37% of employers say employee engagement is becoming harder, research reveals

37% of employers said employee engagement is set to become harder, according to research from Towergate Employee Benefits. 

Research found 34% of employers use digital platforms to encourage employees to access health and wellbeing support. 

Over a quarter (26%) promote support through the company intranet, but this tends to be passive and relies on people searching for information themselves. 

Meanwhile, 22% use written communications such as emails, and ask benefits advisers and providers to assist with messaging.

Some employers used in-person approaches, with 21% running events with health and wellbeing specialists and 18% asking providers and advisers to run these events. 

Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Employee Benefits, said: “New workplace dynamics, including hybrid working and virtual meetings, have come into play over the last few years and are making it increasingly difficult to engage employees. 

“Health and wellbeing support can be a virtuous circle – if employees engage in health and wellbeing, they feel more engaged with the company. 

“The key is finding more creative and dynamic ways to encourage the use of benefits.”

Clark added: “Asking for support from those providing or advising on the health and wellbeing support offered by the company is a great use of resources. 

“They will also be able to provide employees with much more in-depth knowledge and expertise on the support available.”

24% have wellbeing champions promoting support across the business. 

Other methods include wellbeing calendars of events and awareness days (22%), regular promotions (18%), and webinars (16%).

33% of employers only direct staff to support when asked, and 13% do not actively encourage use of support at all. 

Clark said: “Employers who are either not encouraging the use of health and wellbeing support at all, or who are relying on employees making the effort themselves to investigate the support offered, are missing out hugely. 

“Health and wellbeing support is of course put in place to ensure that employees are healthy and happy, but this is not entirely altruistic. 

“There are advantages for the business too, including increased loyalty, less absenteeism, greater productivity – but only if employees engage with the support and use it. Otherwise employers may well be wasting their money.”