Latest figures released by the company behind Engage, the leading employee digital health and wellbeing app, have revealed an unprecedented 273% increase in demand for mental health support services during the first week of Lockdown 1, as David McCormack, CEO of employee benefits and outsourced payroll provider, HIVE360, explains.
We recorded this massive hike in demand for mental and physical wellbeing advice and support via our employee digital health and wellbeing app, Engage, just days after the country went into Lockdown 1.
We also recorded a 102% increase in the use of the Engage app’s GP service over the same seven-day period (23rd to 29th March), compared to the same week in 2019, a 233% increase in demand for its carer support service, and a sustained increase of 101% for the entire month of April.
Our Engage health and wellbeing app has been a lifeline for many throughout the pandemic, and will continue to play a crucial role in managing the mental and physical health and wellbeing of employees working in lockdown.
It’s more important than ever that employers are tuned-in to the wellbeing of their employees. The current challenges are putting a strain on mental health, with the many changes to the workplace and routine, the switch to home and remote working, as well as different shift patterns and rotas.
Employers should aim to offer a variety of benefits that will help foster wellbeing and ensure these are easily accessible at work or at home. Using a dedicated engagement portal certainly enables staff to access lifestyle benefits and welfare support, confidentially, securely and 24-hours a day, seven days a week.
Today’s world of work is changing, and growing numbers of staff are looking beyond financial remuneration alone, with more and more people actively seeking a positive work:life experience.
How much employees are engaged with the business and their employer plays a significant role in their overall health and wellbeing. A benefits strategy that reflects the face of today’s workforce is central to attracting and retaining talent that is right for the business. Employers that offer tangible support on issues such as mental, physical and financial health and wellbeing, report compelling evidence of improved employee productivity levels and the overall performance of the business.
HIVE360 operates extensively in the GLAA* and industrial recruitment sectors. Its mobile, customisable engagement app and platform give employees access to a range of benefits and services, from a personal doctor, personal support helpline and care support, to gym memberships and high-street, lifestyle, dining and insurance discounts, along with access to their digital payslips and a real-time workplace pension dashboard.
