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Global Employer Insights Survey: Health and Wellbeing

Do employers care about employee financial wellbeing?

Optum wanted to find out more about the importance of employee financial health in health and wellbeing (H&W) strategy, so we surveyed 347 global employers to ask them. 

What aspects of employees’ wellbeing do you feel your company’s H&W strategy addresses?

Financial health is catching up with other aspects of wellbeing as far as inclusion in H&W strategy. Employers saw the biggest change in that area between 2021 and 2022. 

Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.  Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.

In 2021 and 2022, employers told us whether they address 4 key areas of H&W programmes: physical health went up 5%, from 63% in 2021 to 68% in 2022; social health went up 3%, from 62% in 2021 to 65% in 2022; mental health stayed the same, 60% in 2021 and 2022; and financial health went up 6%, from 53% in 2021 to 59% in 2022. 

How likely is it that your company’s H&W strategy will address wellbeing aspects in the future? 

Global employers say they’re likely to address social health, physical health and behavioural/mental health in their future H&W strategy.

Graphs showing how likely 3 key areas will be part of future H&W strategies.  Graphs showing how likely 3 key areas will be part of future H&W strategies.

In 2021, 26% of companies said they were “extremely likely” to address social health while 48% said “very likely,” for a total of 74%. In 2022, 43% said they were “extremely likely” to address social health while 41% said “very likely,” for a total of 84%. For physical health, 36% of companies said they were “extremely likely” to address it while 45% said “very likely,” for a total of 81%. In 2022, 37% said they were “extremely likely” to address physical health while 47% said “very likely,” for a total of 84%. For behavioural/mental health, 40% of employers said they were “extremely likely” to address it, while 39% said “very likely,” for a total of 79%. In 2022, 36% said they were “extremely likely” to address behavioural/mental health, while 48% said “very likely,” for a total of 84%. 

The likelihood that employee financial health will be addressed by their H&W strategy is ranked higher by companies in the LATAM region compared to EMEA and APAC.

Graphs showing how likely financial health will be addressed by future H&W strategies.  Graphs showing how likely financial health will be addressed by future H&W strategies.

On 2021, 36% of employers said they were “extremely likely” to address financial health, while 34% said “very likely,” for a total of 70%. In 2022, 31% said they were “extremely likely” to address it, while 34% said “very likely,” for a total of 65%. In 2022, 36% of APAC employers were “extremely likely” to address financial health in the future while 29% said “very likely,” for a total of 65%. In EMEA, 29% of employers said they were “extremely likely” to address it, while 29% also said “very likely,” for a total of 58%. In LATAM, 31% said “extremely likely,” while 47% said they were “very likely” to address it, for a total of 78%. 

How does your company allocate financial resources in support of its H&W strategy and in which areas?

Global companies allocate about the same percentage of resources to H&W strategies overall and across 4 key H&W areas. They allocate about a quarter of their H&W budget towards each of those areas.

Graph showing how employers allocate resources to H&W strategy overall and in 4 key areas. Graph showing how employers allocate resources to H&W strategy overall and in 4 key areas.

In 2022, 60% of global employers said they invest in employee physical health and spend 26% of their overall H&W budget in that area. For social health, 60% of employers said they invest in that area, 24% of their overall H&W spending. For financial health, 59% said they invest in that area, 25% of their H&W spending. For mental health, 59% said they allocated resources to that area, 23% of their H&W spending. 

Employers in the LATAM region are less likely to spend their H&W budget on employee financial health. 

Graph showing percentage of H&W resources spent on financial health across 3 global regions. Graph showing percentage of H&W resources spent on financial health across 3 global regions.

In APAC, 67% of employers said they invest in financial health, 27% of their H&W budget. In EMEA, 62% said they invest in financial health, 28% of their H&W budget. In LATAM, 47% said they invested in financial health, 18% of their overall H&W spending. 

The biggest challenge is maintaining financial health these days and for all of us in general.

— Employer in Brazil

When it comes to financial health, in what areas do your employees need the most help? 

“Planning/budgeting” has overtaken “saving for retirement” as the financial health area where companies believe employees need the most help.

Graph showing 2 key H&W areas ranked from 2020 through 2022. Graph showing 2 key H&W areas ranked from 2020 through 2022.

In 2020, 22% of global employers said “planning/budgeting” was the area employees needed the most help while 20% said that in 2021 and 28% in 2022. In 2020, 28% said “saving for retirement” was the area employees needed the most help while 24% said that in 2021 and 20% in 2022. 


Where does financial health fall within your H&W strategic priorities? 

Optum can help. We’re on a mission to create a healthier world.  At Optum, we understand that corporate success starts with a healthy workforce. Our integrated health solutions, including our global Employee Assistance Programme, help advance your health and wellbeing strategy to build a culture of health within your organisation. 

Learn more at optum.com/globalemployers.


Related content

Get insights into health and wellbeing trends, strategies and solutions.

 

2022 International Wellness in the Workplace Study

Optum surveyed large employers around the world to better understand current health and wellbeing strategies and practices.

Health and wellbeing now a top priority, say employers

Employee health and wellbeing is a top priority — and it’s increasing in importance over time. 

Health and wellbeing challenges in the APAC region

Current challenges include effective H&W programme promotion and motivating employees to participate.   

Survey methodology

  • 347 international employers located in APAC, EMEA or LATAM regions
  • Global companies with 3,000+ employees
  • Decision-makers in human resources, executive, management or administrative roles
  • Surveys administered online from 7 April to 5 May 2022
Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.  Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.
Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.  Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.
Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.  Graph showing H&W strategy focus changes in 4 key areas in 2021 and 2022.