Promoting health and wellbeing linked to increased shareholder return

Research commissioned by the charity, Business in the Community (BITC), of FTSE 100 employers has identified enhanced financial performance for companies that strategically manage their employees` health and wellbeing.

The research highlights the business benefits for employers who take a proactive approach to the prevention of illness and promotion of health and wellbeing in their work places. These benefits range from higher employee engagement, reduced absence and attrition rates, higher productivity, better retention and recruitment, as well as reputational benefits for the company and enhanced brand image.

The BITC`s Business Action on Health campaign identifies four key areas that will aid in the promotion of employee health and wellbeing:

1. Better physical and psychological health: by creating an environment that promotes healthy behaviours;
2. Better work: by creating a happy and engaging working environment;
3. Better relationships: by promoting communications and social connections; and
4. Better specialist support: by providing early intervention for employees that develop a health condition and active sickness absence management to rehabilitate people back into work.