Companies in the UAE have taken significant strides towards providing better health and well-being benefits to employees post-Covid, according to new research.
The Aetna International study, which polled over 1,000 employees across the UAE, also showed that work remains to be done to improve internal communication among some organisations and their workforces, concerning the benefits available and how to access them.
Most UAE employees (70 percent) said they believe their company genuinely cares about their health and well-being and almost half (46 percent) said health and well-being have become an important part of their corporate culture.
When asked to gauge their company’s progress on key health and well-being metrics, over a 12-month period between September 2020 and August 2021, some 61 percent of UAE employees said their employer has made efforts to meet the varied needs of employees when crafting insurance plans.
Another 77 percent reported action having been taken by their organisation to support employees in maintaining their overall mental health and wellbeing while at work, as well as encouraging them to access the appropriate mental health resources when needed.
At a time when many employees are having to manage the strains that come with hybrid work, 81 percent of those polled said their management has taken the right steps to help them avoid work-related stress and burnout.
And 85 percent reported that their companies have made moves to support employees in dealing with the anxiety caused by the pandemic and its associated lockdowns.
“It is encouraging to see employers across the UAE fulfil their leadership roles and step up to the plate regarding employee health and wellness, particularly when it comes to mental health and pandemic induced stressors,” said David Healy, CEO EMEA, Aetna International.
“In previous research, employees said loud and clear that their employers should do more to support them in the post-Covid world. 72 percent of UAE workers expected their companies to prioritise mental health care more in the age of COVID, and 63 percent expected this of physical health. Furthermore, two thirds said their employer should be spending more on health benefits — it appears employers in the UAE have answered these calls.”
Despite the positive report cards from employees, the latest research also noted that employees need more to be done in terms of where and how they can access benefits.
Some 22 percent said their employer has not shared clear information on how to access benefits or support. And when asked what they feel was missing from the support currently provided, top of the list was better communication (43 percent).
“Our research shows that employees know great progress has been made by organisations in meeting their health and well-being needs, but they need more clarity and consistency in the information delivered to them and, more importantly, a safe space where honest conversations about health and well-being are encouraged,” added Healy.
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