Health is dominating the technology landscape at the moment, with fitness and wellbeing becoming more important than ever. We all like to think we are looking after ourselves, but how much do businesses consider the importance of health and fitness for their staff? We commissioned research to find out the true value of health and wellbeing in the workplace - find out the results in our Health in the Workplace report.

1. Health in the Workplace:
A study into rewards at work and
employee wellbeing
Ireland Report
Produced by One4all
2015
www.one4allrewards.ie

2. INTRODUCTION
With 80% of white collar workers clocking up more than 40 hours each week* and
technology meaning that work is encroaching more and more into personal leisure
time, taking care of employee wellbeing is becoming an increasing priority for many
businesses.
Employee wellbeing can be key to increasing productivity, reducing absenteeism and
also retaining and attracting the best workers.
At One4all Rewards we work with organisations to develop programmes that
incentivise desirable behaviour. This isn’t about encouraging people to work around
the clock, but incentivising greater productivity.
For this report we have commissioned research across 1,000 workplaces**, looking
at how employees feel about issues to do with their wellbeing and productivity. It
offers useful insights that will help your organisation become a healthier and more
productive place to work, and demonstrate the value improving employee wellbeing
can have.
Michael Dawson
Managing Director, One4all Rewards
* Robert Walters Career Lifestyle survey, May 2013
** Survey conducted by Atomik Research for One4All Rewards, May 2015

3. The relationship between health and productivity in
the workplace is being ignored by the majority
of employers
Currently over a quarter (28%) of the Irish workforce admits that they are
underperforming due to poor health and wellbeing.
A large number of that workforce (43%) estimate that improving this aspect of their
lives would improve their productivity at work by more than 10%.
In addition, 31% of respondents – nearly a third of the Irish workforce – said that they
would be less likely to call in sick if their employer made an effort to look after their
health and wellbeing.
Given that unplanned leave costs businesses on average €818 per employee
each year, the benefits of introducing a ‘wellbeing in the workplace’ scheme are
self-evident.*
Despite this, the vast majority of employers are doing nothing to address this
problem, with an overwhelming 85% of respondents stating that the company they
work for does not actively encourage a healthier lifestyle.
*Employee Absenteeism report by IBEC, 2009
“As a trainer I see many
people on a daily basis who
are pleasantly surprised by
the improvement in their
energy levels and overall
feeling of wellness just by
getting in a little exercise
each day.”
Siobhan Byrne, Director of BodyByrne Fitness

4. How is work currently impacting the health of
employees?
For many employees their workplace has a negative impact on their health and
wellbeing.
11% of workers in the past year report becoming ill as a direct result of their work.
Over three times that number (38%) say that their work is a cause of them regularly
feeling high degrees of stress.
27% admit that they sometimes do not sleep as a result of work pressures.
Conversely, only 15% of workers said that their work actually had a positive impact
on their health and wellbeing.

5. Employees persevering in spite of ill health
Despite many workers not feeling on top of their game, this isn’t translating into a
‘sicknote’ culture.
39% of employees haven’t taken a single day off work due to illness in the past year
and only 15% admit to throwing a ‘sickie’ in this time.
While seemingly good news, this can also mean that absenteeism isn’t an effective
way for employers to measure the true state of staff health and wellbeing.
A worrying 69% of employees have gone into work despite being ill at least once in
the past 12 months, suggesting that employees feel pressured to show up for work
even when they should stay at home.
In part, it also seems that employers are encouraging this culture of presenteeism
– a belief that being at your desk is more important than being well – with 35% of
people saying that they feel under pressure from bosses to go into work even when
they are ill.

6. 10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0
Percentage
14.77
68.76
In the past year
I’ve pulled a sickie
when I was really
well enough to go
to work
In the past year I’ve
gone into work even
though I was sick
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+
38.62
13.17
16.67
9.18
5.69 5.49
2.20 1.90 0.60
6.49
Number of ‘Sick Days’
Taken in the last 12 months
The ‘always on’ workplace culture
Employee attendance

7. The ‘always on’ business culture
Work is also encroaching on lunch beaks, holidays and free time, preventing employ-
ees from being able to properly relax and get away from the pressures of the day.
Nearly 25% of Irish workers say that they regularly work through lunch without any
extra pay.
In 23% of workplaces it is common practice for employees to answer emails and carry
out work while they are meant to be on holiday.
And only in 1 in 4 workplaces did people say that it was easy to switch off and forget
work at the end of the day.

8. 10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage
22.65
25.15
In my place of work,
people work a lot
on emails and other
work related items
even when they are
on holidays
In my place of work,
people switch off
when they have
finished work
17.96
24.95
42.61
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage
At lunchtime I
rarely get away
from the desk
I regularly work
through lunch
without any
extra pay
At lunchtime I
mostly get away
from the desk
The ‘always on’ workplace culture
Working lunchSwitching off

9. Why introduce a company health scheme?
Company health schemes come in all shapes and sizes, but crucially they all send an
important message to staff that their employer genuinely cares about staff health
and wellbeing.
As a result, such schemes can be a powerful tool for keeping and attracting the
best workers.
72% of people taking part in the survey said that knowing their employer cared about
their health would mean that they were more likely to remain with that company.
In terms of attracting staff, a good work life balance was also a major factor for just
under a third (32%) of candidates when choosing a new job (second only to better
pay and benefits).

10. 10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage
Strongly
agree
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Percentage
Feel more
valued
Be less likely to
accept a job
elsewhere
Be happier to
work longer
hours
29.34
42.32
26.35
1.30 0.70
Agree Neither
agree
nor
Disagree
Disagree Strongly
Disagree
55.29
24.65
16.47
“I would be more likely
to stay at a company that
cares about my health.”
“If my company offered
wellness or health schemes
it would make me...”
Why introduce a company health scheme?

11. How are workplace health and wellbeing schemes
perceived by staff?
Employees are keen for companies to do more to support healthier lifestyles.
40% of employees believe there should be financial incentives offered by companies
to encourage them to stay fit and healthy.
Over two-thirds (67%) of workers would like to see employers offering advice and
information on health-related subjects.
Specifically, 44% would like to see employers provide exercise information to
encourage healthier lifestyles, while 28% would like companies to offer help to quit
smoking.
24% would welcome weight loss advice from the businesses they work for.
5% even admitted that they would like to see employers provide advice on matters
related to sexual health.

12. 10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
23.85
44.01
28.04
5.49
Weight
loss
advice
Exercise
Info
Help to
quit
smoking
Sexual
health
advice
What types of schemes would be welcomed by employees?
Percentage
9.18
32.83
Other
(not listed)
None of
the above

13. What kinds of wellbeing and health schemes are Irish
companies currently offering?
Workers at 15% of Irish companies believe that their employer makes their health
and wellbeing a top priority.
And in 43% of workplaces there is some form of health and wellness scheme in place.
The most common schemes are free or subsidised health insurance (16%) or
vaccination services (16%). Other schemes include free or subsidised gym
memberships (9%), fitness classes (7%) and smoking cessation programmes (5%).
Such programmes are most common in the Healthcare and Retail sectors. They are
least common in the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing sector.

14. What kinds of health and wellbeing schemes
are companies offering?
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Percentage
15.57
4.19
5.39
6.89
1.60
8.68
9.38
15.97
57.19
1.70
3.99
Vaccination services (e.g. flu jabs)
Weight loss schemes
Quitting smoking programmes
Fitness classes
A mental health / duvet day
Free fruit, vegetables and health snacks
Free / Subsidised gym membership
Free / Subsidised health insurance
Dont know
Other (please specify)
None of the above

15. What else can employers do?
Taking an active role in employee health and wellbeing does not only mean
implementing a special scheme - making healthier choices about work social events
and the facilities in the working environment can also make a significant difference.
For example, 20% of workplaces have canteens or vending machines that only offer
‘unhealthy’ meals and snacks.
Many companies can also be said to promote an after hours drinking culture. 33% of
employers only have social nights that centre around alcohol.
Making changes to these areas will also contribute to healthier workplaces.
Where possible, encouraging healthy commuting can also promote fitness as well as
being more environmentally friendly.
30% of workplaces were reported to be making use of the Government-subsidised
Cycle to Work scheme and a further 17% were encouraging cycling by providing
facilities such as secure bike storage areas.

16. Conclusion
These findings clearly show that, while it is still the minority of Irish companies who
are offering health and wellbeing schemes – or even demonstrate that employee
health is a top priority – those that do can reap significant rewards in terms of greater
productivity and staff recruitment and retention.
Offering these types of benefits not only makes companies more desirable places to
work, but can also mean that staff work more efficiently, take less time off and are
more loyal.
This study clearly shows that staff actively welcome employers offering such schemes
and greatly value the support they provide. Also appreciated is the message they
send about the importance employers place on staff health and wellbeing.