Employer-provided wellbeing perks are often misaligned with what employees actually want from their workplace benefits, a survey has found.
According to employee benefits platform, Heka, 97 per cent of HR teams say a flexible wellbeing programme improves company culture, and 93 per cent of employees say an intentional wellbeing programme makes them healthier. A proactive approach to workplace wellbeing boosts employee engagement, supports productivity, and keeps your workforce well.
Heka’s 2025 Employee Wellbeing Trends Report draws on data from 40,000 wellbeing interactions, shedding light on what employees really want, and what really works. Heka’s Benefits Gap Report revealed 34 per cent of employees chose workplace perks that were not offered by their employer’s programme, signalling a huge mismatch between what’s on offer, and what’s wanted.
Employee benefits are nothing new, but considering whether they are actually beneficial as opposed to a tick-box solution, is. A report from employee benefits platform, Heka, suggests that one third (34 per cent) of employees choose workplace perks that are not offered by their employer’s programme, signalling a “huge mismatch” between what’s on offer and what workers want.
Findings also show that employers should avoid “cookie cutter” initiatives and take into account the varying preferences of the different generations represented by their workforce.
“We’ve seen in this data that the diversity in individual requirements means that a one-size-fits-all approach to workplace benefits won’t work, Employees come from different backgrounds, life stages, and personal circumstances. What works for one group may not work for another. A rigid benefits package risks leaving significant gaps, failing to support the individual.
“Every employee has their own individual wellbeing needs. It’s time to think about holisitic wellbeing support instead of trying to predict what wellbeing challenges your employees might experience.”
The report reads. In terms of emerging trends, the report shows that there has been a huge increase in the demand for nutrition-based workplace wellbeing perks – including nutritional advice services and products. It is also an area in which employers could do better.
“More than two fifths (42 per cent) of benefits chosen by employees across 2024 were for nutrition, yet, many employers don’t consider nutrition as a huge part of employee wellbeing.
the report states. To download and to read the full report, click here.
