Nearly three in five (59%) of UK employees are more likely to stay with an employer that monitors their wellbeing, new research has revealed.
The findings from YuLife showed that this figure rises to more than seven in 10 (71%) among workers aged 18-24 years old and falls to 45% among the over 55s.
Carried out with YouGov, the insurance company’s Employee Health and Wellbeing Survey further found that seven in 10 workers do not think their organisation’s wellbeing programmes makes them feel cared for. At the same time, more than half (53%) reported their business only collects data up to once a year.
In terms of employee feedback on wellbeing initiatives, fewer than one in 10 (9%) workers say they have provided it and more than one in two (52%) do not think it is likely that leadership teams will take it into consideration. Of the HR professionals polled, fewer than two in five (37%) say they use data to inform their decision-making.
Lauren Berkemeyer, YuLife’s CMO, told Benefits Expert: “Making data-driven decisions isn’t new in teams like product or tech. But after speaking to so many HR teams, employee wellbeing data has been tricky to collect, anonymise and analyse. Yet, 71% of Gen Z employees are more likely to stay with an employer that measures and tracks wellbeing over time.
“Data on wellbeing is not always accessible; but it is essential to crafting wellbeing strategies that truly benefit our people. And that is crucial, given how wellbeing has become a business imperative.
“Becoming more data-driven when it comes to wellbeing is definitely a journey and a growing priority for HR teams, which is why we think these results come at the right time.”
The data further revealed that more than seven in 10 (72%) workers would be more willing to provide feedback if they were aware of how it would impact decision-making, while two-thirds (67%) would be more honest if they knew how their feedback would be used.
Additionally, the report found that nearly seven in 10 (69%) of HR decision-makers have access to wellbeing data but only one in five thinks it is sufficient to make or progress a business case. Nearly three-quarters (73%) say a priority next year is to be data-driven, while nine in 10 (90%) believe their initiatives could be more effective with data to help them.
Sammy Rubin, CEO and founder of YuLife, added: “Today, more than ever, it is crucial for employers to meaningfully look after their people. Employers are now able to harness data and technology to drive scalable, purposeful changes to the wellbeing of their employees and organisation.
“This survey demonstrates the need for employers to embrace a culture of improvement and make a lasting impact with a data-driven wellness programme. Employees are looking for personalised experiences and by continuously monitoring the impact of employee wellbeing, employers can ensure benefits offered are aligned with what the workforce wants. With this in mind, organisations can continue building and strengthening their employee value propositions, as well as adapting to changing wants and needs.”