Wellbeing Diagnostic Survey 2024
ZURICH, September 24, 2024 – Swiss companies are placing increasing emphasis on the physical and mental wellbeing of their employees. This is confirmed by the latest Wellbeing Diagnostic Survey from the global consulting firm WTW. However, the results show a significant gap between the focus of employer programs and the actual needs of employees.
In recent years, more and more employees have been affected by mental health issues, and about a quarter of the workforce is in poor physical condition. Against this backdrop, Swiss employers are focusing on the mental (68%) and physical (41%) wellbeing of their employees. However, the survey concludes that the main concern for employees is support for their financial wellbeing (59%) – an area that is barely a focus for employers (17%).
Although Swiss employers offer basic benefits such as life and disability insurance or occupational pensions, there is often a lack of tailored offers for financial education or support with financial decisions. This is particularly true in areas such as spending, borrowing and saving, where employees increasingly need guidance.
Almost half of employees (49%) state that they have moderate or severe problems in at least two areas of their wellbeing. Poor well-being in just one area can lead to higher absenteeism, presenteeism, burnout or reduced motivation to work. The study shows that almost half of employees (48%) suffer from above-average levels of stress, while 31% report symptoms of anxiety or depression.
Reto Ebnöther, Head of Health & Benefits at WTW Switzerland, says, “The increasing mental health issues have brought employee wellbeing into focus for employers in recent years. Companies have dedicated significant attention to physical and mental wellbeing, making it a central component of their human capital strategy. These investments have heightened employees' awareness of the corresponding initiatives.”
“The increasing mental health issues have brought employee wellbeing into focus for employers in recent years. Companies have dedicated significant attention to physical and mental wellbeing, making it a central component of their human capital strategy.”
Reto Ebnöther | Head of Health & Benefits, WTW Switzerland
He adds, “Companies that are particularly effective in terms of wellbeing often report positive business outcomes, including improved financial performance and lower employee turnover. Despite this, there is a gap between the areas employers are investing in and the needs expressed by employees.”
Employee perceptions of the effectiveness of employer programs to promote healthier lifestyles have improved slightly overall since the pandemic – from 25% in 2022 to 32% currently. Nevertheless, significant differences between employers' and employees' perceptions are evident. While 61% of employers believe that their programs make an important contribution to employee health, only 40% of employees agree. This raises the question of how companies can optimize their support to better meet the needs of employees.
Nevertheless, many employers are setting themselves ambitious goals: 48% plan to make employee wellbeing a central part of their HR strategy in the next three years – compared to just 23% today. In addition, almost half of employers (49%) plan to increase communication about their programs and link wellbeing to company culture (73%) to raise standards of health and wellbeing.
Gaby Joyner, Head of Employee Experience Europe at WTW, says, “The delivery of wellbeing initiatives is just as important as the content of the programmes. Communication, accessibility and creating a connected culture that links back to company and employee values is key to building a stronger employee experience when it comes to wellbeing.”
She concludes, “It’s important that employers focus on getting the right priorities in place to support the varied needs of their workforce, as well as creating an enabling environment that promotes the services they make available.”
