New research highlights an expanding range of employee needs, challenging employers.
- Traditional health and wellbeing demands are rising, but diverse issues now prominent.
- Employers report increased demand in areas like fertility, neurodiversity, and gender identity.
- Specialist healthcare providers offer wider support to address these varied needs.
- Effective communication and digital platforms aid accessibility and uptake of support.
A recent study by Towergate Health & Protection reveals that employers are facing an increasingly complex array of employee support needs. Traditional areas such as health and wellbeing are still significant, but there is a marked shift towards more diverse requirements, including caring responsibilities, fertility, neurodiversity, addiction, and gender identity. This transition indicates a broader spectrum of challenges for companies to navigate.
In fact, 29% of employers expect a rise in demand for support with caring responsibilities, while over 20% foresee increased needs in fertility, neurodiversity, addiction, and gender identity. Debra Clark, head of wellbeing at Towergate Health & Protection, emphasises that the sheer breadth of these requirements necessitates assistance for employers in managing them. The landscape of support requirements is expanding beyond traditional benefits.
Encouragingly, there is a growing availability of specialist support services. Many healthcare providers now extend their offerings to encompass gender-specific care, fertility treatments, and menopause support. Moreover, dedicated eldercare services and companies focusing on neurodiversity provide crucial help in navigating these complex areas. This expansion of services is pivotal in ensuring that employees receive comprehensive support across various facets of their lives.
A significant challenge for employers is staying informed about the support available to employees. Expert advice remains vital, as specialists are well-versed in the latest solutions and aware of niche areas requiring attention, such as addiction, eldercare, and gender-related support. This expertise is indispensable for aligning employee needs with appropriate assistance.
Communication is identified as a critical component in the effective delivery of support. Employees need clear information about available resources and how to access them. Frequent, targeted messaging helps in keeping this information front and centre, ensuring that it resonates with the workforce’s demographic. Digital platforms play a crucial role, consolidating information for easy access and facilitating swift updates, making it easier for employees to avail support regardless of their location.
Employers must adapt to and manage an increasingly diversified range of employee support needs with the help of experts and effective communication tools.
