The Future of Employee Wellness: Embracing Preventive Health

As healthcare costs continue to rise and the burden on national health systems grows heavier, employers increasingly recognise the importance of preventive health measures as part of their wellness strategies. Prevention is not only better than cure but is also more cost-effective and efficient, promoting a healthier, more engaged workforce. This article explores how preventive health initiatives—ranging from wellness screenings and health assessments to leveraging advanced technology—are reshaping employee wellness strategies and the workplace as a whole. 

Employers Are Taking a Proactive Approach 

The trend for employers to invest in wellness initiatives has accelerated in recent years. Factors such as the lingering impact of COVID-19, challenges faced by the NHS, and the rising availability of wellness propositions have fuelled this momentum. Today, more than ever, employees expect their employers to provide robust wellness support. Yet, as many organisations have discovered, a one-size-fits-all approach no longer works. A recent report from the Royal Society for Public Health highlights a critical gap: almost half of the UK workforce—over 10 million employees—lack access to essential workplace health support, including flu vaccinations, cardiovascular screenings, and basic wellness checks. 

Employers have often been oversold wellness products that aren't grounded in data or insights, leading to low utilisation rates. While offering services that can positively impact even a small segment of employees is important, there's a growing realisation that these services can be delivered in a more targeted, cost-effective way. By offering wellness programmes at "moments that matter," companies can make a substantial impact without needing to roll out expensive, all-encompassing solutions. 

The Financial Case for Preventive Health 

Rising healthcare costs are a major concern for employers, and it’s hard to imagine them coming down anytime soon. Factors such as medical inflation, increased claims, and NHS delays contribute to this trend. Many employees opt out of private healthcare due to tax costs, while others face long waiting times in the public health system. This is where preventive health plays a critical role. 

Preventive health measures—ranging from wellness screenings and triage to early interventions and personalised care pathways—are essential for helping employers manage healthcare costs while providing their workforce with the best possible care. By addressing health issues before they escalate, companies can keep their employees healthier, reduce absenteeism, and improve productivity. Despite these benefits, more than 10 million UK workers lack employer-provided health services such as screenings and basic health support, risking further exacerbation of health inequalities. 

Early Detection: The Power of Screenings and Assessments 

Early detection is one of the most effective ways to prevent serious health issues. Regular wellness screenings and health assessments allow for the identification of issues like hypertension or cancer in their early stages, significantly improving the chances of survival and successful treatment. 

However, many companies reserve these screenings for higher-paid or senior employees, and even then, encouraging participation can be a challenge. Offering screenings as a voluntary, employee-funded benefit often results in low uptake. In addition, most wellness screenings are only conducted annually or biennially, which means changes in an employee's health can go undetected for long periods. 

To maximise the benefits of screenings, companies need to ensure they are accessible to all employees, not just the top-tier workforce. The Royal Society for Public Health’s findings underscore the urgency of making wellness programmes more inclusive, as many workers lack access to even basic preventive health services. Leveraging technology to increase the frequency and convenience of these assessments can help detect health issues earlier and foster a culture of proactive health management. 

Impact on Productivity and Workplace Morale 

The long-term benefits of investing in preventive health measures extend beyond cost savings. Numerous reports, including the Deloitte UK Mental Health Report, show that poor health significantly impacts workplace productivity. Workplace sickness costs employers around £100 billion annually in the UK alone. Similarly, Vitality's research highlights the link between employee well-being, engagement, and overall productivity. 

Despite this, many employers struggle to quantify the Return on Investment (ROI) of wellness programmes. Without integrated data to track metrics like absenteeism, presenteeism, or engagement, it is challenging to demonstrate improvements over time or justify continued investment in wellness initiatives. Employers need access to integrated data to monitor the effectiveness of their wellness strategies and adjust them as needed. 

Leveraging Technology for Preventive Health 

Technology has transformed how employers can support preventive health. From wearable health trackers to AI-driven diagnostic tools, technology enables non-invasive, remote health monitoring that can be done anytime, anywhere. This flexibility removes barriers that traditionally prevent employees from engaging with wellness programmes, resulting in higher participation rates. VivaScore, our advanced digital health engagement app, takes this one step further by offering real-time health insights and tracking a range of vital health metrics, including heart rate, blood pressure, and stress levels. These metrics empower employees to understand their health status continuously and act proactively. VivaScore’s personalised health recommendations, paired with AI-driven analytics, help guide employees towards relevant preventive care and intervention pathways, ensuring they receive the support they need when they need it most. 

These technology-driven initiatives are not only more cost-effective than traditional health assessments but also provide real-time insights that enable more timely and relevant health interventions. By leveraging platforms like VivaScore, employers can deliver personalised, data-backed preventive care, building a healthier, more engaged workforce. 

The Role of NHS Workplace Health MoTs 

NHS workplace health MoTs are a valuable initiative for raising awareness of employee health in key areas such as blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and lifestyle factors like diet and exercise. However, these health checks are currently only available to a small portion of the population—those aged 40-74 without pre-existing conditions—and are conducted once every five years. 

While the NHS initiative is beneficial, it underscores the need for employers to offer more inclusive and frequent health checks for their entire workforce. By leveraging technology to deliver cost-effective, remote health assessments, employers can provide preventive care that is accessible to everyone, not just a select few. 

Preventive health is becoming an integral part of employee wellness strategies, and for good reason. Employers that invest in proactive health measures are reducing healthcare costs and fostering a healthier, more engaged workforce. As technology advances, the ability to offer personalised, frequent, and accessible preventive care will only grow, further solidifying the business case for embracing prevention over cure.