Bupa's Iain McMillan looks at how to attract and retain a happy workforce

It has long been acknowledged that employees are the most valuable asset of any organisation, with every single member of the team crucial to business growth and future prosperity. But amid the ‘great resignation’ and in a white-hot labour market, what is the key to maintaining talent retention, attraction – and having a happy, healthy workforce?

The global Covid-19 pandemic has caused a seismic shift in what ‘work’  now looks like. Many previously office-based employees are now working from home with hybrid or flexible working models, and businesses in all industries have had to swiftly adapt and evolve in the face of the crisis, while still working against a backdrop of major economic uncertainty.

The global Covid-19 pandemic has caused a seismic shift in what ‘work’  now looks like. Many previously office-based employees are now working from home with hybrid or flexible working models, and businesses in all industries have had to swiftly adapt and evolve in the face of the crisis, while still working against a backdrop of major economic uncertainty.”

This has brought home the significant impact that job design, and where we choose to work, has on our overall health. Bupa’s Workplace Wellbeing Census, a survey of more than 4,000 employees across different industries, found that employees increasingly expect their employers to support them, taking on the role of health and wellbeing partner too. 

That’s why a robust employee wellbeing strategy that promotes and protects physical and mental health is so important. This should help to retain and attract the best people – the Wellbeing Index found that one in three employers planning changes post Covid-19 are considering doctor services and private medical insurance.

It should boost innovation and productivity too; stats have shown that business owners believe providing wellbeing benefits has a high impact on supporting business productivity. And it should reduce sickness absence costs. In the UK alone, 38.8 million working days were lost due to work-related ill health and non-fatal workplace injuries in 2019/20.

With a return to pre-pandemic level normality likely to be a lengthy process, businesses will need to continue innovating to meet the needs of their people. Many of them are already doing this, whether by improving their wellbeing provision, offering better information and support, or providing access to health services. 

The organisations that thrive will be those that put people first as they emerge from the Covid 19 pandemic. At Bupa, we’re already seeing this shift and are here to be the wellness partner employees are looking for.”

The organisations that thrive will be those that put people first as they emerge from the Covid 19 pandemic. At Bupa, we’re already seeing this shift and are here to be the wellness partner employees are looking for.

We’ve recently refocused our teams to better support intermediaries and their clients. We’re creating dedicated teams to support existing customer relationships in our corporate, small and medium-sized enterprises and specialist business segments, allowing us to get closer to our business customers. These changes will help us be better for business – not only for ourselves, but also for our customers.