Inspiring healthy lifestyles at work: The business benefits of employee wellbeing
Healthy employees equal healthy business. Well… there’s more to it than that, but having physically well employees and inspiring healthy lifestyles does benefit your business. Simply put, our workforce is ageing, and the average absenteeism rate is rising. So, how can we take action?
Keeping your people healthy is more affordable than you might think. Piqued your interest? Read on to discover the benefits of healthy employees.
In a hurry? Here are the top three takeaways from our blog on the business benefits of inspiring healthy lifestyles at work.
1. Healthy lifestyles directly reduce absenteeism and are financially beneficial: Encouraging physical activity and overall wellbeing (including mental and financial health) significantly lowers sickness absence. Physically active employees take 27% fewer sick days and are at reduced risk of major diseases, easing cost pressures on businesses.
2. Preventative wellbeing strategies are far more cost‑effective than reactive absence management: Investing in proactive health support, such as gym & fitness discounts, online GPs, occupational health and wellbeing programmes, addresses issues before they escalate into long‑term absence, which is far more expensive to manage.
3. A strong focus on health and wellbeing helps attract, retain and engage talent: In a tight labour market, employees expect more than a salary; they want wellbeing‑centric benefits. Prioritising physical, mental and financial wellness improves job satisfaction, enhances culture, and helps reduce both presenteeism and absenteeism, making your organisation more competitive and resilient.
Got time to stick around? Let's dive a little deeper.
Inspiring healthy lifestyles at work in an ageing workforce
Ageing. It’s a fact of life we can’t avoid, and as we age, we’re at a higher risk of suffering from age-related illnesses, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
We can’t reverse the ageing process, but we can lower the risk of illness. How? By embracing a healthy lifestyle, with a holistic approach that includes nutrition, sleep and exercise.
Why inspiring healthy lifestyles matters to your business
The workforce is ageing, people are retiring later in life, and the government is campaigning to lure those who retired early back into the workforce. These employees bring a wealth of skills, knowledge and expertise, and are a true asset. Still, we must acknowledge that as we age, we become more prone to illness, which is likely to increase absenteeism rates.
Absences in the UK workforce cost the economy £18 million annually, averaging £500 per employee (Acutec). Inspiring healthy, attainable lifestyles helps keep your workforce healthier for longer, regardless of age.
Healthy lifestyles across generations in the workplace
For our research (or maybe just pure curiosity), we Googled which generation is the healthiest, and the answer isn’t so clear.
Whilst Gen Z (1996-2010) are the most likely to prioritise mental health and show lower rates of smoking and alcohol consumption, the Millennial cohort (1981-1995) is bigger on work-life balance and fitness. Gen X (1965-1980) is the generation that first embraced gym memberships and is the most likely to change their health habits (BBC Good Food).
What does this tell us? Being older doesn’t necessarily mean being less healthy. Each generation brings something to the table when it comes to health, and we can learn from each other. The earlier we can adopt healthy lifestyle choices, the more impactful the long-term positive effects.
It’s not all about physical health: a healthy lifestyle includes mental and financial wellness, too. Gen Z and the financially savvy lifestyle we’re hearing about in the ‘Loud Budgeting’ trend suggests they may have a trick or two to teach older generations about improving their financial health.
Barriers to healthy lifestyles at work: cost of living and affordability
The challenges of an ageing workforce should be a focus for employers during 2026 and beyond. Still, it’s important to consider other factors that hinder your business from inspiring healthy lifestyles.
The cost-of-living crisis has much to answer for, including your employees’ mental, financial and physical health. Nearly 30% of consumers cited affordability as the main reason for cancelling their gym memberships (Mintel). Unless they replaced the gym with a ‘free’ alternative, like running or cycling, that’s a worrying number of people who’ve given less priority to their physical health because of affordability issues.
It’s no shock that the average rate of absenteeism has hit a 15-year high of 9.4 days per employee annually, reflecting a growing trend of year-on-year increases since 2020 (CIPD).
If the choice to cancel a gym membership comes from a place of financial security rather than choosing to be less active, then the onus is on employers to make exercise more affordable through benefits like Corporate Gym Memberships.
The role of corporate gym memberships as a workplace benefit
The affordability debate isn't just personal; it feeds into the workplace, too. Consider the average absenteeism cost per employee versus the cost of facilitating and inspiring healthy lifestyles. Which is more financially sustainable and beneficial for your business?
Corporate Gym Membership sounds, well, corporate and somewhat restrictive, which is why we prefer to call our offering Gym & Fitness Discounts. Exercise is personal, so to ensure our fitness benefit is inclusive, we offer discounts with over 3,000 gyms, studios, fitness centres, boot camps and sports clubs across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, as well as a vast range of digital fitness providers that appeal to even the most introverted of employees. It’s all about choice and flexibility.
Does having healthier employees actually reduce sickness absence?
In short, yes. Good news for all you sports enthusiasts, park runners and gym buffs out there: regular physical activity can reduce the risk of major diseases by up to a whopping 50%, and physically active workers take, on average, 27% fewer sick days (Energise Me).
We know that the average absenteeism rate isn’t purely down to physical health. Lack of engagement is a known cause of increased rates of absenteeism, but mental ill health is currently the single biggest cause of long-term sickness absence.
When we picture healthy lifestyles, our minds often drift to the food we eat and the activities we engage in. A healthy lifestyle goes far beyond physical, incorporating mental and financial health into the mix. Remember: physical activity boosts endorphins – the happy hormone – which enhances mental health.
The verdict? Supporting your employees in all aspects of their health is a surefire way to reduce absence and associated costs. Corporate gym memberships make exercise affordable, inspiring healthy lifestyles, enhancing mental and physical health, and thus reducing absenteeism.
Is it better to invest in preventive health or reactive absence management?
The old saying – prevention is better than cure! – definitely applies when it comes to workplace health and productivity. Strategically, it makes more sense to invest in preventative strategies over managing the impact of absence.
This way, you can address root causes before they impact productivity. Identifying problems like stress or ergonomic issues now helps prevent minor issues from becoming chronic and resulting in long-term absences, which cost more to rectify, given the inevitable costs of sick pay, temporary staff, and lost productivity.
One of the best preventative measures is exercise, as it impacts both mental and physical health, and this is where gym discounts come into play. Access to Online GP, annual leave purchase schemes and occupational health also provide effective support whilst your employees are is still in work.
A preventative health strategy requires financial investment that delivers a return, reducing the expense of absenteeism and long-term sick leave.
Can workplace wellbeing benefits help differentiate us in a tight labour market?
In our blog post, ‘How are Employers Responding to a Tight Labour Market?’, we explore what a tight labour market means for both employers and employees. The key takeaway? Your business needs talent to thrive, but said talent is looking for the absolute best offer, and that’s more than a competitive salary. Use this knowledge to stand out, attract talent and improve retention.
A competitive wage is one thing, but employees are increasingly looking at the whole package, and that package must be irresistible. Whether that’s gym discounts, the option to purchase annual leave, or accessible mental health support, employee health benefits are not one-size-fits-all.
Does improving health reduce both presenteeism and absenteeism?
It’s not just about keeping employees working. It’s about ensuring they’re fully functioning, too. Our blog post ‘How To Create a Preventative Health Strategy in Seven Steps’ highlights that healthy employees are not only less absent but they’re also less likely to practise presenteeism – i.e. working while ill – which can actually cost employers more in lost productivity than absenteeism.
Intervening early is an effective strategy for preventing short-term illness from sliding into long-term absence. Think: health screening, wellness programmes, mental health support, ergonomic improvements and encouraging your employees to take leave to recover from illness. It’s a winning formula: preventative measures + support = happy, productive and healthy employees.
Can a focus on health improve workplace culture?
We certainly believe so. Employee health is a vital part of your company culture. When you think about it, if your employees’ wellbeing is suffering, absenteeism skyrockets, placing more pressure on the rest of your workforce. Stress levels rise, job satisfaction plummets, leading to – you guessed it – more absenteeism. We explore this, all the benefits of healthy employees and ways to support them, in our blog ‘Are Healthy Employees More Productive?’
Do employees feel more valued when their health is prioritised?
Absolutely. 92% of workers say it’s important to work for an organisation that values their mental health and wellbeing (American Psychological Association), which is a pretty significant number.
The good news for companies that do this? Their staff often report better job satisfaction and improved overall performance (Research Gate). In our blog, ‘Reciprocal engagement: The missing link between cost efficiency & wellbeing’, we touch upon how you can focus on workplace wellbeing as a long-term strategy to secure not just a happy, healthy workforce, but one that actually wants to give you their energy.
Should employers consider offering menopause support?
We’ve mentioned some health risks that increase as we age, but there’s another age-related matter to consider, especially concerning physical and mental health, and that’s the menopause.
Let’s talk numbers:
- 80% of menopausal women are in work, and we’re responsible for providing the support they need.
- 10% quit because of the mental and physical symptoms associated with menopause – before they’re financially, emotionally or mentally ready to do so.
It's not a great picture.
A side effect of menopause is an increased likelihood of weight gain and loss of muscle mass, both of which you can offset by exercise (Bupa). It's why offering an Employee Assistance Programme that provides dedicated menopause support is crucial, as is access to affordable exercise.
It all comes down to this: providing expert support, inspiring healthy lifestyles, and creating affordable exercise opportunities reduces the negative effects of menopause, lowers absenteeism rates, and keeps talented women in your business for longer. How? Using the menopause support service that’s available through our Employee Assistance Programme.
It's also essential to remember that the updated Employment Rights Bill also makes menopause support mandatory under the Equality Act.
Empowering you to understand the benefits of inspiring healthy lifestyles
It's clear that employees want you to prioritise their wellbeing, and doing so yields a return, helping you retain top talent and reduce absenteeism.
Whether older generations predominantly power your workforce, you’re concerned about high levels of absenteeism, or you simply understand the importance of inspiring healthy lifestyles in your entire workforce, we can help you build the business case for your employee wellbeing strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Healthy Lifestyles at Work
Why are healthy lifestyles so important in the workplace?
Not only do healthy lifestyles support your employees’ wellbeing, but they also reduce absenteeism. This, in turn, will help your businesses manage the rising cost of ill health and disengagement, so it’s worth focusing on this area.
How can employers inspire healthy lifestyles in a cost-effective way?
There are so many ways you can support healthy lifestyles. Affordable benefits such as gym and fitness discounts, flexible working, and workplace wellbeing programmes that remove financial barriers are just a few ways to make wellness more accessible for all.
What role does exercise play in employee wellbeing and performance?
Regular physical activity offers a whole host of benefits, including improving physical health, supporting mental wellbeing and reducing the risk of burnout, particularly in high‑pressure roles. It’s not a nice-to-have; it’s a must-have.
Sources:
American Psychological Association
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