions about their diet, exercise, and overall lifestyle.
• Ownership: When employees have access to their health information, they are more likely to take an active role in managing their wellbeing, leading to long-term health improvements.

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These aren’t just one-off health checks to remind people of their BMI, they’re a catalyst to put someone on a healthier trajectory – to assess their risk of future disease and empower them to optimise their health. Our health checks are a way for employers to target and refine their initiatives, and spend money in the places that will have the most impact.

If you’re ready to explore how a Medichecks Health Check can help you keep your workforce present, healthy, and happy, email our business team at [email protected] or visit https://healthchecks.medichecks.io.

References

[1] BBC (2024) Why are we so ill? The working-age health crisis. Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68849843?(Accessed 05 June 2024).

[2] CIPD (2023) Sickness absence rates jump to the highest in a decade. Available at: https://www.cipd.org/uk/views-and-insights/thought-leadership/cipd-voice/sickness-absence-rate-jumps/ (Accessed 05 June 2024).

[3] CIPD (2004) Well-being factsheet'. Available at: https://www.cipd.org/uk/knowledge/factsheets/well-being-factsheet/ (Accessed: 05 June 2004).