The majority (87 percent) of healthcare sector workers want their employer to invest more in employee benefits this year, research has found.
However, the same research shows that just 18 percent of healthcare employers plan to invest more in the next 12 months, which makes it the sector least likely to increase benefits investment.
These were the key findings of a survey of 2,000 UK employees and 872 HR decision makers commissioned by technology provider Zest.
Further results show that 81 percent of healthcare employees want more financial support at work, which is higher than the UK average of 74 percent across all sectors.
Bigger pension contributions are the most popular benefit among healthcare professionals, with 45 percent deeming this the most important perk. But only 18 percent of employers in the sector currently offer this.
Other priority benefits for this group include private medical insurance (PMI) and wellbeing allowances with 38 percent and 30 percent, respectively, ranking these as most important.
Nearly two thirds (62 percent) believe their benefits package is inadequate, which is the highest proportion of any sector.
Just under half (48 percent) believe their benefits package offers good value for money. This puts healthcare employees second to last for perceived benefits value out of all the sectors surveyed. They were only slightly more positive than employees in the education sector, where 42 percent of workers said they got value from their benefits.
Researchers warned the data shows healthcare businesses are at risk of losing out on talent as 62 percent of employees say they would quit their current job if another company offered a better benefits package, and 38 percent would think about moving to a different sector.
However, a lack of awareness may play a part as only 60 percent of this group say they know exactly what benefits they have. This level of awareness was the second lowest across the sectors, despite 99 percent of healthcare businesses believing that employees do know what benefits are available to them.
Just 26 percent of healthcare workers say their employer listens to their needs and responds through the benefits on offer, but 56 percent report that they don’t use the majority of their benefits.
Employers say they understand the importance employees place on support. Nearly all in the healthcare sector (94 percent) now say that a benefits package is one of the first things job candidates ask about.
“Healthcare professionals are demanding increased financial support from their employer and aren’t afraid to move elsewhere to get it – even if that means switching to another sector,” said Zest CEO Matt Russell. “Given the existing pressures on the NHS, a talent drain could have catastrophic consequences.
“Without increased investment in benefits packages and an improved understanding of the support employees are calling for, healthcare organisations are at risk of losing out on talent.
“Currently, it appears that HR leaders across the healthcare sector remain unaware of the apathy many of their employees have when it comes to engaging in their benefits packages – this leads to poor value for money for both employer and employee.”
