businessinfomag.uk magazine 04 BULLETIN either not encouraging the use of health and wellbeing support at all, or who are relying on employees making the effort themselves to investigate the support offered, are missing out hugely. Health and wellbeing support is of course put in place to ensure that employees are healthy and happy, but this is not entirely altruistic. There are advantages for the business too, including increased loyalty, less absenteeism, greater productivity – but only if employees engage with the support and use it. Otherwise, employers may well be wasting their money.” The most popular methods currently used to promote health and wellbeing support are: • Digital platforms (cited by 34%), which have the added benefit of giving HR and benefits professionals one place to access key information; • Company intranets (26%), although Everywhen points out that this does rely on employees actively searching for information, so needs to be backed up by promotions to encourage engagement; • Wellbeing champions (24%); • Written communications e.g. email (22%); • A calendar of wellbeing events and awareness days (22%); • In-person events with a company’s own health and wellbeing specialists in attendance (21%); • In-person events run by external advisers and/or the providers of the health and wellbeing support on offer (18%); and • Regular promotions and webinars run by employers (18% and 16% respectively). www.everywhen.co.uk … One third of SMEs stuck in broadband slow lane Business broadband expert Uswitch warns that one in three UK SMEs still don’t have access to full-fibre broadband and are having to rely on slower or less reliable connections. According to its analysis of broadband coverage data, an estimated 2.16 million of the UK’s 3.17 million SMEs now have access to full-fibre broadband, smartphones, mobile phones and aircraft phones to allow seamless communication between colleagues; connect iPads that pilots and crew use to access flight information and real-time training on the go; and deliver smart messaging to keep customers updated. www.bt.com/about … Promotion key to mutually beneficial take-up of health and wellbeing support Everywhen, the new name for Towergate Employment Benefits, is encouraging employers to be more proactive in promoting the health and wellbeing support they offer staff or risk wasting money spent on such initiatives. Its warning follows an Opinium survey of 500 HR decision-makers which found that almost half of employers in the UK either never actively encourage staff to use the support on offer (13%) or only direct employees to it when requested to do so (33%). Debra Clark, Head of Wellbeing at Everywhen, points out that health and wellbeing support is a good way to boost the loyalty and productivity of employees at a time when 37% of organisations are finding it harder to engage with staff – but only if companies promote its benefits. She said: “Employers who are BT simplifies mobile connectivity for easyJet easyJet is aiming to provide its pilots, cabin crew and aircraft in more than 150 airports and 35 countries with smart, seamless mobile connectivity through a new partnership with BT Business. The partnership will see BT equip 23,000 mobile devices with EE eSIMs offering remote setup, reduced costs, easier logistics and a better user experience. Chris Sims, Chief Commercial Officer at BT Business, said: “By equipping thousands of devices with eSIMs on EE’s award-winning network, we’re enabling easyJet to manage connections remotely, switch networks across borders and reduce the complexity of traditional SIMs. It’s a future-ready solution that enhances security, boosts efficiency and keeps teams connected when they need it most.” In addition to the provision of EE eSIMs for mobile devices, BT will supply laptops and other hardware to easyJet staff; connect One third of UK employees feel uninspired at work Fewer than one in five UK employees (19%) are ‘thriving’ in their role, compared to one third who feel uninspired and disengaged, according to O.C. Tanner’s Global Culture Report 2026, based on insights from more than 38,000 employees in 24 countries, including 1,668 in the UK. With 77% of UK employees wanting their experience at work to be inspiring, the employee recognition specialist says businesses should nurture inspiration by giving employees regular opportunities to connect, collaborate and share ideas at conferences, events and training courses. It also recommends regular in-house one-to-ones, team gatherings and company events on the basis that 68% of employees say they have at least one coworker who inspires them in their work and 64% say they often come up with new ideas during conversations with colleagues. Robert Ordever, European MD of O.C. Tanner, adds that it is important to foster a culture where employees feel safe and empowered to put ideas into action, and are recognised and appreciated when they do. He said: “Innovation can’t thrive in a culture of fear or blame. To spark new thinking, employees need to feel safe to experiment and recognised when they do. By acknowledging and calling out inventive ideas and celebrating effort as much as outcomes, organisations encourage people to repeat those behaviours and inspire others to follow.” www.octanner.com
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