70% of employers struggling to ensure wellbeing communication is relevant 

A survey, conducted by Towergate Health & Protection, of 500 HR decision makers across the UK in January revealed that 70% struggle to know what support their employees need in the ever-changing work landscape.

For SMEs, this figure was 50%, meaning that on average, over half (55%) of employers admitted difficultly in making communications relevant, struggling to target specific messages at specific groups of the workforce.
 
Over the last 12 months, 42% of companies have changed their health and wellbeing communication programme, and nearly two-thirds, 62%, say that they now communicate the support they offer their people more regularly. 

The research noted that while this increased frequency of communication is positive, it is important not to use a broad-brush approach.

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Nearly half (48%) of the companies surveyed said they have found it more difficult to communicate the support they offer to staff because many employees now work from home either some or all of the time. In likely response to this, the majority, 55%, of employers now concentrate more on digital health and wellbeing communications. 
 
Debra Clark, head of specialist consulting at Towergate Health & Protection, said: “Where employers are finding it hard to ensure that communications are relevant, the answer is often as simple as asking employees what they want, and not just making assumptions. This applies to the health and wellbeing support being offered, but also to the type of communications being used.”

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“The last few years have seen a sea-change in employment models, with working from home and hybrid working becoming commonplace. This means that the communication of health and wellbeing support has become more difficult and, arguably, more important.”
 
“Health and wellbeing support is a constantly changing landscape and so is its communication. Employers must ensure they listen to the needs of their employees and remain current and flexible in what they offer and how they convey this.”