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Health insurer Cigna has released the results of its well-being survey, revealing rising awareness of having to prepare for old age by working hard, and the need for employers to help manage workplace stress.
The Cigna 360° Well-Being Survey was launched in 2014 with the goal of exploring well-being perceptions and concerns across five key areas of well-being – physical, family, social, financial, and work. Almost 14,500 respondents in 23 markets across the globe were included in the study.
The Index – the combined scores of the five areas – dropped 1.1 points overall compared to last year’s survey, from 62.3 to 61.2 points. With the exception of Singapore, all markets surveyed recorded a drop of 1.1 to 3.9 points since last year, with Thailand reporting the largest fall. Despite recording the second largest fall, India maintained its place at the head of the index.
According to the study, while financial well-being has stabilised, concerns about physical and social well-being are emerging. It found that people are working harder but are losing quality time with family and friends, as well as experiencing a decline in quality of sleep, weight, and diet.
“More people are feeling positive about their current financial situation and understand the need to prepare for the future,” said Jason Sadler, president of Cigna International Markets. “However, the survey also showed that there is a trade-off as we face higher workplace stress today. For Cigna, this means we must continue to help individuals and organizations gain a better state of well-being. Collectively, if we can help employees deal better with stress, their well-being will improve.”
The latest results highlight an increase in the workplace well-being index, from 67.5 to 69.1 points over last year. While more people have a positive outlook towards their workplace wellness and recognize the value of work-life balance, stress remains the biggest workplace issue. Around 15% of workers said they are having difficulty managing stress, with millennials in the workplace being the most affected. Those who say they are unable to manage stress are less physically fit, less sociable and more likely to seek professional help and be on prescribed medication, the survey said.
The study also challenged employers to manage workplace stress in order to improve staff retention and motivation. The majority of employees surveyed said that they do not receive company support in dealing with stress or have a formal workplace wellness program in place. Younger workers are more conscious of workplace wellness, as 73% of working millennials said that it is a factor they consider when choosing employers.
