Young people are impacting importance of health and well-being at work

New research (commissioned by leading soft drinks manufacturer, Lucozade Ribena Suntory) has found that it’s going to become increasingly important for employers to offer excellent health and well-being packages as younger employees continue to join the workforce.

Lucozade Ribena Suntory is sharing its own experiences of developing an employee health and well-being programme and has released its first report, which aims to provide employers across the UK with case studies and insight on how to improve workplace well-being and in turn increase employee engagement.

The research found that there is a huge generational divide surrounding health and well-being at work. When asked how important health and well-being packages would be when deciding their next job, 40% of those aged 18-24 thought it was ‘very important’ (compared to the 29% average), while only 19% of over-55s did.

The message from younger workers is also underlined by the fact that three in five (61%) workers aged 18-24 think their current working conditions have a negative impact on their health and well-being. This is compared to only 34% of over-55s.

This generational shift was also reflected in the fact that just 35% of 18-24 year-olds thought that they were responsible for their own health and well-being at work, compared to 64% of the over-55s.

With the research as a proof point, Lucozade Ribena Suntory is calling on all companies – especially SMEs – to reassess the health and well-being initiatives they have in place. With 41% of employees in companies with 500 or more staff saying they are under too much pressure, it is time to listen to the feedback and react to the different needs of our workforce.

Tracy Clarke, HR director at Lucozade Ribena Suntory, commented on the findings: “Our research shows that priorities are shifting, with employees aged between 18-24, in particular, wanting their employers to put more emphasis on their health and well-being.

“At Lucozade Ribena Suntory, we are passionate about doing the right thing for all employees in the workplace, and want to continue playing our part in improving the nation’s health and well-being. This is why we’re sharing our insight and some of the biggest lessons we’ve learned along the way. We’re encouraging other businesses to download our health and well-being report and create a programme that is truly inclusive, with all employees’ needs at its very heart.”

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