When was the last time you waited hours to see a doctor for an urgent health issue? Or failed to get that GP appointment because the clinic was fully booked or closed? If you have experienced this, chances are your employees have too.
Limited access to healthcare services is one of the biggest barriers to many of us staying healthy. Time constraints, a lack of knowledge and information, technological barriers and even cultural sensitivities can all affect our ability to get the help they need, when they need it.
Cigna Healthcare’s 360 Global Well-being Survey conducted in early 2023 found that in the two years prior, an average of four in ten people globally have struggled to get an appointment when they’ve been sick.
For employees, this is a major barrier to productivity, livelihoods, and general well-being. For employers, this is an opportunity to find ways to improve access to care and shore up your employees’ well-being, productivity, and retention.
The invisible barriers to care
Against a competitive and uncertain business landscape where many companies continue to make budget cuts, employees often face heavy workloads and work long hours. The Cigna Healthcare Vitality Study 2023 reveals that one in five respondents regularly work outside normal hours and four in five report feeling overwhelmed.
More worrying is that close to three-quarters say they have worked even while unwell. Workload, and the fear of making a bad impression or under-performing amid concerns about layoffs might be reasons for employees choosing to avoid taking time off to get medical attention.
In the case of mental health issues, taking time off from work to seek treatment can be even more of a challenge, especially in regions where such conditions face heightened stigma. And yet over six in ten say they struggle to concentrate at work, with health issues undoubtedly contributing to this lack of focus.
Employers must therefore strive to build a workplace culture that prioritizes health and vitality and overcome invisible barriers to care – whether through flexible work arrangements and time off, well-being programmes or tailored health benefits plans. An empathetic and inclusive environment will help to encourage your employees to open up about their problems, including health issues, and to get the help they need.
Virtual health as a powerful bridge to healthcare
For employers, highlighting the value of virtual health tools can be an effective way to increase employee well-being.
By simply enabling remote medical attention – from homes, offices, and anywhere in between – virtual health has removed many of the roadblocks we face in accessing and achieving better healthcare.
Promisingly, more and more of us are becoming open to virtual care across all kinds of services, from general and specialist consultations to therapy and counselling. In fact, half of global respondents to our Vitality Study have used virtual health and nearly a quarter more than once. Two out of five would recommend it to others.
People with mental health conditions are really seeing the benefit of this virtual revolution. Being able to have counselling sessions in the comfort of their own home or a familiar environment can help them feel at ease.
Interestingly, preferences towards virtual mental health services varies between cultures. For example, significantly more people in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa prefer virtual therapy and counselling than the global average, and especially so when compared to Europe.
But cultural nuance aside, with only four in ten respondents agreeing that they have the skills and tools necessary to live a healthy life, digital platforms are inevitably going to play an increasingly crucial role in how we deliver and receive health information, resources and services.
Building healthier workplaces
Employers play a major role in improving access to healthcare. Our research shows the majority of employees feel a robust health plan contributes to positive workplaces. By introducing such schemes, companies invest in their employees' physical health, improve access and send a strong message about their commitment to their well-being. Better yet, 40% of employees believe a health plan improves loyalty, leading to less turnover and a stable, experienced workforce.
Employers can also make simple, tangible changes to the way people work to improve well-being and, hopefully, reduce demand for services. Encouraging standing desks, regular breaks, and more physical activity can help combat the sedentary lifestyle that is common in many office settings and major driver of poor health.
Empowering your employees to look after their health
In today’s demanding and diverse work environment, simply offering a healthcare plan is not enough.
Employers need to acknowledge the challenges that employees face in accessing care, and build the right tools, systems, and culture to overcome them. Investing in novel technologies and the right healthcare plans are key to making invisible challenges visible and solvable. Together, they improve well-being, access to care, and build strong, resilient, 21st century-ready cultures.
Talk to us today to find out how we can support you on this journey.