Demand for more visible and accessible rehabilitation support at work is high among employees, according to research from Aviva.
This offers employers “a major opportunity” to increase wellbeing, trust, and retention, researchers said.
The survey of more than 1,200 UK employees has revealed that 84 percent of employees are aware that their employer offers some form of support. But only 38 percent fully understand what’s available, revealing a significant knowledge gap about what their employer offers.
This matters because 79 percent of employees said that they would be more likely to choose and stay with an employer who actively helped them return to work or stay in work following illness. More than a third (36 percent) said they would be more likely to recommend their employer as a great place to work if this kind of support was more visible.
Researchers said the findings highlight an opportunity for UK employers to invest in and enhance employee wellbeing, trust, and retention by offering and clearly communicating vocational rehabilitation support. The survey results have been published as the consultation period for the Keep Britain Working Review closes.
Information is king
Comprehensive support that helps employees with their health and wellbeing is another driver of staff retention as 79 percent of workers said they are more likely to stay with an employer that provides this.
Almost three quarters (74 percent) agree that their employer has a reasonable duty of care to help them return to and stay in work following ill-health, while 71 percent said that they’d like their employer to make information about their rehabilitation support and sick pay arrangements more easily accessible and visible.
Further results show that transparency also builds trust, with 46 percent of employees agreeing that it increases their confidence in their employer, while 44 percent believe it boosts morale.
Researchers found that clear communication around support services has a direct impact on operational outcomes. Two fifths (40 percent) of employees said they would return to work sooner after illness if they better understood the support available to them, and 39 percent believe that visible support helps improve overall productivity.
Compelling case
Aviva said that the case for action is compelling, with 55 percent of employees reporting that the level of rehabilitation support is a key factor when choosing an employer, and more than seven in ten (71 percent) saying they are more likely to stay with an employer that follows best practice vocational rehabilitation guidelines.
In spite of this, 22 percent of employees report that they either don’t receive any rehabilitation support or don’t know what might be available. This gap could create missed opportunities for early intervention and limit successful work returns.
“Vocational rehabilitation is crucial for helping employees return to work safely and effectively after a long-term sickness absence. That’s why it’s so important that employees are aware of the support available to them and feel confident in accessing it,” said Jason Ellis, group protection sales director at Aviva.
“[This] research highlights a clear opportunity for employers to not only offer meaningful rehabilitation support but to communicate it more effectively. When employees understand the support available to them, they’re more likely to engage with it, return to work sooner, and feel valued by their employer. Implementing best practice and making support more visible isn’t just good for people, it’s good for business.”
Aviva said it is actively supporting the government’s Keep Britain Working Review with insight that it has gained as an employer and group protection and healthcare provider. The business said it has urged the government to ask large employers to clearly communicate the details of their workplace health support both inside their organisation and publicly. For smaller employers, there should be a voluntary national Health at Work standard and support on how they can meet it, the business said.
Aviva said this approach would enhance workplace health standards by making them open-source and competitive for larger employers. It would also give smaller employers with a benchmark to aim for, along with appropriate support, the provider added.
