UK Workforce Health Report 2026

What the research shows

Employers lack the insight to act with confidence

72% say they lack meaningful data from benefit providers
Making it difficult to understand usage, impact, and value

Meaning: employers can’t defend spend internally, even when the need is obvious.

The damage is tangible

84% of HR leaders say workforce health challenges are harming productivity
Hidden ill-health links to absence, disengagement, and retention risk

Meaning: the productivity issue is already visible, even if the root cause isn't.

Pleasanteeism is widespread

69% of employees admit they sometimes, often, or always pretend to be well at work
Up from 51% in 2021
Consistent across sectors, ages, and job types

Meaning: this is now a mainstream workforce behaviour, not a fringe issue.

Where the disconnect sits

The challenge of declining workforce health is widely recognised,

but most employer health strategies are still built on assumptions, incomplete usage signals, and open-loop benefits, making it hard to make confident decisions.

How this insight is being used

This research is not treated as a static report. It is used as market intelligence to support joint thinking and to help ensure the market develops solutions that genuinely address a growing workforce challenge.

Shapes

It directly shapes the evolution of a more coherent, system-level response to workforce health challenges.

Highlights needs

It highlights the need for measurable impact and data-led decision-making, not just more benefits.

Informs

It informs collaboration with advisers and partners on how to respond to pleasanteeism, hidden workforce health issues.

The findings are shared through WOW Elite, a group of 25 leading UK workforce health advisers, so employers can explore the insight with expert interpretation and practical next steps.

Request the report from an expert

Request access to the report and we’ll connect you with a WOW Elite adviser to interpret the findings in the context of your workforce.

Closing the broken loops in healthcare

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