Care operators who prioritise their workers’ wellbeing are much more likely to retain their teams for longer, according to new research from Connect2Care.
The insight, which was the result of nationwide consultation with employers and employees, reveals that 93.5% of care sector employees would be more likely to leave a job if there was no obvious support for employee wellbeing – sending a strong message to businesses across the sector who may still be struggling with staff shortages.
And when it comes to seeking new job opportunities, 83.3% of employees are more attracted to working at an organisation with a progressive company culture.
Though Covid-19’s legacy has left businesses across all industries with a heightened focus on their teams’ wellbeing, the care employees were hit particularly hard by the pandemic.
As a result, many businesses are now seeking ways to invest in this to provide tangible support for employees, from attention to mental health and flexible working allowances to neurodiversity considerations and beyond.
Employee expectation for an enhanced benefits package has grown, with the majority of employees (69.1%) keen to see measures put in place that help create a positive work-life balance, while first aid for mental health was a priority for 45.3%.
“It’s clear to see that employees around the country, but especially those working in care who have faced a tremendously difficult few years, are focused on the benefits that come with working for an employer which is invested in their wellbeing,” said Jill Whittaker, Managing Director of Connect2Care.
“For example, we know that almost 60% (59.3%) of companies would consider offering first aid training for mental health to their employees, while 61.7% would be interested in focusing training to help create a positive work life balance among staff, so the demand is there from employers seeking routes to training too.”
When asked what more their workplace could offer to enhance its benefits package, responses from employees included training in areas such as diversity and inclusion of ethnic minorities within the workplace (19.8%), LGBTQ+ inclusion (17.6%) and understanding the impact of menopause (19.4%) – topics that businesses Connect2Care surveyed would also consider delivering training to their teams in.
With employers’ and employees’ visions of what makes a progressive workplace that supports wellbeing clearly aligned, it’s essential that care operators consider ways to train teams so that these values create a solid foundation that supports everyone in the workplace long into the future.
