WEDNESDAY 3 NOV 2021 10:39 AM

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IS KEY TO ATTRACTING TALENT, RESEARCH FINDS

Research from workspace facilitator, Reef App, has found that dedicated mental health support is a key factor for one in five workers when considering employment, ranking third only behind flexible and hybrid working arrangements. Despite a pandemic-induced boom in pet ownership, only 6% of respondents said a pet-friendly office is something they would look for.

Companies are increasingly struggling to attract new members of staff and retain existing talent. The Reef App conducted an independent survey of 1,000 office-based workers to identify which perks would be most appealing in terms of encouraging people to work for an organisation.

Flexible working was cited as a deciding perk for 47% and hybrid working for 41%, followed by mental health support for 19%. Wellness activities such as walking and yoga were found to be particularly important for female employees, with 15% stating it would be an important factor for them.

Wellbeing support was found to be twice as important as general office space facilities such as mini pubs or games areas. However, Reef App found that employees are keen to reconnect with team members, with drinks on Friday and Christmas parties ranking highly for 21% and 17% respectively. 

Almost half of the office workers who responded to the survey said their working environment has a serious impact on their mental health. A further 26% said their productivity varies greatly depending on their surroundings, and the opportunity to work in different environments is important.

James Coughlan, founder of Reef App, says, “So much has changed in the world of work over the last 20 months, we wanted to get a better idea of what is appealing to workers, given there’s lots of companies struggling to recruit. Our research demonstrates that flexibility and choice is going to be key and there is no ‘one size fits all’ preference – which is one of the reasons we launched Reef App. People need to be free to choose the workspace which is most convenient and productive for them.”

The Reef App connects businesses with free facilities which can be used as a third workspace for employees, such as cafes, hotels and other venues.